Sometime around March 83rd (June 8, to be precise), FCC Commission Geoffrey Starks announced the Digital Opportunity Equity Recognition (DOER) program. Intended to amplify the accomplishments of broadband in the face of COVID-19, it seemed like a natural fit for NTCA members who have made a habit of working tirelessly to ensure that students, teleworkers and public safety personnel remain connected in these unprecedented times. And the results prove it: a stunning five of the eleven corporate honorees selected nationwide are NTCA members. And among those NTCA companies are several Smart Rural Community Gig Capable providers.
Consolidated Telecommunications Co. (Brainerd, MN), Hill Country Telephone Cooperative (Ingram, TX), Horry Telephone Cooperative (Conway, SC), Matanuska Telephone Association, Inc. (Palmer, AK) and Paul Bunyan Communications (Bemidji, MN) were each recognized by the FCC. Their accomplishments included, among other things, working with local school districts to identify unserved students; deploying drive-in and mobile Wi-Fi hotspots; and connecting more than 1,000 new homes to broadband. And lest anyone think “1,000 new homes” means “1,000 new users,” consider this: on average, 38% of U.S. households have at least one child of school age (6-17 yrs. old), and 23% of all U.S. households have two or more children. The employment rate among U.S. households with children, whether single or double parent, is 91.3% for at least one parent working. And the telework rate in the first months following COVID-19 shutdowns was 40%. So, we can begin to get a sense of how many newly connected households might be supporting multiple simultaneous users throughout the school day. And how many “doers” our NTCA “DOERS” enabled.
But it is not only about students and workers. It is about telehealth. And resolving senior isolation. And businesses, large and small, remaining strong because they can host an online presence.
In Smart Rural Community, we talk about ROI of rural broadband as being less about the miles and more about the meaningful- every student who (even in “normal” times) can participate in classes that would otherwise be unavailable but for the resource of distance learning; every patient who can visit with a doctor without the drive; every business that can buy, sell and maintain a presence in the market through an online presence. Because it’s not just about having the network, it’s about using it collaboratively with others; it’s about moving from being a service provider to a solutions provider.
NTCA celebrates our Smart Rural Community members annually through our Showcase award program. And we always note that the reviewers who evaluate the companies and nominate the winners include not only telecom experts but representatives from agriculture, education, health care and other non-telecom, yet telecom-reliant, industries.
This week, the FCC recognized the vital role that broadband plays in our communities. And when it applauded our NTCA members, it affirmed the principles of Smart Rural Community, and the character of the companies who serve their communities to those ideals.
