More than 1,500 NTCA members are gathered in Dallas this week for the 2022 Rural Telecom Industry Meeting & EXPO (RTIME), NTCA’s first in-person annual meeting since 2020. On the first two days of the conference, members enjoyed catching up in networking events and committee meetings and a look at the future of rural broadband and the once-in-a-generation investment in broadband deployment from NTCA Board Chairman Keith Oliver and Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield.
A Welcome and Look Ahead
Oliver kicked off the conference by welcoming attendees and reviewing some of the industry’s highlights from 2021, including the expansion of universal service funding, discussions about the future of universal service, the launch of a successful cybersecurity program in CyberShare: The Small Broadband Provider ISAC, growth of the Smart Rural Community program and sustainment of the association’s connection with members and financial stability amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Oliver reminded the audience that while the signing of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was a momentous occasion for the broadband industry, work remains to sustain the networks that the historic level of funding for broadband deployment will create.
He closed his remarks by announcing and explaining his priorities for 2022: promoting unity among NTCA members of all kinds, especially in the association’s advocacy work, and building a bold vision for the association’s future.
"We are united in a common commitment to our communities, a shared history of overcoming all odds, and in our strong love for our country,” Oliver said.
Broadband Is the Conversation
NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield noted how much things have changed since the days of seeing broadband as a “nicety” to today, when it is considered critical national infrastructure.
Bloomfield also remarked that NTCA members have done a good job keeping pace with changing consumer preferences and demands for higher speeds and more capacity and encouraged companies to invest in telling their stories through the Smart Rural Community program.
“We used to fight to make broadband part of the conversation, now it feels like broadband is the conversation,” Bloomfield said. “All of this work has culminated in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which President Biden signed into law this past November.”
Bloomfield also highlighted new member resources created to aid them when considering applying for infrastructure funding, including the Broadband Opportunity Hub and the BEAD Program state/territory tracker.
The “Infrastructure Dream Team”
Following her opening remarks, Bloomfield moderated a lively panel discussion on what members should be thinking about as they consider applying for historic infrastructure funding with what she called “the infrastructure dream team": Matt Collins, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Calix, Matt Dunne, executive director at the Center on Rural Innovation, and Kathryn de Wit, broadband project director at The Pew Charitable Trusts.
De Wit encouraged members to call their state broadband offices and build relationships as they work to understand broadband and award funding. Dunne recommended that members be ambitious because their services are in great demand across the country, and Collins noted that unlike some other larger providers, NTCA members have the trust of their customers thanks to their documented commitment to their communities.
Focus on Partnerships and Cybersecurity
Several breakout sessions were held Monday, including two focusing on protecting company culture when forming partnerships and understanding what is coming next in cybersecurity.
Joe Buttweiler, director of business development at CTC (Brainerd, Minn.), and Andy Isackson, director of member operations at CTC, discussed the importance of transparent communication with employees when forming a partnership, as well as involving them in building processes as plans take shape. They also encouraged those in attendance to look for partners who share the same values and goals as they do, and to be patient as agreements will not be made overnight.
On cybersecurity, Randy Van Buren of Nokia pointed to the cloud, cryptocurrency, and automated systems and actions as the newest areas needing increased attention. He also encouraged attendees to consider where the next attack might come from and to assess where their defenses are soft, noting that customers expect to be kept safe across various operating systems and apps.
Chad Kliewer, information security officer at Pioneer Telecom Cooperative (Kingfisher, Okla.), encouraged attendees to sign up for NTCA’s CyberShare program, which curates daily threat information to ensure the most relevant details are passed to small telcos. Kliewer shared that during the recent SolarWinds hack, he was heartened by so many fellow participants letting him know about his company’s risk. CyberShare is an important and affordable tool for small telcos to ensure that their networks are kept safe, and NTCA members are encouraged to learn more and sign up.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the first two days of RTIME. The action continues today!
