After a busy few weeks hunkered down in Washington, D.C., that included having nearly 500 rural broadband advocates in town for our Legislative and Policy Conference, it was time to hit the road again. Getting out to meet members where they are is always energizing – even if travel is admittedly a bit exhausting at times!
The travel circuit resumed this week with a trip to the Telecom Operations Conference & Showcase (TOC) in Fargo, N.D. The TOC brings together several hundred operations staff from Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota for training that ranges from highly technical, hands-on sessions to broader context on what’s happening in the industry. However, the real magic happens on the show floor at this meeting. Being a fly on the wall as these techs compare notes with vendors on solutions for rural deployment and operational challenges is an incredible opportunity, and for me, it’s the best part of the trip.
Next week kicks off with a “trip” to Dulles, Virginia, to meet with the leadership of the National Cooperative Services Corporation, an important NTCA partner that provides capital to rural broadband providers nationwide, followed quickly by a flight to connect with the dozens of NTCA members attending the Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association’s annual convention. I’m looking forward to spending time with this group, which has long led the charge to connect rural Wisconsin, including substantial efforts to expand beyond its historical service areas and to answer the call from other rural communities in need.
After a few days in Wisconsin, it’s on to California to meet with NTCA members who volunteer as stewards of our members’ retirement plan benefits. As I mentioned in a blog last month, plans like these enable smaller employers to achieve greater scale and are mission-critical for attracting and retaining a skilled broadband workforce in deeply rural areas. It’s always encouraging to see the care and thought our volunteer member committees put into managing these offerings on behalf of the industry.
And sandwiched in the middle of all of this is, selfishly, the best trip of the bunch – a drive up and back to upstate New York to see our oldest son graduate from college. He’s been a top-notch student, earning the highest honors every quarter at a great school (while clearly enjoying the college experience!), and we’re unbelievably proud of his work and the person he’s become. As he prepares to take on the world in new ways, this weekend’s trip to celebrate his efforts to date is a special highlight in the middle of a busy, productive travel schedule!