Chart shows growth in internet usage from different uses. VoIP, which is not really visible, refers to "voice over IP," or telephone service delivered over an internet connection. (SOURCE: Cicsco Systems Visual Networking Index)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Internet traffic is exploding in the U.S. and around the world, thanks to growth in video, gaming and other data-heavy online uses. That’s a positive trend for anyone in the internet business. But it also means internet providers have to keep up with the ever-growing demand for capacity.

That trend is behind MI-Connection Communications System’s recent decision to upgrade technology for about 63 percent of its Internet and data customers, executives told the system board last week. The upgrade quadruples the capacity of network connections for 6,400 customers in Davidson and Cornelius and eventually could allow the company to offer cheaper high-speed connections for businesses and residential customers, the system’s CEO said. Read the full story

David Auger (left) is the new CEO of MI-Connection. John Venzon is chairman of the system owned by Davidson and Mooresville. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

MOORESVILLE – Directors of the MI-Connection Communications System on Tuesday appointed telecommunications consultant and former Time Warner Cable executive David Auger as the first local CEO of the cable and internet network. His appointment comes as the towns of Mooresville and Davidson prepare to take over day-to-day operation of the the system, which they have owned since 2007.

At a special board meeting Tuesday at MI-Connection headquarters in Mooresville, the board also approved a new contract with Bristol Virginia Utilities (BVU), which has run the system for the towns – until now.

Under the new 3-year deal, the towns will take over management of the system – from marketing to finance to Read the full story

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

MOORESVILLE – MI-Connection Communications System and Bristol Virginia Utilities (BVU) have agreed on a revised operating contract that will transfer main responsibility for running the system to MI-Connection as of Dec. 1. The MI-Connection board of directors has scheduled a special meeting this Tuesday, Nov. 22, in Mooresville to approve the new deal. Read the full story

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Revenues at MI-Connection Communications System fell slightly during the first quarter of the 2012 fiscal year, but operating profits were up sharply, thanks in part to lower expenses and net gains in subscribers in all three of its business lines – internet, telephone and TV. Read the full story

MI-Connection reported growth in all three of its business lines in the 1st quarter of FY12. Graph levels show the number of customers gained in the first three months of the year. Percentages represent the change in the number of new customers in the first quarter compared to the number of new customers a year earlier. (SOURCE: MI-Connection)

By CHRISTINA RITCHIE ROGERS
DavidsonNews.net

MI-Connection added customers in all three of its businesses during the first quarter of the fiscal year – internet, telephone and even cable TV, where the company has been losing customers. Officials attributed the growth to “basic blocking and tackling” on sales and customer service, as well as fewer customer losses.

MI-Connection officials also said at their monthly board meeting Thursday that  negotiations to take over more of the system’s operations from outside operator Bristol Virginia Utilities (BVU) are likely to be completed by early November. The towns of Mooresville and Davidson, which own the system, had previously hoped to take over most functions by July 1. Read the full story

The board of directors of the town-owned MI-Connection Communications System will meet at Davidson Town Hall Thursday night, where the agenda will include a report about recent customer growth, according to the system’s transition manager.  Read the full story

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

MI-Connection Communications System has taken over some management tasks formerly handled by its outside contractor as it scales back its relationship with the firm, Bristol Virginia Utilities (BVU). But the system and BVU are still working out details of a new contract that would allow the management transition to go forward.

The system’s owners, Mooresville and Davidson, had announced they were planning to take over most of MI-Connection’s business functions under a new contract that was to have taken effect July 1. But contract negotiations have taken longer than expected, transition consultant David Auger said Monday, though the two companies’ boards could vote on a new deal by the end of the month. Read the full story

The board of the MI-Connection Communications System has canceled its regularly scheduled monthly meeting this Thursday, June 23, but scheduled a special board meeting for Tuesday, June 28.

General Manager Alan Hall said the meeting has only one item on the agenda at this point: a resolution authorizing MI-Connection to apply to participate in the North Carolina state retirement system. Read the full story