As seen in the January 31, 2011  COMPTEL Connection

Tech Valley Communications
Headquarters: Albany, NY
www.TechValleyCom.com

Q: What does your company do and how long has it been in operation?
A: Tech Valley Communications started providing services in 2000, offering carrier grade voice, data and related services on its proprietary fiber network to business enterprise customers in the upstate New York market.

Q: To what do you attribute your company’s success in the communications industry?
A: While there are many factors that have led to the success of the company – such as award winning customer service, a seasoned management team and disciplined fiscal management – the evolution of the company from a reseller to a deep fiber facilities-based company has had the most significant impact on the company’s success.

Q: What have been the biggest obstacles your company has faced in the marketplace?
A: The pursuit of the business customer by the MSOs (cable companies) has been challenging for many CLECs, particularly those without their own facilities.  Because of our deep fiber network and a decade of experience providing services to business customers, we have been able to compete effectively against the MSOs. But the competition between MSOs and CLECs is likely to heat up as the MSOs hit saturation of the residential cable TV market.

Q: What do you see as your greatest challenges going forward?
A: Continuing top line revenue growth and the high gross margins we enjoy in an increasingly competitive marketplace, while simultaneously expanding our network throughout the region. 

Q: What have been some of your company’s most recent achievements (new customer wins, new service/product deployment, etc.)?
A: We have had major wins in the health care and government sectors recently, but by far the most important development in the company has been a significant equity investment in the company by Riverside Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm, which will allow us to accelerate the expansion of our fiber network. 

Q: Why is it important for your company to be a COMPTEL member?
A: Aside from the networking and business development opportunities, the competitive industry needs an effective voice representing it before the policy makers and regulators in Washington.  COMPTEL provides a company of our size access and insight into what is going on the policy and regulatory front that we would not otherwise have.