The Top 17 ISPs in the US added 1.1 million net new broadband subscribers in 1st Quarter 2016 “– and the vast majority of them went to cable providers. According to the latest data by Leichtman Research, the top cable companies added about 1,065,000 broadband subscribers in the quarter, or 99% of the net additions seen by the industry. In contrast, the top phone companies added just 10,000 net broadband subscribers for the quarter, thanks to the continued (and quite intentional) loss of DSL users.” [source: DSLR]

Copper based broadband is losing against cable modem. In the 3 states that Frontier took over in April, FiOS has had a setback as Frontier fumbled this take over as well as the last. Cable wins again.

Maybe G.fast will be the answer to the losses. “Aggregate upstream and downstream speeds of 150 Mbps over 500 meters of traditional phone wiring are already feasible—and the aggregate speed rises to the 300 Mbps range when distance is decreased to 300 meters, Weissman said. The ratio of downstream to upstream bandwidth can be set by the carrier.” [source]

Clearly the ILECs, especially the rural ILECs, need another tool in the shed to combat Cable Labs. Maybe G.fast will be it. VDSL2 isn’t winning – and broadband revenues will make up a large part of revenues for years to come.

Brazzlebox contacted me about writing a blog post about advice I would give a startup. Long time readers know that I share advice for startups on here often – and I encourage companies that have been in business to re-visit the startup advice to energize their business.

3 pieces of startup advice

1. Know your customer. Your customer is NOT everyone. It hardly ever is. It is someone with a need – a need that they are aware of – that your service fixes. If you have to explain the need, it is an uphill battle.

2. Be able to explain your value proposition in as few words as possible. If you can’t explain it; your employees can’t either. So it becomes about price.

3. Get Support. As a start-up founder, you will feel alone. Find a Mentor or a support group like a startup group or an entrepreneur’s club or just find a couple of other founders to have coffee with that you can be real with. You will feel alone; you will battle things like depression; stress will be a constant companion. Have someone to talk to that will understand – other than your spouse or parents. This group can be a MasterMind (see here) or just a place that you can be honest.

I sit way too much at my desk. I haven’t really been exercising since I stopped playing volleyball in December due to injuries. There are a number of people who have moved to stand-up desks – mainly for health reasons (or just to feel better).

A $25 alternative by Oristand that was developed by Hootsesuite co-founder. It is made of durable cardboard. (It might hold an Apple 13″ but I have seen people pound on keyboards, so no idea how long it would last.)

Michael Hyatt writes about 4 Reasons to vuy a stand-up desk and he lists four models. [The only inexpensive one still available is this one on Amazon.]

It takes a little getting used to. Learn to work standing up.

A buddy of mine has treadmill stations in the office so people can work for 20 minutes or so on a treadmill. That would be cool for a short while.

A blogger associate wrote about his research on stand-up desks. (He picked Ikea).

Ergotron are as expensive as The Human Solution and the Varidesk (all starting at $395).

Jim Rohn said that you are the average of the 5 people you hang around with.”

One of the main benefits of conferences is the Hallway! That peer to peer interaction. That learning. The realization that you aren’t alone in the struggle or that idea (that you aren’t crazy!)

Master mind groups come from Napolean Hill’s book, Think and Grow Rich. Thomas Edison had a master mind group that included Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Alexis Carrel and Charles Lindbergh as well as millionaires of the time, like Carnegie. Vistage, EO and other groups are based on this idea but with a formal structure and organization.

Mentors are good to have to help you get to the next steps. SCORE is a place to find a mentor or at least some business advice.

Coaching is something that we see mostly in sports, but lately CEOs and Presidents have been talking about using coaches. If there is an area that you need help with, a coach can certainly help.

If you are a CEO, a coach helps with accountability, depression and loneliness.

Just some tools to get better. Need help? Give me a call at 813-963-5884.