We are so sorry. We have been Off The Air on BOTH our Channels for about 18 hours. The problem is not here in our studio. Everything is working fine here.

In order to Live Stream on the Internet you not only need to have an Internet Service Provider (ISP - the company that provides you Internet Servic), you also need one of two things: 1) A LOT of money (I’m talking thousands $$$) to have your own bandwidth pipeline to the Internet, OR, you need a Data and Server Company that already has a lot of bandwidth to sell (That is what the Internet is comprised of… LOTS of bandwidth) and many servers. They make their money by purchasing Lots and Lots and Lots of bandwidth (hundreds of thousands of dollars worth, and even millions of dollars, depending on how big they want to grow their company), and they sell portions of that bandwidth to Radio Stations and Podcasters like PBNradio.com (Praise Broadcasting Network). Then, we pay them monthly for the amount of bandwidth we need, without our having to shell out the money for a Large pipe of bandwidth, ourselves. This is much more cost effective for us. Also, when there are equipment failures, it is THEIR problem to get it fixed, and in a hurry. THEY incur the costs associated with the repair.

Well, I told you all that as background to tell you this. The Data and Server company we use is in England. They have been very, very good, and is much less expensive than the company we had before, Live 365. When the government shut down Live365, it was somewhat of a shock to us. We had to do some scrambling to find another Data and Server company. God led me to a company in England, and we have been a customer of theirs for several years. They are a GREAT company, and they have worked through many problems with us.

I can’t say enough good about Bell. For them to have an outage is a Rarity. But, when they do, it is usually a doozy. Once there were some servers down somewhere in Germany that affected many of their customers and a large part of the European Union, and of course, we were one that was affected, as we used a server from that part of the world.. We had them transfer our servers closer to home, as they own servers all over the world. The told me they have some that are well positioned here in the US. I asked to be transferred to two of those. PBNclassic is on one server, and PBNpure is on a different server. That way, if one server runs into a problem (These are electronic servers. They WILL break down from time to time.), the other server will be up and still going. That way, you can just tune in to our other Broadcast until the other one’s server is repaired.

Well, THIS TIME it was a major problem at one of their Data Centers which services several servers, two of them happen to be the ones PBNclassic and PBNpure are on. The servers are completely shut down, affecting many servers and many radio stations and Podcasts. So, we are being affected just like everyone else. Knowing all this doesn’t help get the Data Center problems fixed, and get us back On The Air, yet, at least we know they are on top of it, and are working as hard as they can to repair it all.

I’ve learned long ago, and have gotten better at practicing the fact that, if a problem is out of our control, then all the ranting and shouting and impatience and getting mad will ONLY affect me. I know these people, and I know they are responsible, and they are working hard to restore service.

In the meantime, this problem has reminded me of a company I have been considering for about 6 years. The time just wasn’t right, each time I explored their website and read what they offer. It just did not fit what PBNradio.com needed at that time. Well, I haven’t visited their website in quite awhile, and it may be time to revisit it, and see if anything has changed. We have had some changes in our programming, and what they have to offer just might be what we need, now. If what I’m thinking pans out, then we will use the new company as our major supplier, and we will use who we have currently as a backup in case anything catastrophic like this happens, again. This new company is also in England. The difference being, all of their equipment and servers are in house, meaning, if anything happens to the equipment, they have people right there who are on it IMMEDIATELY. They also have backup systems, should problems arise.

Please pray for us, as we have a lot of work to do, yet it sure beats the alternative. We have the blessing of broadcasting the Most Beautiful Worship Music This Side of Heaven. All the time I thank God He has given this blessing to us. Sooner or later, PBNradio.com (Praise Broadcasting Network) will be back On The Air broadcasting the Worship music you love. In the meantime, just know we are working diligently behind the scenes for YOU. We want to help you in your Worship, whenever you need us. This music is the habitation of God, and THAT is where I want to be. He inhabits the PRAISES OF HIS PEOPLE!

Claudia and I, and the PBNradio.com team love you all. It is for YOU that we do this. We are just simple missionaries, bondservants of the Most High God! It is an honor. You can still email us at: PBNradio.com . Click on the “Contact” link at the top.

Pat and Claudia Rutherford

P.S. Don’t forget, we have PODCASTS up on PBNradio.com . Enjoy those while you are waiting with us.

We Are So Sorry, Yet it is out of our hands. We wait just like you...