This morning, NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association’s annual conference, RTIME, began in Orlando, Florida. The opening session focused on themes of transition, policy, and technology.
Ben Foster, NTCA board president and president and CEO of Twin Valley and ISG Technology, opened the session by briefly touching on the process of hiring the association’s new CEO, as current CEO Shirley Bloomfield steps down on March 15. Foster described the rigorous national search that resulted in the NTCA board’s unanimous selection of Mike Romano as the new CEO.
Bloomfield took the RTIME stage next, presenting three lists: five things NTCA members have accomplished together, five things she sees ahead for the broadband industry, and five things that have brought her joy.
Bloomfield outlined the five accomplishments:
- Elevating the voices of rural broadband and keeping important issues like funding and Universal Service at the forefront.
- Securing national public funding for broadband builds and the funds to sustain those networks.
- “Driving real network results,” as evidenced by increased speeds and greater coverage. “The progress has been really impressive and undeniable,” Bloomfield said. “You delivered community by community and mile by mile.”
- Building tools and programs to help NTCA members succeed. Bloomfield cited NTCA innovations such as the Smart Rural Community program, CyberShare, eSports challenges, and the Foundation for Rural Service.
- Strengthening industry leadership via several major partnerships.
The five issues Bloomfield said will be key in the future are (1) policy and funding, especially Universal Service and accurate broadband mapping, (2) the continued pursuit of broadband deployment, especially the correct use of BEAD funds, (3) sustainability and affordability, (4) technology beyond basic connectivity, and (5) the need for the rural broadband industry to provide ongoing leadership.
Bloomfield said the five things that have brought her great joy are (1) the NTCA staff, (2) the NTCA board, (3) the ability to follow her passions, including things like Women in Telecom and NTCA’s partnership with Operation IFAST, (4) NTCA members who became friends, and (5) her family, who joined her on stage as she thanked them.
The FCC and NTCA at RTIME
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Olivia Trusty joined Bloomfield on stage for what the RTIME agenda called a “fireside chat.”
Trusty described her top priorities as universal connectivity, network security, and U.S. leadership. She highlighted FCC moves that have expanded satellite broadband capabilities.
Bloomfield asked which of Trusty’s top priorities the FCC hasn’t yet addressed. Trusty responded by talking about network security issues, particularly as they relate to artificial intelligence (AI) and 6G connectivity.
Trusty noted that, when she worked for Mississippi and Ohio congressmembers, she saw how important broadband access is for rural residents. She said the FCC is working to remove regulatory barriers and embracing new technologies to connect people “while fiber is being built out.”
Addressing Universal Service Fund reform, Trusty said, “Continued dialogue is going to be really important to ensure that any policy changes made to USF are supported by policymakers and stand the test of time, regardless of which party is in power. What the FCC can continue to do is make process improvements, ensure that USF funding aligns with demand, identify efficiencies, and root out fraud, waste, and abuse.”
Bloomfield asked Trusty which entity — the FCC or Congress — would move Universal Service issues forward. Trusty said the FCC would make as many movements as possible within its statutory authority.
Pushing further, Bloomfield asked how the FCC can help ensure the sustainability of Universal Service, on which rural broadband providers rely for maintaining their networks. Trusty said that she knows how important Universal Service is for providers, and that the FCC would keep that in mind as it strives to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
Turning to mapping, Bloomfield pointed to NTCA members’ ongoing issues with the FCC’s national broadband map challenge process. “Maps are foundational to closing the digital divide,” Trusty said. She admitted there are issues with the national broadband map. “This is an issue we need to stay on top of,” Trusty said, noting the balance between ensuring every location is connected and avoiding waste or fraud.
Trusty closed by saying that universal connectivity is key to the U.S. being globally competitive, and “NTCA member companies are critical to that mission.”
Panel on broadband technologies
The RTIME opening session continued with a panel on broadband technology led by NTCA Vice President of Policy and Industry Innovation Josh Seidemann. Panelists pointed to the need for networks to be future-proof and cost-effective.
Seidemann asked if there is a point at which fiber becomes economically unviable and other technologies should be considered. “Elon Musk doesn’t care about economics; he cares about adding subscribers,” said Telecom, Media & Finance Associates Inc. Principal Tim Farrar. “The economics don’t matter at the moment.”
JSI CEO David Makuen noted that an area’s topography combined with the capital required to reach it can help determine which technology is best.
Providers need to shift from deployment to being consultants to their customers, said Vantage Point Solutions Senior Vice President of Engineering Nathan Weber. Other panelists agreed that — as deployment reaches a saturation point and locations unserved by fiber become too expensive to reach — providers should focus on packaging services that fit customers’ lifestyles and adding services that make customers stickier.
Weber cited a recent estimate that smart agriculture will soon be a $47-billion-per-year industry, with broadband driving roughly one-third of that value.
When Seidemann asked where the industry is heading, Weber and Lerman Senter PLLC attorney Steve Coran talked about how AI will affect the broadband industry. Farrar, meanwhile, predicted, “In five years, we’ll be talking about how to deal with the Starlink monopoly.”
The NTCA RTIME conference ends on Wednesday. Telecompetitor will cover news from the conference until then.
