2022 - FTC-I

Dec

22

2022

What Is the Best Videoconferencing and How To Have Better Videoconferences

Even before the global pandemic increased demand for Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, and a host of other top videoconferencing applications, the videoconference was already a staple of the 21st-century office. After all, virtual meetings are the foundation of telecommuting, which was picking up steam before COVID-19 came along. Videoconferences shine when they allow team members in distant locations to collaborate instantly and effectively, but what happens when a videoconference overloads the available bandwidth? What Is a Videoconference? A videoconference is a face-to-face meeting that occurs over the web via interconnected audio and video. But, to understand videoconferencing and how to...

Dec

21

2022

What can you do with a Gig?

Used to connect consumers’ smartphones, tablets and computers — as well as televisions, video doorbells, air-conditioning systems, door locks and lots more — to the digital world, the internet has become a near-ubiquitous part of modern life. And while many Americans have heard of Gig internet, which is among the fastest connection speeds offered nationwide, only a select few have ever actually experienced the amazing benefits it can bring. With gigabit internet connected to a home, users can simultaneously stream movies, upload and download large files, play online games, and participate in video calls on multiple devices at high definition...

The Potential Costs of Missed Business Calls (and 5 Ways To Avoid Them)

According to the publications Consumer Reports, 75 percent of consumers surveyed said they are highly annoyed when they cannot get a live person on the phone at a business. Further, according to research, about 70 percent of customers will stop working with a business whose customer service they perceive as lacking, and around 60 percent will take their business to rival companies. When customers or even a prospective customers call companies during regular business hours, they generally expect the call will be answered. If the call cannot be answered right away, most consumers expect, at the very least, to be...

Dec

16

2022

What Is a Good Download Speed?

For most homes, a good download speed is between 50 Mbps and 250 Mbps, depending on the number of devices simultaneously in use. A 250 Mbps connection allows a family of four to stream TV, movies and games on multiple devices while using video conferencing, like Zoom, all at the same time. A speed of 50 Mbps is better suited for couples or individuals without competing streaming demands. What Is a Good Upload Speed? A good upload speed on an asymmetrical connection, like cable, is 5 Mbps, while a good upload speed on a symmetrical fiber connection is 250 Mbps,...

Dec

08

2022

Free SHOWTIME preview set for December 9–12 on FTC Digital TV

While the official peak of the holiday gift-giving season may still be weeks away on Christmas Day, for FTC Digital TV subscribers, a huge present is coming just days from now. This early December gift should be a very welcome one for lovers of award-winning television series and hit movies. And instead of landing under the tree, it will appear on the TV! So just what is this early Christmas-season offering? Beginning on Friday, December 9, and running through Monday, December 12, FTC will offer a free SHOWTIME preview event. And for the event’s four-day duration, subscribers to FTC Digital...

Nov

30

2022

How Fiber Internet Helps Businesses

Fiber internet keeps businesses on the leading edge of technology by offering the fastest download and upload speeds, along with the most reliable connection. As data demands grow and businesses handle larger files and more customer data, fiber internet exceeds current requirements while leaving room for businesses to expand their digital footprint. Why Do Businesses Need Fiber Internet? The advantages of a fiber connection are extensive for modern businesses. With fiber’s significantly higher bandwidths, businesses can improve efficiency, use newer technologies and stay connected with a remote workforce. But that is not all! The Benefits of Fiber Internet for Businesses...

Nov

29

2022

What Is Fiber Internet

Fiber internet is a broadband internet connection that uses fiber cables, which are more efficient than traditional communication wires, to relay data at increased speeds with reduced lag times. This modern technology allows for internet speeds of up to 1 gigabyte or more, improving download speeds by as much as tenfold over other high-speed internet options. Fiber optics are not only faster (they can send data at 70% the speed of light) but they are also less susceptible to the effects of severe weather, resulting in a more reliable internet connection. Fiber is the single fastest means in the world...

What Are PBX and Hosted PBX Systems?

PBX, short for Private Branch Exchange, is a private telephone system that combines an internal telephone network with advanced features for making and receiving external calls. Among its many benefits, a PBX system allows users to easily communicate both internally with business colleagues and externally with the outside world by direct-dialing phone numbers and extensions. PBX also enables businesses to have more phones connected to the system than there are phone lines devoted to the system. Because of this versatility, PBX is one of the most popular types of business phone systems in widespread use today. The telephone system’s reliability...

Nov

22

2022

How Much Screen Time Is Too Much for Kids?

In the digital age, it is a persistent question for parents, especially among those raising younger kids: How much screen time is OK for a growing child? Most experts suggest that for children it should be limited to two hours or fewer per day with many studies suggesting that more than an hour a day is too much. Classroom and homework is not included in these limitations, which apply only to recreational usage. It is one thing to know how much screen time is too much, but it is another to know when it becomes a problem and when to...

Nov

18

2022

Coming soon: 8 days of HBO and CINEMAX for free!

With Thanksgiving among its highlights, November is already a month that is strongly associated with giving thanks. And this November, FTC is giving its subscribers even more reason to put some gratitude on the menu this fall season! Beginning on Nov. 22 and running for eight days through Nov. 29, FTC Digital TV is serving up a free preview of premium channels HBO and CINEMAX. So, whether those feasting on the “freeview” enjoy action, suspense, romance, comedy, drama, horror or all of the above, they will have plenty of on-screen options to choose from (and reasons to give thanks) during...