I spent some time on the road this week as I am currently winging my way (literally) from the Calix Connexions Show in Las Vegas to meet with NTCA’s Midwestern members at the MATSS meeting in Kansas City. As always, time on the road and with our member companies teaches me so much about our industry and top priorities and gets me thinking about ways we can continue to support their success.
A few things truly struck me in Vegas, beyond the obvious things that keep Vegas striking! A number of NTCA members, including Norvado (Cable, Wis.), Silver Star Communications (Freedom, Wyo.), SCTelecom (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) and Chariton Valley Communications (Macon, Mo.) were noted for special achievements. Many of these companies' heads took to the stage to share their stories of service to their customers and to their communities. The passion about the work they are doing, the pride they have in the efforts of their team and the progress they have made in bridging digital divides yet to be conquered was palpable, and the way they are using tools to better understand their networks and customer needs was revolutionary. They were celebrated for their ability to locate and connect with their low-income consumers to share information about support programs to enable their inclusion in the digital economy, to provide the speed and capacity on demand to consumers during what they know is their peak productivity time and even putting apps in the hands of their consumers to better manage and control their networks—all leading to lower op/ex, smarter networks and happier consumers.
I know that being in a conference felt like being among “family,” so it was easy to share their successes but my takeaway was that audiences including their local community leaders, state broadband offices, consumers and their own workforce (or future workforce) need to hear those stories with the same passion and commitment to mission with which they were delivered this week.
I was inspired.
Additionally, I appreciated the large platform at Calix to share with all sectors of the industry a few things that are top of mind for me, including how our industry might seize these opportunities before us. And I always enjoy sharing the stage with my compatriots at the Fiber Broadband Association and Utilities Technology Council (UTC).
There is a lot on the plate this week as we keep our fingers crossed that Congress can find its way to pass the historic infrastructure package, but I am also looking forward to sharing with the folks at Mid-America Telecom Showcase & Seminar (MATSS) how they have to think differently about where the money will be flowing from and how to work now to ensure that the local and state education can begin. NTCA will certainly be sending out some resources in the coming days that will help explain further the difference between different deliveries of internet technology and why building broadband in rural America is not for the faint of heart or those looking for an EASY button and some quick cash.
