NRTC

We were thrilled to welcome the Empower Broadband team, a subsidiary of Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative (Chase City, VA), to our NRTC Managed Services offices in Raleigh, NC, this week. Empower Broadband has chosen NRTC to provide 24x7 technical support for its subscribers, and we couldn't be more excited to support their mission of delivering reliable broadband services to their community! A special shoutout to the Empower Broadband team members who joined us: Top row (left to right): Dustin Francis, Community Relations Coordinator; Glenn Isaacs, Network Manager; Chad Plemons, Operations Manager. Bottom row (left to right): Byron Tuley, Regional Director, Managed Services (NRTC); Angie Thomas, Office Manager; Emily Warren, Manager of Accounting; Dwayne Long, CTO; Jon Bartleson, President, Managed Services (NRTC). #EmpowerBroadband #NRTC

As we continue Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we invite you to join us at 1 p.m., Eastern, on Tuesday, October 29 for a special cybersecurity webinar. Tom Neclerio, SilverSky CISO and SVP of Security Services, will outline how broadband providers can comply with cybersecurity requirements for popular funding programs like BEAD and E-ACAM. Tom will review the key cybersecurity requirements for providers participating in those funding programs. Register here: https://hubs.li/Q02SFrnv0 #CybersecurityAwareness. #NCSAM

It's #CoopMonth, and once again we're highlighting the seven cooperative principles. Today, the second principle: Democratic Member Control. At NRTC, our members actively participate in guiding the future of our cooperative by voting for their representatives on our board. NRTC's electric members vote at our annual meeting, held with the NRECA's annual meeting, and telco members vote at the NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association's meeting. In 2025, we'll be in Atlanta for the NRECA meeting and San Antonio for NTCA. Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks about how your cooperative can take part in these important elections. #CoopMonth #DemocraticMemberControl

We had an inspiring and engaging time at NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association's Fall Conference in Indianapolis, this week. It was a fantastic opportunity to dive deep into the latest in rural broadband innovation and to connect with our members. Check out Keith Gabbard, CEO of PRTC, and Byron Tuley of NRTC, who were "caught speeding" by our speed test! PRTC has been doing incredible work, and we can’t wait to share more about their impressive accomplishments in the coming days—stay tuned!

We continue to celebrate #CoopMonth, today, with a quick overview of the first of the seven cooperative principles: Voluntary and Open Membership. This means rural utilities of all types—electric, telephone, broadband, and beyond—are welcome to join our cooperative family. We’re committed to creating an organization where everyone who shares our vision of advancing technology in rural communities can participate. Together, we make a difference, one member at a time. Learn more about membership: https://hubs.ly/Q02R-0qN0 Stay tuned for more #CooperativePrinciples throughout October!

October is here, and NRTC is proud to celebrate both National Cooperative Month and Cybersecurity Awareness Month! As a member-driven organization, we believe in the power of cooperatives, and we will be celebrating throughout October. We're also happy to announce that, once again, we are recognized as Cybersecurity Champions for Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This month, we will share helpful tips to keep you safe online, and we will talk about how NRTC helps our members manage their cybersecurity concerns. Learn more about a cybersecurity attack on US broadband providers that was recently made public by the Wall Street Journal: https://hubs.li/Q02RLgs00 #CoopMonth #CybersecurityAwareness

Arvig, a Perham, MN-based rural internet provider, is ready to introduce nationwide mobile voice and data service. Working with NRTC Mobile Solutions mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) service, Arvig will offer three data plans, activate customers’ existing mobile devices or give customers the opportunity to order new devices. “Arvig Mobile provides an exciting new opportunity for Arvig customers,” said David Arvig, the company’s VP and COO. “Not only can they enjoy top-rated mobile service, they can do so while saving money by bundling with their internet service.” https://lnkd.in/eP5GStXh

Congratulations to former NRTC Board Chairman Bob Hance (pictured center), who last week celebrated his retirement as president and CEO of Midwest Energy & Communications (MEC) in Michigan. Bob spent more than 50 years working at electric cooperatives and the past 23 years at MEC. “Clearly, it was meant to be, and oh, what blessings I’ve been fortunate to gather over my time here,” he said in an online essay (https://lnkd.in/eq9iWaKv) earlier this year. Joining Bob at the reception were (l-r) Allan Berg, CEO of Presque Isle Electric and Gas Co-op in Michigan; Chris Martin, NRTC VP, Member and Industry Relations; NRTC Regional Business Manager Mark Davis, and Shaun Lamp, president and CEO of Great Lakes Energy, who succeeded Bob as District 4 member of NRTC's board of directors.

Rain won’t stop NRTC from supporting FRS’ 5k Rural Fun Run! Chris Lorenz, one of our member success managers, got his run done on the treadmill. Four other NRTC staffers are participating this month. Proceeds from the FRS Rural Run/Walk 5K help support FRS programs, including scholarships and community grants for students and organizations in rural communities.

NTCA in recent joint comments with ACA Connects urged NTIA to maintain policies favoring fiber construction over wireless and satellite alternatives for BEAD projects. Congressional and wireless industry pressure led NTIA earlier this summer to propose a draft policy that would make it somewhat easier for states to fund “alternative technologies.” https://lnkd.in/e7EhN6BU