NRTC continues to strengthen the depth and breadth of its member-focused Broadband Solutions offering by welcoming Tom Whitaker to the newly created role of Vice President, Member Operations.
In this role, Tom will work with members on a consultative basis to assess their business operations readiness to stand up and launch broadband service across seven keys functional operations areas – regulatory, marketing, customer service, billing, provisioning, workforce management and network operations.
Through this effort, NRTC will deliver to the member a playbook documenting the outcomes or solutions for each functional area as well as a dashboard with live, real-time access to updates and status of business operations progress. Whitaker will also provide expertise to members after launch through business operations continuum support designed to assist members with day-to-day business operations challenges.
“NRTC’s focus has always been supporting our members – both electric and telco – throughout their broadband journey,” said Jim DaBramo, President of Broadband Solutions at NRTC. “Tom’s experience will be invaluable to members as they prepare to launch their broadband business and make their operations sustainable and profitable. This role takes our efforts to help members evaluate, build, launch and operate their broadband network to a whole new level.”
Whitaker brings with him 37 years of experience building and operating wired and wireless communications networks at both start-up companies and established service operators. For the past 16 years, he worked at Shentel, a Virginia based service provider. There, he held executive level positions in corporate development and operations, managed the company’s cable operations and lead a cross-functional team to stand up Shentel’s new FTTH brand, Glo Fiber.
“I’m thrilled to be part of the NRTC Broadband Solutions team,” Whitaker said. “I’ve seen from the member perspective how dedicated NRTC is to serving and supporting rural broadband providers. Now, I can offer my experience to those valued members as they continue to deliver broadband to underserved rural communities.”
Whitaker completed the SCTE Leadership Program at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and the Change Management Certification Program at Cornell University. In the spring of 2020, he completed his graduate degree in Leadership from the University of Virginia. He has also participated in various vendor user groups and industry organizations. He served on the Board of Directors at the National Cable Television Cooperative based in Lenexa, Kansas.
NRTC has worked on over 40 rural broadband deployments using both fiber and fixed wireless technologies – representing more than $2 billion dollars in rural infrastructure investment, more than 100,000 miles of Fiber-to-the-Home and fixed wireless plant passing more than 600,000 rural homes and businesses. NRTC also provides Managed Internet Services, operational support, and mobile and wireless solutions to over 450 rural telecommunications operators in 40 states.
About NRTC
We are a Member-Driven and Technology-Focused cooperative. NRTC provides solutions that help our 1,500 electric and telephone members bring all of the advantages of today’s evolving technology to rural America.
NRTC’s products and services are developed specifically to meet the needs of rural utilities and their customers, and include integrated smart grid and utility solutions, advanced energy, broadband infrastructure and managed network services, wireless technologies, and programming distribution capabilities for video providers.
NRTC helps ensure our members’ success by aggregating their individual buying power, negotiating national contracts, and helping members integrate technology solutions with existing infrastructure.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210831005700/en/