I am writing this from the very crowded Asheville, N.C., airport at 5:30 a.m., well before the sun rises, after spending a quick minute with our Services Management Corporation (SMC) team.
As I sit and wonder where all these folks came from and where they are headed, I am reminded that seeing this much activity means that Americans are back on the road in full force. The luxury of traveling when others are not is over, and I better be ready to do a quick turnaround to head to our Fall Conference in San Francisco this weekend.
I am so ready for this conference and for the opportunity to gather, network, and exchange ideas with NTCA’s community-based broadband providers. I always find myself reenergized after spending time with our members and hearing how busy they are with their business plans, connecting more Americans with broadband.
The programming and presenters we have lined up are top notch and so timely. We have a trifecta of critical policy folks joining us to share wisdom and perspective from their respective programs and agencies. We will have Trent Harkrader, chief of the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau, Evan Feinman, director of the historic Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and Farah Ahmad, deputy undersecretary for rural development at U.S. Department of Agriculture. I cannot wait to hear what they all have to share on where these critical funding programs stand today.
Our various sessions include topics such as thinking like a futurist, gadgets in a gig world, workforce development, supply chain next steps, network demand, cybersecurity, the future of Universal Service, and so much more. These are in addition to key committee and leadership gatherings. I can’t wait to see everyone there.
Still, even as I type, it really strikes me how important it is to our advocacy efforts to continue to collect data on where the industry stands. That data is a key part of the narrative with policymakers.
I get it though. When we look into our overcrowded inbox, our first thought is, “I simply don’t have time to give someone more information that has no benefit to me.” At a time when we are all making judgements on where our time, energy, or staff resources are spent, that makes sense.
But what if I told you that nearly every survey that NTCA seeks your input on has something in it for you?
When we inquire about your broadband deployment, for example, this data is directly applicable and regularly used with state and federal policymakers. It is a huge tool in setting the community-based broadband community apart from others in this industry. For example, last year’s results showed that 75 percent of NTCA member customers had access to fiber to the home (FTTH) technology. I have literally watched policymakers’ eyes do a double blink when I share that statistic, particularly because they assume the companies we represent in rural and high-cost markets are behind the curve. Nothing could be further from the truth. At a time when it is more important than ever to differentiate the services NTCA members provide in rural America when compared to national providers, that statistic alone tells a key part of the story.
At a time where so much state and federal support is flowing for broadband deployment, your participation in our 2022 survey will enable us to showcase how essential NTCA members are to getting the job done in your communities. It will also showcase how valuable you are as partners due to your spirit of service and vast deployment experience, making you critical players in any additional funding coming down the pike.
We can only tell that factual story with more facts! So, please take a minute. Refill your coffee or pass this link along to someone on your team to help us share your story of success, dedication, and support for future-proof network deployment. Your information is so critical, and we are extending our deadline to October 7.
My thanks in advance. Your story is a powerful one to share!