GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. — Grand Rapids-based US Signal has been a pioneer of connectivity for more than a decade. A leading data service provider in the Midwest, the company today announced that it is significantly expanding its long-haul fiber network in Southern and Central Ill., St. Louis, Mo. and Southern Indiana. The expansion includes central offices in the cities listed below. The announcement continues the Company’s expansion into Illinois, following network growth in Chicago in March 2008 and 2009. During the last 18 months the company has added eight new markets in the Midwest.

This expansion will add approximately 1,000 miles of long-haul fiber to the US Signal network. The expansion is part of US Signal’s commitment to being the most dependable, flexible, and reliable provider of data bandwidth in the Midwest. As the nature of the work environment evolves to embrace mobility, people can remain connected and have access to the information they need when they need it, using the stable network provided by US Signal.

Newest POPs include:

• Bloomington, Ill. (BLTNILXD)
• Peoria, Ill. (PEORILPJ)
• Springfield, Ill. (SPFDILES)
• Mattoon, Ill. (MTONILXC)
• Centralia, Ill. (CENLILCE)
• St. Louis, Mo. (STLSMO01 and STLSMOZC)
• Terre Haute, Ind. (TRRHINXA)

“This expansion is critical to US Signal’s philosophy of connecting key markets with advanced data transport services,” says Kirk Dombek, director of business development. “The recently added long haul routes enable US Signal to deliver Virtual Ethernet Service, which provides access to a fully meshed, scalable and reliable network to support any data bandwidth solution.”

According to Dombek, “The value of Ethernet for businesses is the ability to mix and match any of the available Ethernet access types not only in metro areas, but also across the entire US Signal footprint. Virtual Ethernet Service reduces the complexity of a customer’s network configuration and, therefore, interface costs are greatly reduced and multiple access types are created.”

US Signal’s network now includes more than 7,000 route miles of long-haul fiber and more than 900 miles of fiber optic metro rings in 22 markets connecting regions in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri. The US Signal network provides on-off ramps comprised of major carrier hotel locations, incumbent telephone company central offices and other lit buildings.

]]> http://www.ussignalcom.com/us-signal-announces-major-expansion-in-illinois-and-st-louis-2/feed 0 http://www.ussignalcom.com/ethernet-vs-mpls-which-is-the-right-solution-2 http://www.ussignalcom.com/ethernet-vs-mpls-which-is-the-right-solution-2#comments Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:16:07 +0000 kwilson http://www-dev.ussig.net/?p=1364 Presented by: Jim Schmidt, US Signal Director of Sales Engineering

This webinar is designed to help you determine which technology will fit best in designing your solution. We will look at specific examples of:

• Key components of each technology
• Customer requirements
• Key considerations in determining the right solution
• Greater value with US Signal: purchase only the bandwidth you need
• Pricing and performance comparisons of various solutions

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GRAND RAPIDS, MICH — Grand Rapids-based US Signal Company has been a pioneer of
connectivity for more than a decade. The leading provider of data bandwidth capacity in the
Midwest, the company recently announced its expansion into four Ohio markets: Cincinnati,
Cleveland, Dayton, and Columbus.

“We have created technologies that make Virtual Ethernet Service affordable, simple, and
stable — making a fully meshed network accessible from point A to B almost anywhere,” says
Trevor Bidle, vice president of engineering for US Signal. “Virtual Ethernet Service allows our
customers to control the routing and flow of their own networks.”

How VES Works

In 2008, Thomas Cooley Law School migrated from a hub and spoke arrangement to Virtual
Ethernet Service (VES) to connect its campus locations. Virtual Ethernet Service provides
Cooley with high-speed connectivity to each of its campus locations via US Signal’s backbone,
delivering both private network and Internet service to each site.

“Cooley is the largest law school in the nation with four campuses in Michigan,” says Greg
Colegrove, Cooley’s director of IT operations and communication services. “Before VES,
connecting all locations was difficult and costly. With VES, it’s faster and easier.”
The advantages of VES at Cooley include:

1. High-definition IP video conferencing. This technology allows an instructor at
   one campus to teach a class across multiple campuses, providing students
   access to courses that were previously only available at one location.
2. Voice over IP (VoIP) phone service. This technology eliminates long-distance toll
   charges by providing four-digit dialing between campuses. Cooley realizes
   additional savings with least cost call routing, where calls to any of the cities
   where Cooley has a campus take place over its data network — eliminating the
   need for long distance services or costs.
3. Easy network management. VES allows Cooley to manage its environment as
   one network. Faculty, staff, and students have access to private network
   applications and other resources, regardless of where they are located.

Ethernet Evolution

Behind the computers and cell phones that keep us connected are technologies that make it all
work together.

Today, VES makes Ethernet connectivity possible for companies of all sizes and for all types of
working situations. As the nature of work evolves to embrace mobility, people can remain
connected and have access to the information they need when they need it.

VES allows customers to connect LANs within and between metropolitan areas. The service
also provides customers with a wide range of connectivity options and is scalable to their needs.
VES has been designed to help companies save time and money, while helping increase
efficiency and reducing network costs.

About US Signal
With nearly 6,000 miles of lit fiber and metro rings in 21 strategic tier-one, tier-two, and tier-three
markets, the US Signal optical backbone features Cisco Systems Dense Wave Division Multiplexing
(DWDM) technology and is designed with a SONET redundant architecture. US Signal provides services
in five Midwest states including Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana.

About Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Cooley Law School is the largest law school in the nation. Founded in 1972, the private, non-profit law
school operates J.D. programs across Michigan in Lansing, Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor.
Today, Cooley Law School has nearly 14,000 graduates across the nation and worldwide and also offers
joint degree and master of laws programs. Cooley offers enrollment three times a year; in January, May
and September. Additional information about Cooley can be found at cooley.edu.
The Thomas M. Cooley Law School – 300 S. Capitol Avenue, P.O. Box 13038, Lansing, MI 48901
Phone (517) 371-5140

Contact: Susan Voigt: svoigt@ussignalcom.com or 260-414-6379

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Contact: Joanna Shannon: jshannon@ussignalcom.com or 317-376-2058

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Contact: Jennifer Allen: jallen@ussignalcom.com.

Contact: Jennifer Allen: jallen@ussignalcom.com.

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Contact: Susan Voigt: svoigt@ussignalcom.com or 260-414-6379.

Click here for more information.