August 2009

NRTC Welcomes Schaubach and Drew

NRTC has hired two leaders whose experience will benefit NRTC's efforts in both broadband and smart grid.

Kurt Schaubach comes on board as vice president of Broadband Technologies. As more of NRTC's rural members turn to wireless Internet access solutions, Kurt's experience in wireless communications network design, deployment, operation and advanced technology development will ensure that rural utilities build networks that meet their needs. He brings over 18 years of experience in the wireless industry, including 10 years in senior engineering positions with NextWave Broadband, Inc., formerly a division of NextWave Wireless, Inc. During Schaubach's tenure, NextWave Broadband became an early leader in WiMAX. [Read More]

Edward Drew is joining NRTC as its vice president of Utility Solutions. Ed's more than 10 years of experience in the electric utility market and telecommunications industry will boost NRTC's ability to serve electric cooperatives engaged in deploying the smart grid and other mission-critical products and services. His experience with wireless machine-to-machine communications brings expertise to NRTC that will benefit members who look to us for support for the advanced technologies that will enable the smart grid. Prior to joining NRTC, Ed served as director of national utility market development for Kore Telematics and held positions with Corporate Systems Engineering, LLC, CURRENT Group, LLC, Alcatel and Texas Instruments Semiconductors. [Read More]

Look for Ed Drew and Kurt Schaubach at upcoming national and regional meetings.

Welcome to New Member Hill County Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Located in Havre, MT, Hill County Electric Cooperative, Inc. (HCE) is one of NRTC's newest members. Incorporated in 1945, HCE is dedicated to providing their customers with high quality, reliable and safe electric services and products at a competitive price. HCE serves about 2,300 members in five counties, across 3,334 miles.

Working with NRTC, Hill County plans to deploy an advanced metering infrastructure system, using Cannon meters, to improve operational efficiency and provide additional services to their members.

To learn more about Hill County Electric Cooperative, Inc., please visit their Web site: www.HillCountyElectric.coop.

Welcome Hill County!

New Core Programming Lineup Gives Telcos Flexibility

Flexible programming options, dedicated key account managers that help members entering the video business, secure online contract management and access to marketing support are frequently cited as reasons telcos decide to purchase programming from NRTC.

NRTC now offers telcos the ability to create a channel line-up for their IPTV offering that builds on the most well-known entertainment providers and then allows them to customize that line-up for their markets, including two tiers of high-definition programming and Hispanic programming. Premium services, sports pay-per-view and access to broadband content and video on demand complete the robust offering. NRTC members receive discounts on Fox regional sports networks, an added benefit of membership.

NRTC's distribution agreements include rights for telcos to deliver the programming in Internet Protocol and analog formats over copper, fiber or coaxial cable. In addition to the rights to HD services, NRTC has also acquired rights to these channels' video-on-demand services, when available. Telcos interested in learning more should contact their NRTC Regional Business Manager.

More Telcos Now Offer IPTV Programming Through NRTC

NRTC members from across the United States have joined the ranks of those already distributing NRTC's more than 350 video and audio channels of IPTV programming. Telcos that have recently signed on include BTC Communications, in Nahunta, GA; FrontGate Networks, LLC, in Fort Meyers, FL; Mountain Rural Telephone Cooperative Corporation, of West Liberty, KY and Palmetto Rural Telephone Cooperative, Inc., in Walterboro, SC. [Read the press release here]

FCC Mandates Changes to Land Mobile Radios

Don't get caught by the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) mandatory deadline to narrowband private land mobile radios (LMR) by 2013. Here is some of what you need to know if you have 25 kHz-spaced radios operating in 150-174 or 450-512 MHz spectrum:

• Moving to 12.5 kHz channels: The FCC has mandated that all two-way LMR systems operating in 150-174 or 450-512 MHz spectrum must switch to narrowband 12.5 kHz-spaced channels by Jan. 1, 2013. (220 MHz spectrum is not affected by this regulatory move.)

• No New 25 kHz-Mode Equipment: After Jan. 1, 2011, the FCC will prohibit the manufacture or import of any LMR equipment operating in 25 kHz-spaced channel mode.

• New Licenses Required: Before you switch to 12.5 kHz-spaced channels, you'll need to file for a modification to your existing license or acquire new spectrum licenses. Current 25 kHz-spaced channel spectrum holders are not guaranteed access to new, 12.5 kHz-spaced spectrum. If your cooperative doesn't make a move soon, it may be too late.

To learn more, read the MissionCritical Magazine article "The Big Digital Decision," written by Todd Ellis, manager of wireless systems at NRTC. You can also contact your Regional Business Manger (RBM) to find out how to budget for an LMR upgrade in your 2010 work plan.

Be sure to watch for NRTC's latest education e-mail series entitled "12.5 Reasons to Update Your Radio System." If you haven't received these e-mails, send a note to communications@nrtc.coop and we'll add you to the list.

TVN's Stasi Expects NRTC to Influence Interactive Services to Rural America

In an interview with IPTV news, TVN Entertainment Chief Technology Officer Dom Stasi discussed the IPTV industry, TVN's merger with Avail Media and NRTC's strategic investment in Avail. [Read More]

GVTC Communications Executive Named to Texas Broadband Taskforce

An executive from NRTC member GVTC Communications has been named to the Texas Broadband Task Force.

GVTC, the state's largest telephone cooperative, has been a leader in bringing broadband to unserved areas. Robert Hunt, GVTC's vice president for regulatory affairs and corporate development, will be part of the task force.

The task force was created to guide efforts to extend broadband Internet service across the state and will support the Texas Department of Agriculture and Public Utility Commission carry out broadband-stimulus programs created by the Broadband Data Improvement Act of 2008 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

NRTC Distributes Patronage

Every year for the past 15 years, NRTC has distributed patronage to qualifying members and affiliates. In June, NRTC sent patronage capital checks to 574 members and affiliates reflecting the business they did in 2008.

NRTC pays a percentage of the current year's taxable income as cash and uses the remaining portion to fund future operations. The retained income is called patronage capital. The total amount returned by NRTC is based on a careful evaluation by the Board of Director's of NRTC's financial position and future capital needs, among other factors. The check a member or affiliate receives directly reflects the amount of business they did with NRTC in the previous fiscal year.

In addition to distributing patronage, for the third year in a row NRTC retired patronage capital certificates. A total of 376 members and affiliates that did business with NRTC in 1996 received a cash distribution representing retired patronage from fiscal year 1996.

NRTC and UTC Make 220 MHz Spectrum Available

The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) and the Utilities Telecom Council (UTC) have signed an agreement that makes 220 MHz spectrum for land mobile radio voice and data systems available to all of the members and customers of UTC. Read the press release.

FCC Report "Bringing Broadband to Rural America"

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a report to Congress entitled "Bringing Broadband to Rural America" that discusses the development of policies to deliver broadband to rural America. NRTC filed comments with the FCC in March that were part of the public record basis for the May report. In its comments, NRTC claimed that universal access to broadband service is achievable through a combination of wireless broadband service based on WiMAX technology and satellite broadband for the most remote areas.

In the Introduction, then Acting Chairman Michael J. Copps writes, "Rural America has shaped this nation's values and institutions, given us many of our greatest leaders, and been an engine of our economic progress, but it will be unable to compete in the digital global marketplace without access to broadband services. Now is the time to start developing solutions for building the critical broadband infrastructure that all Americans will need. In developing these solutions, we are not starting from scratch. Many of the technologies and resources needed for rural broadband already exist and, with American ingenuity, will become faster and more powerful in the years to come."

To read the report, visit http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-291012A1.pdf.

Write us at nrtconnects@nrtc.coop.

© 2009 NRTC
2121 Cooperative Way
Herndon, VA 20171
www.nrtc.coop

August Issue

• Stimulus Update

• NRTC Welcomes Schaubach and Drew

• Profile of New Member: Hill County Electric Cooperative

• New Core Programming Lineup Gives Telcos Flexibility

• Four More Telcos Now Offer IPTV Programming Through NRTC

• FCC Mandates Changes to Land Mobile Radios

• TVN's Stasi Expects NRTC to Influence Interactive Services to Rural America

• GVTC Communications Executive Named to Texas Broadband Taskforce

• NRTC Distributes Patronage

• NRTC/UTC Agreement

• FCC Publishes Report on Rural Broadband Strategies

• Staff profile: Steve Hanson

• Where You Can See NRTC

Featured Staff Profile

Meet Regional Business Manager Steve Hanson

Steve Hanson has been part of the NRTC team since 2000. As a Regional Business Manager for telcos, Steve serves a broad area of 19 states: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, KS, MO, MT, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, TX, UT, WA and WY.

Steve has twenty years of experience in the telco industry, but his roots with telcos go deeper. Both his father and grandfather worked in the telephone business.

If you would like to contact Steve about NRTC products and services or to set up a meeting, please call him at 913-302-6730 or e-mail at shanson@nrtc.coop.

When You Can See NRTC

• Jul. 30-31: Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives Annual Meeting
Mark Davis will attend

• Aug. 2-5: Texas Electric Cooperatives Annual Meeting
Rod Phillips will attend

• Aug. 5-7: Florida Electric Cooperative Association Summer Leadership Conference
Gene Porter will attend

• Aug. 12-14: North Carolina EMC Technologies Conference
Jay Smith will attend

• Sept. 8-10: NRECA Region 1 & 4 Meeting, Burlington, VT
NRTC staff will attend

• Sept 13-15: Electric Power Association of Mississippi Annual Meeting
Gene Porter will attend

• Sept. 13-16: NTCA Fall Conference
NRTC staff will attend

• Sept. 16-18: NRECA Region 5 Meeting, Springfield, IL
NRTC staff will attend

• Sept. 16-18: Telecommunications Association of Michigan Annual Convention
Dennis Renowski will attend

• Sept: 16-18: Texas Electric Cooperatives Materials Management Engineering Conference
Rod Phillips will attend

• Sept. 22: Golden State Power Cooperative Annual Meeting
Bob Phillips speaking

• Sept. 22-24: NRECA Region 9 Meeting, San Diego, CA
NRTC staff will attend

• Sept. 27-30: Western Telecommunications Alliance Fall Meeting
Madeleine Forrer speaking

• Sept. 29- Oct. 1: NRECA Region 2 & 3 Meeting, Chattanooga, TN
NRTC staff will attend