Numerous Benefits of New Communications Technology Driving Demand

DAVENPORT, IA - April 18, 2012 - Midland Communications, an industry leader in business communications, announced today that the company is seeing a rapid increase in the popularity for Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Trunking among the region's small to mid-sized businesses.  Numerous benefits of this relatively new communications technology such as cost, flexibility, and advanced business applications are driving the demand for SIP technology.
SIP Trunking typically allows businesses that have Internet Protocol-Private Branch Exchanges (IP-PBXs) to combine their voice and data services onto a SIP-based Trunk rather than use primary rate interface (PRI), T-1 or other types of Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) links. Some service providers are offering IP Trunking to connect TDM-based PBXs or key systems to a SIP backbone, using an on-premises device to convert TDM voice to IP.  In more simple terms, SIP supports any form of real-time communication regardless of whether the content is voice, video, instant messaging, or a collaboration application.  Additionally, SIP enables users to inform others of their status, their availability, and how they can be contacted before a communication is even initiated.
Many SMBs have made the transition to VoIP; however, most are only using it for communication on the LAN.  In this scenario VoIP is only being used as a one-to-one replacement for traditional telephony.  These businesses realize a sound return on investment by lowering administrative costs as well as costs associated with calls made within the company.  SIP Trunking, on the other hand, provides a greater return because it takes VoIP a step further.  For instance, full potential for IP communications can be realized only when communication is taken outside of an organization's LAN.  SIP trunks thus eliminate the need for local PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) gateways, costly BRIs (Basic Rate Interfaces) or PRIs (Primary Rate Interfaces).  Furthermore, it directly operates with existing IP-PBXs so there is no need for additional hardware.
"The SMB marketplace has started to really embrace SIP Trunking because it will dramatically increase their profitability and give them a competitive advantage," said Jason Smith, Vice President of Midland Communications.  "Until now most companies would have purchased a PRI or multiple access lines and a data connection.  SIP lets them converge their traffic onto a single line.  Outdated technology, inefficient networks, and a down economy are driving SMBs in this direction - customers have excess bandwidth on their data networks and they want to see how they can best utilize or reduce it."
"SIP's flexibility supports our position as our customers trusted communications advisor.  After we understand their strategic business objectives we can use the breadth and depth of SIP technology to support all of their needs," added Mr. Smith.  "Soon SIP will become a more popular and meaningful acronym than VoIP."

ABOUT MIDLAND COMMUNICATIONS

Midland Communications began more than 60 years ago in 1946 as the Worldwide Marketing Arm of Victor-Animagraph Projectors. In 1977 a communications division was formed due to a partnership with NEC America. Today, As a distributor of NEC America, for 33 years, Midland Communications has a customer base of more than 3,000 satisfied customers that include general businesses, government agencies, Universities, colleges, hospitals, and hotels.
Midland provides a wide range of communication services including VOIP, PBX and key systems, Wide Area and Local Area networking, computers, Computer integration, voice mail, CCIS, and video conferencing and paging systems. Our philosophy is simple, provide quality products at a fair price, backed by an average emergency response time of twenty minutes, and the best service in the industry. For more information on Midland Communications, call (563) 326-1237 or visit www.midlandcom.com.



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Criticizes delay of long-term transportation bill, supports Keystone construction

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) released the following statement today after voting to pass a temporary 90 day extension to continue funding federal transportation projects like roads, highways, bridges, and other infrastructure.  It's the 10^th temporary extension Congress has passed without completing work on a long-term transportation authorization bill.

"It's appalling that partisan gridlock in Washington continues to interfere with fixing Iowa's crumbling roads and bridges.  Businesses and individuals continue to suffer because Congress keeps kicking the can down the road.  I'll hold the Speaker to his word that this short term extension will result in a long-term solution to address our transportation needs.

 

"I'm encouraged that this bill will help expedite the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.  The pipeline project is an opportunity to create thousands of jobs in Iowa and the Midwest and reduce our dependence on Middle Eastern oil.  Environmental concerns must be addressed, and this bill provides an avenue to air those concerns to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

 

"Keystone XL has attracted rare bipartisan support because of the enormous economic benefits it will provide.  It should move forward quickly once it's approved."

 

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Statement of U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

Senate Budget Committee

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Mr. Chairman - I'd like to thank you, Chairman Conrad, for calling for a markup of the Democratic budget for fiscal year 2013.

Setting a budget for the country is one of the most basic responsibilities and fundamental functions of the Congress.  The Budget Act requires Congress to adopt a budget by April 15.  It's a requirement that this Senate Majority has ignored time and again.

In fact, the Senate hasn't adopted a budget since April 29, 2009.  Nearly three years have passed since the Senate last adopted a budget.  During that time, more than $4 trillion has been added to our nation's debt.  We're in the midst of the fourth consecutive year of spending more than $1 trillion more than we take in.

During this time, the Senate Democrat Majority has failed to propose a budget blueprint that would lay out their priorities for deficit reduction, economic growth or a path to balance.  They've said proposing a budget is "foolish."  It's no wonder our nation is driving toward a fiscal cliff of deficits and debt.  There is no one in the Democrat leadership willing to take hold of the wheel.

While I'm glad we're meeting to consider a budget resolution put forward by the Chairman, I'm also puzzled by today's exercise.  First, the Chairman has said repeatedly that we already have a budget in place for this year and next.  The Chairman and Majority Leader Reid feel that the Budget Control Act was a budget resolution.

Then why are we here?  Why do we need to mark up a budget resolution if the BCA was truly a budget resolution?  The answer is clear.  The Budget Control Act is not a budget.  President Obama clearly agreed when he proposed his budget.  House Republicans and Democrats alike agreed when they voted on seven budget resolutions authored by both Republicans and Democrats.  The Democratic Leadership in the Senate stands alone in their belief that the BCA was a budget resolution.

Is it because they have no ideas on how to balance the budget, contain out of control spending, grow the economy or create jobs?  I don't know.  I'm also confounded by what I've read in the press that this markup will end today with no consideration of amendments and without a vote on the Chairman's budget resolution.  A "markup" entails debate, amending and actually marking up the resolution.  But today is nothing more than speeches, with a suggestion that maybe we'll meet again sometime near the end of the year to offer amendments and vote on a resolution.

The Chairman was quoted yesterday as saying, "This is the wrong time to vote in committee; this is the wrong time to vote on the floor.  I don't think we will be prepared to vote before the election."  Do we need to add another $1 trillion to the national debt before it's time to vote on a budget resolution? Or $2 trillion?  If now is not the time to lead, propose bold solutions and take action, when is?

The American people are going to pay a heavy price for the unwillingness and inability of the Senate Democratic leadership to lead and offer solutions.  I understand the predicament the beloved Chairman is in and I'm sorry for the way he's being treated by his leadership.  He deserves better.  Despite what he knows should be done, and wants to do, his party leadership won't let him act.

Once again, the Senate Democratic leadership and President Obama are content with being absent from the discussion.  There are no solutions.  There is no leadership.  There is only failure and punting until after the next election.

We have a moral obligation to offer serious solutions for today and for future generations.  This exercise would be humorous if the consequences of inaction weren't so serious.  I yield.

The public is invited to join the Muscatine Art Center in welcoming Carol Ehlers, art history speaker, as she presents a 45 minute lecture on the art of French Post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh. The lecture will take place Thursday, April 26 at 5:30 pm in the Muscatine Art Center's Music Room. Admission is free.

Vincent Willem van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853 in the Netherlands, the oldest child of a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church. He began to draw as a child but did not begin painting until his late twenties. Van Gogh's work was exhibited for the first time in August 1885 in the windows of a paint dealer in The Hague.

Despite his rejection of academic teaching van Gogh took the higher level admission exams at the Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and in January 1886 graduated in painting and drawing. He left for Arles in 1888, and in the spring of 1889 entered a hospital near there after having famously cut off his own ear.  During his stay the clinic and its garden became the main subjects of his paintings and many of his most compelling and best recognized work date from this period of his life.

In 1890, after years of painful anxiety and frequent bouts of mental illness, van Gogh died at the age of 37. At his death his work was known to only a handful of people and appreciated by fewer still. In just over a decade he had produced more than 2100 works of art, many that today, are among the most sought after and admired paintings in the world.

In 1992 the Muscatine Art Center's collections were significantly enriched by a gift of twenty-seven works of art by Toulouse-Lautrec, Matisse, Degas, Boudin, Chagall, Renoir, and other European artists. The collection was a gift from the estate of Mary Musser Gilmore in honor of her parents, Richard Drew Musser and Sarah Walker Musser.

EVENT DETAILS:

Lecture: "The Wonderful World of Color: Vincent van Gogh"

Who: Carol Ehlers

When: Thursday, April 26, 2012

Time: 5:30 PM

Where: The Muscatine Art Center's Music Room

Admission to this program is FREE.

Please contact Katy Doherty, Program Coordinator, with any questions or concerns at 563-263-8282 or by email at kdoherty@muscatineiowa.gov.

The Muscatine Art Center is open to the public Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM, Thursday from 10 AM to 7 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM Admission is FREE.