Rural Connect

NRTC offers Rural Connect as a place for its members and others interested to follow all topics related to communications technology and how it affects rural electric cooperatives and telecommunications providers. NRTC uses this blog to announce and discuss its products and services. NRTC posts all Rural Connect content on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, where you can use the blog to discuss technology, regulatory, legislative and business issues.

May 29, 2020

Federal Latency Policy Prompts Viasat Shift to LEO Strategy

by Randy Sukow

Citing the FCC’s policies regarding the broadband latency, Viasat said this week that it is dropping its plan to build and launch medium-earth orbit (MEO) satellites in non-geostationary-satellite orbit (NGSO) and instead moving to a low-earth orbiting (LEO) constellation to compete with SpaceX an...

May 28, 2020

Texas Co-op Chooses High-end Fiber Route with XGS-PON

by Randy Sukow

Fiber infrastructure company ADTRAN today said that it will provide United Cooperative Services (UCS), serving 14 counties in Northern Texas, an XGS-PON solution. NRTC worked with UCS to design the project and is managing network construction. UCS ultimately will provide fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) ser...

May 27, 2020

Smart Rural Communities Grants Further Educational, Security and IoT Projects

by Randy Sukow

NTCA –The Rural Broadband Association recently announced the four telcos receiving 2020 grants through its Smart Rural Communities (SRC) program. The four will receive a total of $16,500 to support broadband projects that not only extend connectivity in rural areas but make new services and techno...

May 21, 2020

2019 NRTC Annual Report Sports a New Format

by Randy Sukow

Earlier this week, we emailed a link to all our members with access to the 2019 NRTC Annual Report. We’ve made some changes from past annual reports. We used to mail a 20-page printed booklet to each member and provide access to an online version on our web site. This year’s report is a st...

May 20, 2020

Two Months Before PAL Auction, CBRS Bidding Plans an Open Question

by Randy Sukow

During a webinar titled “Service Providers and CBRS: Where’s the Opportunity?” the question became, “What is the purpose of CBRS?” The FCC and others have touted the Citizens Broadband Radio Service in the 3.5 GHz band as the important early mid-band spectrum for 5G mobile networks, while ...

May 18, 2020

FCC Plans to Delay RDOF Auction by a Week to Oct 29

by Randy Sukow

The FCC has steadily maintained that it wants to begin the reverse auction for $16 billion in the Phase I Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) program to extend broadband service to unserved areas as soon as possible. The Commission slipped just slightly on the goal today, announcing that it would ...

May 14, 2020

Commissioners See Potential Up Sides for Utilities in 900 MHz Reorganization

by Randy Sukow

The FCC’s decision yesterday to make a portion of the 900 MHz band (896-901/935-940 MHz) available for new broadband wireless uses will affect many industries, including electric power companies holding 900 MHz licenses for various narrowband applications. The Report and Order they adopted include...

May 12, 2020

NRTC Continues RDOF Auction Preparations

by Randy Sukow

Steve Pastorkovich, senior director of Broadband Funding and Development, showed the flag for NRTC earlier today during an ask-the-experts webinar hosted by the Colorado Broadband Office. A panel provided an online audience with details about the coming Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) reverse ...

May 11, 2020

Rural Telcos Hope to Expand USF Contributions to Broadband Providers

by Randy Sukow

NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association has released an analysis finding that internet subscriber growth will not stall if the government changes its universal service fund (USF) rules to collect fees from all broadband providers. The report comes as Representatives Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Don Y...

May 8, 2020

Online Traffic Growth Prodding Providers to Upgrade Fiber Networks

by Randy Sukow

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a sharp increase in internet traffic and the demand for broadband service. But that trend was already well established before the outbreak. Networking technology provider ADTRAN held a webinar yesterday suggesting transitioning strategies to save costs as networks, ...

Search By...

Filter By...

Reset Filters