DOCSIS 3.0 is a powerful technology, but many advancements are still on the horizon. Currently we are bonding four channels together to provide 50 Mbps downloads and 5 Mbps uploads. DOCSIS 3.0 allows us to bond eight channels together and we are working on making space in our system in order to bond more channels. The specifications of DOCSIS 3.0 technology also make it possible to bond up to 16 channels in the future. With 16 channels we could potentially offer a 100 Mbps service to our customers. One of the reasons we invested in DOCSIS 3.0 was the realization that the sky is the limit for this technology.

Currently DOCSIS 3.0 is mainly focused on delivering higher download speeds, but further upgrades are coming to upload speeds. The technology involved in DOCSIS 3.0 uploading is very complicated. CableLabs who develops DOCSIS 3.0 standards is hoping to have even faster upload speeds available in the next year or two. Meanwhile, Midcontinent makes adjustments and modifications in our Network Operations Center to boost upload speeds. We have also found that the ratio of 50 Mbps download and 5 Mbps upload is consistent with normal Internet usage. A vast majority of customer Internet usage is 90% downstream and 10% upstream showing that current speeds match normal Internet usage.

I look forward to the further developments DOCSIS 3.0 technology will spur on and the opportunity to offer more great services to our customers.