NRTC history

1988 – Begins investigating technologies that ultimately lead to automated meter reading products

1989 – Bob Phillips testifies before Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, calling for Congress to mandate non-discriminatory pricing and equal access to cable programming.

1992 – Signs landmark direct broadcast system (DBS) distribution agreement with Hughes Communications and open sale of DBS territories to rural utilities

1993 – Almost 350 rural utilities and 36 affiliated investor organizations commit funds to the DBS project

1994 – DIRECTV successfully launches DBS-1 satellite

1997 – Becomes an Internet service provider with nrtc.net (now TrueBand Internet Services), promoting Internet access throughout rural America

1999 – NRTC members provide DIRECTV service to 1 million subscribers

2002 – Successfully defeats the proposed merger of EchoStar Communications and DIRECTV

2003 – Invests $29.5 million in WildBlue Communications to deliver satellite Internet access.

2005 – Begins providing Ka-band satellite Internet access with the commercial deployment of WildBlue

2009 – Invests in Avail/TVN satellite-delivered video company, which begins feeding NRTC TelcoVideo members

2011 – Tim Bryan, former CEO of ICO Global Communications, becomes NRTC CEO

2013 – Acquires NeoNova, a provider of wholesale ISP services and cloud-based solutions based in Raleigh, NC. NRTC will fold its TrueBand ISP business into NeoNova’s and leverage the combined platforms to invest in an expanded services for rural broadband providers.

2015 – Reaches a Master Representative and Marketing Agreement with SoCore Energy, one of the leading solar technology providers, to assist in developing solar energy projects for rural utilities.

2016 – Acquires Pulse Broadband LLC, to enable NRTC to accelerate its efforts to provide a full range of technology solutions to its electric and telephone members in the areas of broadband and communications services.