Broadband Funding Workshop: The Time to Plan Ahead is Now
RTIME opened Tuesday with a series of workshops focused on preparing NTCA members to compete for once-in-a-generation funding to improve rural broadband with insights from state broadband officials, consultants, and vendors.
Larry Thompson, chief executive officer of Vantage Point, encouraged those in attendance to start thinking now of ways to show community support for their services, and to pay attention to the markers states and the federal government lay down. “Whatever the government thinks is important is more important than what you think is important,” he said.
Thompson also said that the awards being made through grants instead of an auction will help NTCA member applicants focus on their strengths as service providers rather than just the dollars needed to complete projects.
Neal Paye, vice president of strategy and analytics at Cartesian, expressed concern that states will need to quickly staff up and then push out huge sums of money, even if they have limited experience in broadband. Workshop panelists also estimated that money may not flow to winning providers until 2024 or 2025 depending on when new FCC maps are ready. The Broadband Infrastructure Playbook that NTCA is producing with the Fiber Broadband Association and Cartesian will help members in their outreach to state broadband officials.
Members also heard from the leaders of the state broadband offices for Georgia, Louisiana, and Montana, who expressed enthusiasm to work collaboratively with providers. Josh Hildebrandt, director of broadband initiatives for the Georgia Technology Authority, encouraged members to share challenges they face with their state broadband offices, noting input is crucial to the success of each state’s program.
NTCA members can continue to stay informed of state and federal infrastructure moves by visiting the Broadband Opportunity Hub.
eXcellence Awards Honor Community Service, Heroism
The final day of RTIME opened with a celebration of member achievements during the presentation of the 2021 eXcellence Awards, sponsored by JSI and NECA. The winners are:
- Associate Member Outstanding Achievement Award:
Dee Herman, partner at Herman & Whiteaker, LLC - Community Outreach Award:
Katie Kopplin, customer technology consultant at Lynxx Networks (Camp Douglas, Wis.) - Heroism Award:
Chase Mitchell, outside plant technician at DTC Communications (Alexandria, Tenn.) - James L. Bass Director Life Achievement Award:
Glen Hardcastle, chairman of the board at North Central Telephone Cooperative (Lafayette, Tenn.)
Ardel Rice, director at SRT Communications (Minot, N.D.) - James L. Bass Manager Life Achievement Award:
Richard Ruhl, general manager at Pioneer Telephone (Kingfisher, Okla.) - Key Employee Award:
Tyler Aklestad, OSP network planner at MTA Solutions (Palmer, Alaska) - Management Innovation Award:
Wanda Tankersley, chief operating officer at MTA - Outstanding Marketing Achievement Award:
Kerry Youngren, marketing manager at MTA
Congratulations to each of this year’s winners and thank you for your continued contribution to NTCA and your communities!
Update from the Foundation for Rural Service and Economic Outlook
Following the awards presentation, RTIME attendees heard updates from member committees and councils and the Foundation for Rural Service. Committee updates were provided via video reports, which can be viewed here:
Pam Becker, executive director of the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS), and Kurt Gruendling, FRS board chairman, updated members on the foundation’s plans for 2022, including the awarding of more than $100,000 in scholarships and an additional $100,000 through the community grant program. The FRS Youth Tour is also returning this summer after pandemic-induced hiatus. Becker and Gruendling also thanked NTCA members for their gifts and recognized longtime FRS contributor Carri Bennet with the Distinguished Service Award. Bennet, who served as the FRS board chair in 2019, helped create the Carri Bennet Rural Economic Development Grant Fund through her generous donation last year.
John Suter, vice president of economic research at RTFC, gave the audience an economic update and a peek into what members can expect in 2022. Suter noted challenges ahead including rising inflation, supply chain issues, low labor force participation and the growing national debt and said while the economy might be in for a bumpy ride, anticipated growth in the markets could carry the country through a generally positive year.
Thank you for joining us for RTIME 2022, and we hope to see you all in person at the Fall Conference in September in San Francisco, as well as RTIME 2023 in San Diego!