NRTC and NTCA Improve Programming Offer
NRTC, with its partner the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), announced improvements to its video programming offer and debuted a new name for the service. “TelcoVideo” affirms NRTC and NTCA’s focus on delivering a service for small- and medium-sized telcos. The tagline “Powerful Programming. Smart Support.” highlights the significant improvements made to the offering.
“This year, NRTC has strengthened the value of this offering—from the investment in Avail-TVN, to the creation of flexible programming packages,” said NRTC President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bob Phillips. “This truly is powerful programming. Our goal is to enable members to deliver a triple play of services, including a strong video service, which will help make them more competitive,” he continued.
Annual Report Outlines Successful Year
The 2008 NRTC Annual Report was recently distributed to members. The report details NRTC’s success and clear mission to continue delivering new solutions that will strengthen member business and improve quality of life in rural America.
NRTC's Top Five 2010 Planning Suggestions for Telcos
Rural telcos across the nation have much to consider this planning season. How are you going to generate new revenue streams and operate more efficiently? How will you handle landline erosion and increased competition for last-mile data connectivity? These are NRTC’s suggestions:
1. Expand Your Broadband Reach. The government has made rural broadband a national priority, and you now have more cost-effective strategies than ever before for offering broadband throughout your community, despite the challenges of terrain. If you aren’t adequately serving your market with broadband access, you may face an overbuild by a wireless operator or a cable operator with fiber to the home (FTTH). Choosing a mix of cable, DSL, fiber, Wi-Fi, WiMAX and satellite Internet access methods now, while expanding your IP backbone network capacity, will be key to meeting your customers’ needs in this “Internet economy.”
2. Explore the Smart Grid Opportunity. Deploying smart grid technology, a two-way communication system between electric utility companies and consumers, helps the country conserve energy and reduce its carbon footprint. Just as every computer that accesses the Internet has an Internet address, the smart grid will have a Web of access points that can be identified, contacted and controlled. Telcos and electric utilities can share resources to provide the necessary smart grid communications infrastructure for mutual gain. Because NRTC’s membership includes 1,400 telcos and electric cooperatives, we can help you forge these new partnerships.
3. Create Bundles. Give your customers a reason to stick with you by offering bundles. As an NRTC member, you can offer your own cell phone service (Telispire), Internet Protocol TV (TelcoVideo) and Internet access (TrueBand) services. NRTC’s Regional Business Managers can help you set up unparalleled packages.
4. Maximize Efficiencies. To support your in-house staff, consider taking advantage of three of NRTC’s offerings: 1) 24x7 network management services; 2) 24x7 subscriber technical support for data, voice and video services; and 3) geographic information systems (GIS). By electronically mapping your services areas, equipping vehicles with GPS units and integrating those units into your outage system and other applications, you can reduce service costs and respond to issues quicker.
5. Marketing. Now is the time to remind your customers how great you are. NRTC’s Sales and Marketing Managers can help you develop marketing strategies and tactics for attracting and retaining customers.
No matter what you’re planning for 2010, we invite you to consult with NRTC’s Regional Business Managers to see how NRTC can help.
Open House for NRTC Members
NRTC and DigitalBridge Communications Corp. (DBC) are dedicated to helping NRTC members extend broadband throughout rural America via WiMAX. At different locations around the country, NRTC and DBC hosted open house events for members to see WiMAX in action. NRTC members have visited tower sites and retail stores, and have met with WiMAX dealers and customers.
If you are interested in learning more about WiMAX and touring an established site, please contact your Regional Business Manager.
NRTC Members Reap Rewards of Verizon-Alltel Merger
Telispire, NRTC’s white-labeled cellular phone service, operates on the Verizon network. Until recently, NRTC members in areas covered only by Alltel could not offer Telispire. Now that Verizon has purchased Alltel, those members—primarily in the western and midwestern regions of the country—can join the 65 other NRTC members who sell this cellular phone service.
“We’re pleased that more of our members can take advantage of the benefits of Telispire. The quad-play bundles, including Telispire’s smart phones like the Blackberry Curve, help our members beat out the competition,” said Bill Gerski, NRTC’s senior vice president of sales & marketing.
"If you want to learn more about how you can offer cellular phone service with little capital investment and full operational and marketing support, contact your local Regional Business Manager.
NRTC Staff Present at Alaska Power Association Annual Meeting
NRTC Board Member and General Manager of Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative Bob Marshall, NRTC Regional Business Manager Jerry Titus and NRTC Utility Solutions Business Development Manager Tony Thomas attended the Alaska Power Association (APA) Annual Meeting in Kenai, AK.
Marshall discussed NRTC’s smart grid solutions with APA mangers. Focusing on advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and automated meter reading (AMR), Titus and Thomas exhibited during the meeting. In addition to the NRTC exhibit, NRTC member Homer Electric Association, Inc. held a demonstration of their Cooper Power AMI system, purchased through NRTC. NRTC and Homer will reunite in October at the Northwest Public Power Association Operations and Engineering Conference.
Webinar Examines Complexity of Broadband in America
NRTC’s Business Research Analysis Manager Randy Sukow was one of three speakers on Pike and Fischer’s recent webcast, “Here Be Dragons: Bringing Broadband to the Unserved.”Sukow explained that rural America cannot be served by a one-size-fits-all technology solution, because rural communities have different needs. “For a better broadband experience, we need flexibility,” said Sukow.
The presenters also debated the degree to which the government’s broadband stimulus efforts will help. To purchase a recording of this webcast, visit Pike and Fischer’s web site.
ERS Releases Report, “Broadband Internet’s Value to Rural America”
According to the August 2009 report by the Economic Research Service (ERS), consumers and businesses in rural America are almost as likely as their urban counterparts to use the Internet. However, access to broadband and high-speed is still lagging in some regions of rural America, and that matters. By comparing counties with and without broadband access in 2000, ERS found that “employment growth was higher and nonfarm private earnings greater in counties with a longer history of broadband availability.”
Co-op Month is Here
During "Co-op month”, we celebrate the mission and principles of cooperatives. Cooperatives are owned and controlled by members seeking to gain economic success and improve their quality of life.
The Seven Cooperative Principles
1. Voluntary and Open Membership – no discrimination.
2. Democratic Member Control – one member, one vote.
3. Autonomy and Independence – member control.
4. Education, Training and Information – cooperative development.
5. Cooperation Among Cooperatives – working together.
6. Concern for Community – improving quality of life.
In the spirit of "Co-op month", Copper Valley Telephone Cooperative (CVTC) for the second year in a row NRTC members Copper Valley Electric Association (CVEA) are working together to gather clothes, food and blankets for those in need. Prior to this drive, CVTC and CVEA worked together in bringing Rachel’s Challenge to their community, the largest school program in America, which aims to eradicate violence, bullying and prejudice in schools. They also teamed up for the Valdez Relay for Life, a fundraiser for cancer, a Healthy Living Challenge and Recycling Our Areas Resources (ROAR). By working together, these cooperatives save time and money, as well as expand Copper Valley’s capabilities. To learn more, please read the latest issue of Ruralite.
Check Out the Redesigned Cooperative.com Website!
With a reorganized and simplified home page, the new site allows you to access the information you’re looking for faster. Stop by cooperative.com to see what is happening with NRTC and America’s electric cooperatives.
Write us at nrtconnects@nrtc.coop.
© 2009 NRTC
2121 Cooperative Way
Herndon, VA 20171
www.nrtc.coop
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October Issue
• NRTC and NTCA Improve Programming Offer
• Annual Report Outlines Successful Year
• NRTC's Top Five 2010 Planning Suggestions for Telcos
• Open House for NRTC Members
• NRTC Members Reap Rewards of Verizon-Alltel Merger
• NRTC Staff Present at Alaska Power Association Annual Meeting
• Webinar Examines Complexity of Broadband in America
• ERS Releases Report, “Broadband Internet’s Value to Rural America”
• Co-op Month is Here
• Check Out the Redesigned Cooperative.com Website!
• NRTC Training Opportunity
• Meet Regional Business Manager Mike Dunne
• Where You Can See NRTC
NRTC Training opportunity
Getting Ready For Video
If your company is deciding to provide video, you probably have lots of questions. This interactive webinar is a great place to start. We will review issues and concerns every company must think about and get right, if they want to be successful. Seats are limited, registration is required.
Date: Thursday, October 15, 2 p.m.
Duration: 1 hour
Featured Staff Profile
Meet Regional Business Manager Mike Dunne
 As one of the 17 original NRTC employees, Mike Dunne has worked for NRTC for more than 20 years. He currently serves as a telco Regional Business Manager (RBM) for AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OH, SC, TN, VA and WV.
Before his role as an RBM, Mike helped NRTC members with programming for C-band and DIRECTV.
Prior to NRTC, Mike worked with SportsView, providing pay-per-view sporting events. Mike also worked as an account executive for the Nashville Tennessean and Viacom Cable.
To contact Mike, please call him at 615-268-6857 or e-mail mdunne@nrtc.coop.
Where You Can See NRTC
• Sept. 27-30: Western Telecommunications Alliance Fall Meeting, Monterey, CA
Madeleine Forrer speaking and Steve Hanson will attend
• Sept. 29-Oct. 1: NRECA Region 2 & 3 Meeting, Chattanooga, TN
NRTC staff will attend
• Oct. 5-6: G&T Fall Manager’s Meeting, Point Clear, AL
Bob Phillips speaking
• Oct. 7-10: Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives Annual Meeting, Jefferson City, MO
Gene Porter will attend
• Oct. 13-15: NRECA Region 7 Meeting, Cheyenne, WY
NRTC staff will attend
• Oct. 14-16: New York State Telephone Association Annual Meeting, Binghamton, NY
Dennis Renowski will attend
• Oct. 18-20: Mid-America Telecom Showcase & Seminar, Kansas City, MO
Steve Hanson will attend
• Oct. 27-29: NRECA Region 6 Meeting, Grand Forks, ND
NRTC staff will attend
• Nov. 3-5: NRECA Region 8 & 10 Meeting, Albuquerque, NM
NRTC staff will attend
• Nov. 7-10: NREDA Annual Conference, South Destin, FL
Alana Pilkington will attend
• Nov. 9: Georgia Electric Membership Corporation Annual Meeting, Tucker, GA
Jay Smith will attend
• Nov. 10-12: TelcoTV, Orlando, FL
Madeleine Forrer speaking and NRTC staff will attend
• Nov. 10-12: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association Annual Meeting, Harrisburg, PA
Jay Smith will attend
• Nov. 18-20: Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives Annual Meeting, Bowling Green, KY
Mark Davis will attend
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