Grande Communications

Grande Communications is a United States telecommunications firm, based in San Marcos, Texas, that uses a fiber optic network for broadband services. In 1999, the company was established when the largest single round of venture capital funding in Texas was raised, in turn starting the first-ever truly bundled telecommunications service provider. Grande delivers high-speed Internet [http://www.grandecom.com/explore/internet] , local and long-distance telephone [http://www.grandecom.com/explore/phone] and digital cable [http://www.grandecom.com/cable] over its own network to communities in Texas. The company serves nine markets in Texas for residential, wholesale and small business services. In addition, Grande serves as the primary provider of cable services for dormitories on the campuses of Texas State University-San Marcos, University of the Incarnate Word, Baylor University and the University of Texas at Austin.

Grande began building networks in 2000 in select Texas cities. This fiber to the home (FTTH) is the next generation of advanced broadband networks. Grande’s 3,100-fiber-mile network incorporates SONET-based technology for protection, diversity and optimal performance. Grande began installing FTTH in late 2004 in parts of Austin, followed by deployments in San Antonio. It installed FTTH in other Texas markets it serves in 2005 and continues expansion. The company's current network configuration passes more than 300,000 homes and businesses in nine Texas cities.

Since its founding, Grande has grown by acquiring companies such as Thrifty Call in San Marcos, ClearSource broadband networks in Corpus Christi, Odessa, Midland and Waco and Advantex in the Dallas area. This has increased its reach in the state of Texas.

Products

; Enterprise: Grande leverages its telephony and data infrastructure by serving enterprises [http://www.grandecom.com/business] and communications carriers nationwide with broadband transport services and network services. Grande’s voice network terminates traffic worldwide, offering both traditional and IP-based services; its managed modem network provides coverage nationwide; and its private line and metropolitan networks provide optical services in Texas and surrounding states. ; Wholesale: Grande Communications, Inc. wholesale offerings include private line, Ethernet, dedicated Internet access, collocation and metro fiber network. Carrier services include domestic voice, international voice, originating local access, VoIP terminations, wholesale CLEC and National Directory Assistance. For ISP wholesale services, Grande has originating local access, wholesale dial-up and more. ; Consumer Retail
* Grande’s High-Speed Internet is offered through cable modem and DSL, some of which utilize fiber-to-the-home technology where this technology is available. Internet speeds range from 384kbit/s to upwards of 15.0Mbit/s with fiber technology, which allows for communication lines to be run directly to the homes of customers instead of sharing bandwidth.
* Phone service provided by Grande uses traditional telephony technology unlike newer, digital phone services that use Internet for phone connection. This traditional service ensures that telephone lines will stay available for use when power and Internet outages occur.
* Cable television services from Grande provide digital and high-definition cable with over 300 channels available. The company also offers services including digital video recording (DVR), interactive programming, premium channel packages, digital and HD tiers as well as a number of other cable programming selections for customer to order.
* Grande was an early provider of triple play service, under the name of "Texas Triple Play".

Culture

Grande Communications’ corporate culture is based on a strong value system that guides how the company works. Grande employees established The Passion & Commitment Investment Club (P&C Club) as their way to give back to the local communities the company serves. The P&C Club is governed by Grande employees and funded by employee donations with support of a corporate match. The P&C Club Community Chest is a 501(c) (3) organization that makes grants of up to $5,000 to non-profit organizations in business footprint to address basic human services, education through access to computer technology and positive initiatives for at-risk youth. Since the founding of the P&C Club in 2000, Grande Communications has awarded more than $1 million in grants, donated thousands of holiday gifts to those in need and collected tons of food for dozens of food banks. Through the Valued Volunteer program, employees can “earn” small grants for non-profit organizations based on personal community service.

Community

Grande reaches out to non-profits and schools, as well as civic and neighborhood groups to sponsor and participate in initiatives such as local festivals, partnerships in education, youth activities and neighborhood cleanups. Grande also donates free airtime on its cable network for public service announcements, hostw Web sites for numerous community organizations and maintains a Community Calendar, where non-profit organizations list community events and activities on Grande Interactive TV. Since 2001, Grande has also provided free home Internet access to more than 2,000 underserved students and their families in partnership with programs such as Computers for Learning, Partners in Education and Communities in Schools for school districts in Austin, Corpus Christi and San Marcos - with plans to expand to all Grande markets.

Service Areas

Grande provides commercial and retail service to 9 service areas throughout the state of Texas. These service areas include:
*Austin
*Corpus Christi
*Dallas
*Houston
*Midland
*Odessa
*San Marcos
*San Antonio
*Waco

References

* [http://www.tateaustin.com Tate Austin]
* [http://telephonyonline.com/broadband/web/telecom_grande_communications_expands/ Telephony Online]
* [http://www.harbourvest.com/media/pr_archive/grande_07-07-00.html Harbourvest]
* [http://www.tiaonline.org/business/media/press_releases/2006/PR06-jointPR_TIA-FTTHCouncil.cfm Telecommunications Industry Association]

External links

* [http://www.grandecom.com Official corporate site]
* [http://www.grandecom.net Official web portal]