RTC Communications (Montgomery, Ind.) is the top local service provider in the Indiana counties of Lawrence, Marin and Daviess, serving more than 2,500 members spread over more than 300 square miles. Over 92% of residents in RTC’s local service territory benefit from fiber broadband.
The company also offers service outside its local service territory. For example, RTC funded a project to bring fiber broadband to 110 homes in part of Washington, Indiana.
The area that RTC serves has seen population growth, and broadband availability is a critical factor in continuing to attract new residents.
RTC has been highly responsive to the needs of businesses in its serving area. The company is developing a service level agreement (SLA) to meet the specific needs of TrueScripts, a multi-state pharmacy benefit company that employs 50 people in Washington, Indiana.
RTC also helped attract Japanese auto manufacturer M&C Tech to the area. Working with the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation and using a small grant, RTC deployed nearly seven miles of fiber to an industrial park and continues to work with M&C to help support M&C’s planned growth.
To support businesses in an Amish community, RTC reached an innovative annual financial agreement to support network infrastructure in the community. Although the Amish forego many technology advances, some Amish businesses use the internet so prospective customers can learn more about them.
Other RTC business customers include Graber Post, a building material provider that operates in 26 states, and Daviess County Metal Sales (DCMS). Both companies have gigabit connections from RTC supported by five miles of fiber that RTC deployed to meet the companies’ needs.
In addition, RTC is working with Daviess-Martin County Rural Electric Membership Cooperative on the formation of an innovative strategic community partnership aimed at providing residents, businesses, and public institutions with access to reliable high-speed fiber in areas of Daviess and Marin counties that are not served by RTC.
The company is also working as a broadband advisor for the Southwest Indiana Technology and Collaboration Hub Network (SWITCH). The SWITCH initiative received a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration to identify and understand the steps needed to participate in a changing economy.
RTC is a part-owner of the statewide Indiana Fiber Network, which the company sees as a valuable tool in fostering public/private partnerships, economic development and quality of life in the region.
