NRTConnects

NRTC Showcasing Solutions at NTCA Fall Conference

Please join us at the NTCA Fall Conference in St. Louis, MO, September 19-22. There will be many opportunities during the conference to meet with NRTC staff, including Vice President of Broadband Technologies Kurt Schaubach and Vice President of Video Services Madeleine Forrer, as well as your Regional Business Managers.

NRTC will be hosting a showcase for TelcoVideo, Telispire and TrueBand in the Benton Room of the Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel on Monday, September 20 and Tuesday, September 21, from 3-6 p.m. Please stop by to learn more about our products and solutions, and enjoy the beer, wine and snacks provided.

If you’d like to set up a meeting with NRTC staff, please contact your Regional Business Manager prior to the conference. We look forward to seeing you there.

NRTC Distributes Annual Patronage

For the last 16 years, NRTC has returned patronage capital to its patrons that did business with NRTC in the immediately preceding fiscal year. In 2010, NRTC allocated patronage to 622 qualifying patrons based on business done with NRTC in 2009.

In addition to distributing patronage capital, NRTC retired $1.5 million in patronage capital certificates for the fourth year in a row as part of an established patronage retirement program that it implemented. The 387 qualifying patrons that did business with NRTC in 1997 received a patronage capital allocation representing retired patronage from 1997.

The total amount allocated as patronage capital by NRTC is based on a careful evaluation by the NRTC Board of Directors in accordance with NRTC’s bylaws.

NRTC Visits with 42 Youth Leadership Council Delegates

Every summer, high school students from around the country are selected to represent their state on the electric cooperative Youth Leadership Council (YLC), sponsored by NRECA. Electric cooperatives sponsor these students, providing them an opportunity to gain better knowledge of the history of cooperatives in America and internationally, receive leadership training and meet with members of Congress, as well as staff from NRECA, CFC and NRTC.

NRTC was fortunate enough to spend a morning with the 42 YLC delegates during their week-long visit, and was extremely impressed with their knowledge of cooperative issues and their goals and dreams for the future. The delegates competed in a speech competition, hoping to earn the chance to be the YLC national spokesperson at the upcoming 2011 NRECA Annual Meeting. Congratulations to the new national spokesperson, and to all students who participated in the Youth Tour and the YLC. For more information, please visit the Youth Tour website.

Board Chairman Honored with SPIRIT Award

NRTC Board Chairman Trevor R. Bonnstetter, general manager, West Kentucky and Tennessee Telecommunications Cooperative (WK&T), was recently given the Supporting Policy Initiatives for Rural Independent Telecommunications (SPIRIT) Grassroots Advocate of the Year award. Mr. Bonnstetter received the SPIRIT award for his dedication and support of NTCA’s advocacy efforts.

By reaching out to elected officials, board members, employees and customers, Mr. Bonnstetter encourages and educates on NTCA action alerts. Mr. Bonnstetter also advocates for NTCA grassroots issues through his involvement with the Telecommunications Education Committee Organization (TECO).

In addition to his individual award, WK&T was given special recognition for their grassroots efforts. Read the entire article in NTCA’s Exchange.

NRTC Co-Hosts National Broadband Plan Information Session

On June 30, 2010, NRTC co-hosted a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) event in Herndon, VA entitled “National Broadband Plan: Driving Innovation and Investment in the Broadband Ecosystem,” along with DigitalBridge Communications, the Northern Virginia Technology Council and the Wireless Communications Association International. The information session was one of a series the FCC is holding on the National Broadband Plan (NBP). FCC General Counsel, Omnibus Broadband Initiative, Phoebe Yang presented to more than 70 attendees, including CFC, NRECA, NTCA and OPASTCO staff, about the NBP and answered audience questions.

Co-hosting the FCC event provided an opportunity for NRTC and its affiliates to learn more about the NBP and build relationships with other interested parties in the DC area, as well as FCC staff members. Gaining further insight into the NBP helps NRTC address the future needs of our members.

The “National Broadband Plan: Driving Innovation and Investment in the Broadband Ecosystem” session was recorded and is available.

NRTC Participates in CRN Smart Grid Summit

On June 29-30, NRTC participated in the 2010 Cooperative Research Network (CRN’s) Summit in New Orleans, LA. This year’s theme was “The Smart Grid for Co-ops,” and attendees learned more about various technologies and strategies for enabling smart grid capabilities. NRTC, a networking sponsor for the event, provided attendees with details about NRTC’s efforts to help cooperatives build out a smarter electric grid. NRTC highlighted the five milestones to enabling a smarter grid: communications networks, security, data management, productivity tools and renewables. For more information about the event and to download speakers’ presentations and videos, visit the event’s website on Cooperative.com (registration required).

Write us at nrtconnects@nrtc.coop.

© 2010 NRTC
2121 Cooperative Way
Herndon, VA 20171
www.nrtc.coop

Our Mission

To lead and support our members by delivering telecommunications solutions to strengthen member businesses, promote economic development and improve the quality of life in rural America.

In This Issue

• Join Us at the NRECA Regional Meetings

• NRTC Showcasing Solutions at NTCA Fall Conference

• NRTC Distributes Annual Patronage

• NRTC Visits with 42 Youth Leadership Council Delegates

• Board Chairman Honored with SPIRIT Award

• NRTC Co-Hosts National Broadband Plan Information Session

• NRTC Participates in CRN Smart Grid Summit

• Where You Can See NRTC

Where You Can See NRTC

• July 25-29: Pennsylvania Telephone Association Annual Meeting, Hershey, PA
Dennis Renowski will attend

• Aug. 2-4: Montana Telecom Association Annual Meeting, West Yellowstone, MT
Steve Hanson will attend

• Aug. 8-10: NTCA Region 4 & 5 Meeting, Cincinnati, OH
Dennis Renwoski will attend

• Aug. 8-11: MTIA Annual Meeting, Branson, MO
Steve Hanson will attend

• Aug. 10-12: Nevada Telecom Annual Meeting, Lake Tahoe, NV
Steve Hanson will attend

• Aug. 22-24: South Dakota Association of Telephone Cooperatives Annual Meeting, Rapid City, SD
Dennis Renwoski will attend

• Sept. 7-9: NRECA Region 1&4 Meeting, Grand Rapids, MI
NRTC staff will attend

• Sept. 12-15: WTA Fall Conference, Cour d’ Alene, ID
Steve Hanson will attend

• Sept. 14-16: NRECA Region 5 & 6 Meeting, Minneapolis, MN
NRTC staff will attend

• Sept. 19-22: NTCA Fall Conference, St. Louis, MO
NRTC staff will attend

• Sept. 21-23: NRECA Region 9 Meeting, Anchorage, AK
NRTC staff will attend