Member Driven.
Technology Focused.

We help members deliver advanced technology solutions across rural America.

broadband

Evaluating, designing and building broadband networks to meet member needs 

We help you deliver fast, reliable broadband to all your customers—no matter how remote. From technology evaluation to business modeling, right through construction and daily operations, you get the right model for providing high-speed service. Let us worry about managing complicated back-office systems like cloud storage, email servers and security. Our team takes care of the technology while you take care of your customers. 

managed services

Providing the tools and resources to maximize our members’ efficiency

Operations, billing, and customer care are vital for success. Many of our members are jumping into telecommunications for the first time, and we understand just how much work it takes to prepare for and successfully operate telecommunications networks. There are a multitude of things a new operator must manage, and we are here to help. Leverage our expert personnel and leading-edge products and services so your team can focus on taking care of your customers, improving your network, and growing your business. 

smart grid

Building a reliable, efficient, next-generation power system in rural America

With improved communication thanks to a faster flow of data with advanced metering infrastructures (AMI), you’ll know how and where your customers are using electricity. This knowledge reduces outages, gets power back online faster when outages do occur, and helps you run a more efficient utility. We can make life easier for everyone from the linemen in the field to technicians remotely monitoring systems to the manager planning deployment. Let us help you build the best network for your service territory, with demand management features, advanced analytics, and advanced, next-generation energy capabilities. 

mobile

Blazing fast data and voice service from coast to coast

Our members provide advanced mobile service in many very remote parts of the nation. These rural providers are serving their communities efficiently and affordably without having to build a single mile of wireless infrastructure, providing their customers top-notch smartphone and tablet use. Our turnkey private label Mobile Virtual Network Operator makes this possible. And our experienced wireless team means you’ll also get excellent and flexible back-office support.

REC Broadband benchmarking report

We asked electric cooperatives about their broadband deployments

Here is what we learned.

Since NRTC published its first REC broadband benchmarking report in 2020, the number of electric co-ops stepping up to bridge
the broadband divide has continued to grow.

For our newest report, NRTC and NRECA collaborated to expand the scope of this data, now including 88 members, and the topics covered. The reports’ goal continues to be to catalog our members’ results to help cooperatives that are evaluating broadband.

Resources

The Latest News and Events

National Broadband Map Update, 8.3 Million Still Lack Access

The FCC has released the first update of its National Broadband Map introduced in November 2022. After six months, which included a challenge period where the public was able to point out possible inaccuracies, the Commission now estimates that there are 8.3 million unserved homes and businesses in the United States. That represents an increase of 330,000 over the total unserved homes in the original map. The Commerce Department’s NTIA is using the map as a tool to calculate state allocations of funds from the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Development (BEAD) Program later this summer.

Plan Now for Home EV Charging’s Impact on Your Utility

Last month, Josh Pepple, NRTC VP, Technology Planning gave two presentations to the Heartland Metering Conference in Kansas. Today, NRTC is publishing a white paper based on one of those presentations, “Electric Distribution Cooperatives’ Planning Must Include Measuring and Improving Reliability.” Pepple explains how developments in recent years are leading to increased demand for electricity, which increases the need for reliability. After describing the industry methods and terminology for measuring reliability, he covers mitigation strategies and technologies for improving reliability and resilience.

Commenters Urge Flexibility While Creating SCS Regulatory Regime

The FCC recently accepted comments on its proposed regulatory framework for Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS), text communications between satellites and mobile phones. A large majority of commenters endorsed the Commission’s goals in the proceeding, but some asked for special attention toward preventing adjacent-channel interference with mobile phone bands. From a rural perspective, commenters praised the technology for potentially making emergency communications with first responders possible in very remote areas. But some also asked the FCC to allow rural mobile phone carriers be able to offer SCS, as well as national carriers.

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