Full Channel

Full Channel, Inc.
Industry Telecommunications
Founded 1965
Founders
John Donofrio, Hilda Donofrio
Headquarters 57 Everett Street
Warren, RI 02885
United States
Key people
 Linda Jane Maaia, President/CEO
Products Cable television, Broadband Internet, Digital telephony
Number of employees
 20+ (2013)
Website www.fullchannel.com
www.fullchannel.net

Full Channel, Inc., formerly Full-Channel TV, Inc., is a private, family-owned Rhode Island corporation providing digital cable television, Internet and telecommunications services in Rhode Island. It is the third-largest [1] cable television and Internet service provider in the state. Its wired communications network is available to the approximately 50,000 residents of Bristol County, Rhode Island.[2] Full Channel's main office is at 57 Everett Street in Warren, Rhode Island, U.S.[3][4]

History

In 1965, John Donofrio, a former broadcast engineer and general manager at WPFM (now WBRU) in Providence and sales executive at Charles River Broadcasting in Boston, founded Full-Channel TV, Inc.[5] upon learning of the potential success of Community Antenna Television. Later that year, Donofrio's company applied for and was awarded the first cable television franchise in Rhode Island after his application was approved by the City of East Providence.[6] However, before Full Channel began construction of a system in East Providence, cable television franchising authority was transferred away from local municipalities to the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission. In 1974, Full Channel was among the nine original cable franchises awarded by the PUC and was ultimately assigned to the state's CATV Service Area 5, Bristol County, Rhode Island. It would not be until 1982 that legal wrangling would allow for the original franchisees to begin building their systems.[4]

In 1982, Full Channel hired a workforce, opened a local business office and began building its cable system. In the winter of 1983, the company's first cable television subscriber was connected. The company remained the only cable provider in Bristol County until 2001 when Cox Communications overbuilt Full Channel as part of its bid to service the entire state of Rhode Island.[7] Today, Full Channel competes with various TV, Internet and phone offerings from Cox, Verizon Communications, DirecTV and Dish Network. Since the entry of these competitors to the market, Full Channel has presumably lost some of its customer base, however the actual number of subscribers each company serves is not publicly available.

Since Donofrio's death in 2004, his daughter Linda Jane Maaia, son-in-law William Maaia and grandson Levi C. Maaia have run the company.[8][9]

Services

Full Channel TV

Full Channel's most widely distributed service is Limited TV. This tier provides local broadcast signals and local cable access channels to all TV sets, both analog and digital. Expanded TV and digital tiers are also available, which add high-definition and specialty services like DVR.[15] The company also airs the three Rhode Island Statewide Interconnect channels, as well as two local public and government access channels for the towns of Barrington, Warren and Bristol, Rhode Island.[16] The company does not presently offer video on demand services.

Full Channel High-Speed Internet

Full Channel offers at least three levels of residential Internet service in addition to two levels of business Internet tiers using DOCSIS 3.0 technology.[17] Both business and residential service classes are divided into tiers. The fastest DOCSIS offering is the residential Lightning 320 tier, which provides 320 Mbit/s download. The company also offers enterprise level fiber-optic Internet circuits to larger businesses and institutions.[18]

Full Channel Digital Phone

Full Channel offers two residential calling plans and two business calling plans with a variety of features. Silver Plan includes some features and local calling. Gold Plan includes all features and nationwide calling.[19]

In 2008 Full Channel partnered with People's Power and Light – a 501(c)(3) – to deliver GreenLink, Full Channel’s renewable energy initiative. The company claims this is the first such initiative in the cable industry. Customers who elect to participate in the program ensure that the energy used to power their broadband connection comes from wind power. This contribution goes directly to People's Power and Light's wind projects in New England, which work with National Grid plc to purchase more wind power.

In 2009 CableFAX awarded Full Channel its Top Operator award for community service for its efforts with GreenLink and other community-based activities.[20]

References

  1. ↑ "Rhode Island PUC". Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  2. ↑ "US Census Bureau - American FactFinder Bristol County, R.I.". Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  3. ↑ "Contact Full Channel". Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  4. 1 2 "John Donofrio; owner of Full Channel and a pioneer in cable TV". The Providence Journal. August 28, 2004. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  5. ↑ "Full Channel Summary Screen". State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Office of the Secretary of State.
  6. ↑ "Cox Plots Overbuild of Tiny R.I. System". Multichannel News.
  7. ↑ "Cable TV exec never envisioned herself at helm". PBN.com.
  8. ↑ "Our Story". Full Channel. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  9. ↑ "David and Goliath cable fight looms". PBN.com.
  10. ↑ "Full-Channel adds three cable networks to line-up". Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  11. ↑ "Open Internet Disclosire". Full Channel.
  12. ↑ "TV Everywhere". Full Channel. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  13. ↑ "Full Channel's Hilda Donofrio Dies at 87". Broadcasting & Cable.
  14. ↑ "We’re serious about your privacy". Full Channel Community.
  15. ↑ "Pricing". Full Channel.
  16. ↑ "TV". Full Channel.
  17. ↑ "Open Internet Disclosire". Full Channel.
  18. ↑ "High-Speed Internet". Full Channel.
  19. ↑ "Digital Phone". Full Channel. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  20. ↑ "Full Channel recognized for green efforts". Retrieved 2 July 2012.
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