NRTC to Share Benchmarking Perspectives with CFC Members

With the holidays over, one way to get back in the work routine might be by planning future broadband construction projects. Members of the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) are invited to join “NRTC Broadband Benchmarking,” part of CFC’s Financial Webinar Series, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, Jan. 13.

The session will review NRTC’s Rural Electric Cooperative Broadband Benchmarking Report (PDF) released earlier this year. The report offers a look at the major steps involved in planning a broadband project, both for electric utility connections and high-speed internet service to local communities. It covers basic information about wireless and fiber optic broadband technologies, deployment costs, forecasting subscriber take rates and revenues, operations practices and other issues.

The report also emphasizes the need for close study of individual circumstances before each broadband project. “Just like there’s no single path for broadband, there’s no one way to use this report. Each co-op will glean different insights,” said NRTC CEO Tim Bryan in a message to NRTC members.

NRTC has tentatively chosen three speakers for the CFC webinar: Ted Solomon, VP, Strategy & Corporate Development; Rudy Tober, chief marketing officer for NRTC Broadband Solutions, Amy Lingle, an operational accountant for NRTC Broadband Solutions.

CFC members can register today on the CFC website.