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March 8, 2010: tenKsolar, Inc and NRTC Sign Distribution Agreement
Minneapolis, MN – March 8, 2010—tenKsolar announced today that the company has executed an agreement with the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) for sales of the company’s high output solar photovoltaic systems to rural electric cooperatives. “Having had firsthand experience with NRTC’s excellent ability to bring technology solutions to market in rural America, I am delighted that NRTC will be representing us,” said Joel Cannon, CEO of tenKsolar. [More]

February 17, 2010: Press Release: Phillips to Retire as CEO of NRTC
February 17, 2010 [Herndon, VA]—Bob Phillips, President and Chief Executive Officer ofthe National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC), will retire at the end of May 2010, after 32 years of service to the rural utility program and 23 at the helm of NRTC. Phillips made the announcement at the NRTC Annual Meeting on February 14 in Atlanta. [More]

January 5, 2010: Wes Dittmer Named CFO of NRTC
January 4, 2010 [Herndon, VA]—The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative today announced Wes Dittmer as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), succeeding Chris Abetz, who retired at the end of 2009. [More]

December 7, 2009: NRTC and GeoNav Group International Introduce Network Infrastructure Management Solution for Rural Telecommunication Providers
December 7, 2009 [Herndon, VA]—The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) and GeoNav Group International announced today the availability of nVIEW Networks, infrastructure management software that allows telecommunication providers to manage their networks using ESRI’s ArcGIS®. [More]

November 9, 2009: NRTC Supports Members by Adding Clevest Solutions
November 9, 2009 [Herndon, VA]—The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) today announced that it has signed an agreement with Clevest Solutions, Incorporated, a mobile workforce solutions provider, to offer the company’s products and services to its rural utility members. Through this agreement, NRTC members will have access to Clevest’s Mobile Field Force (MFF) solutions and smart grid deployment software. [More]

October 28, 2009: NRTC Congratulates USDA on 60 Years of Supporting Rural America
October 28, 2009 [Herndon, VA]— The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) congratulates the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development on 60 years of supporting the growth of critical telecommunications services in rural America. [More]

September 14, 2009: NRTC and NTCA Improve Programming Offer
The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC), a cooperative dedicated to improving the quality of life in rural America through use of advanced telecommunications, and the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), a non-profit association representing more than 580 small and rural telephone cooperatives and commercial companies, today announced improvements to their 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 their offering. [More]

August 26, 2009: Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Selects Honeywell Integrated Security through NRTC
The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) announced today that Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association has entered into an agreement to purchase a Honeywell Integrated Security access control and camera system to modernize security at Craig Station, one of its flagship baseload generating stations. [More]

July 23, 2009: Edward Drew to Lead NRTC’s Utility Division
July 23, 2009 [Herndon, VA]— The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative today announced Edward Drew as its vice president of Utility Solutions, the division dedicated to providing solutions for its utility members, including advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). His more than 10 years of experience in the electric utility market and telecommunications will boost NRTC’s ability to serve its electric cooperative members engaged in deploying the smart grid and other mission-critical products and services. [More]

July 23, 2009: Kurt Schaubach to Lead NRTC Broadband Efforts
July 23, 2009 [Herndon, VA]—The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) today announced Kurt Schaubach has come on board as vice president, Broadband Technologies. As more of NRTC’s rural members turn to wireless and other Internet access solutions, Kurt Schaubach’s experience in communications network design, deployment, operation and advanced technology development will help ensure that NRTC offers the latest Internet and communications solutions to meet members’ needs. [More]

July 20, 2009: Rural Telcos Build Competitive Advantage With Programming from NRTC
July 20, 2009 [Herndon, VA] –The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) has announced that more of its telco members are building their competitive advantage by signing on to deliver the Cooperative's programming for Internet Protocol television (IPTV). Telcos across the United States are delivering NRTC’s more than 350 video and audio channels of IPTV programming to homes and businesses. [More]

June 10, 2009: NRTC and UTC Make 220 MHz Spectrum More Widely Available to US Utilities
June 9, 2009 [Herndon, VA]—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. Through this agreement, NRTC and UTC will be able to meet the immediate spectrum needs of utilities across the United States. [More]

May 18, 2009: NRTC Investment to Help Rural Telcos
May 18, 2009 [Herndon, VA]—The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) today announced a strategic investment in Avail Media, a Reston, Virginia-based industry leader in providing managed content aggregation services for the deployment of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV). As part of the same transaction, Avail Media has completed a merger with TVN Entertainment, the world’s largest video-on-demand (VOD) company. The NRTC investment enables access to all the best programming available from Hollywood, network providers, and independent producers, as well as ensures members a stake in a robust, next-generation IPTV transport platform. [More]

April 28, 2009: WiMAX Distribution Agreement Helps NRTC Members Meet Rural America’s Broadband Needs
April 28, 2009 [Herndon, VA]—The not-for-profit National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) today announced that its local members will soon have the opportunity to provide high-speed, fixed and mobile broadband Internet access to communities across the nation where homes, businesses, schools, hospitals, police and fire stations are least likely to be “wired.” [More]

February 11, 2009: NRTC and NTCA Now Offer More Than 80 High-Definition Channels
The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) and the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA) have announced that telcos now have the opportunity to deliver more than 80 channels of high-definition (HD) programming. In recent weeks, NRTC has more than doubled its HD offering and has created programming packages that enable rural telcos to derive incremental revenue. [More]

February 10, 2009: NRTC Announces "Rate Freeze" for IPTV Expanded Basic Programming Package
The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) today announced that it will hold rates for its Expanded Basic programming package for Internet Protocol television (IPTV) at 2008 levels. [More]

October 15, 2008: NRTC Signs Distribution Agreement with HBO®
The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) announced today that it has reached an agreement for video distribution rights with Home Box Office, Inc. (HBO). With this agreement, rural video providers that are NRTC members will have access to programming from the company’s two 24-hour premium television services—HBO and Cinemax, including award-winning original series, films, sports, documentaries and specials. [More]

August 20, 2008: NRTC Member Rappahannock Electric Cooperative Installs Integrated Radio Solution
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) in Fredericksburg, Virginia has completed installation of a TaitNet MPT1327 radio network solution. The system supports 155 mobile and 35 portable radios used by line crews across REC's territory. REC selected the Tait Electronics system through its membership in the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC). NRTC brought together multiple vendors to create a state-of-the-art, integrated system and negotiated on behalf of REC to lease the required 200 MHz spectrum. NRTC developed a solution for REC that positions the cooperative well to quickly meet future needs, including workforce management. [More]

August 7, 2008: NRTC Invests in GeoNav Group International
Today, the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) announced its investment in the GeoNav Group International, a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) services and products firm. GeoNav specializes in project management, GIS implementation, Quality Assurance, and vehicle navigation and tracking products. With its investment, NRTC has acquired on behalf of its members a 35 percent interest in the company and two seats on its board of directors. The investment enables the GeoNav Group to serve a wider audience and develop geospatial technology needs for rural electric and telephone utility markets. [More]

June 4, 2008: NRTC Offers Members Comprehensive Internet Security Services and Advanced Computer Support
Today, the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) announced that it has signed a master reseller agreement with SecurityCoverage, Inc. to offer NRTC members managed, guaranteed computer services for residential and business Internet subscribers. NRTC will offer a suite of fully managed computer protection services, including SecureIT, SecureIT Live, SecureIT Plus and PC Support Services. Beginning July 1, NRTC members can offer their residential and business Internet subscribers this 24x7 computer security protection. [More]