Citizens 'leading the way' in rural broadband

kAm%96 52J=@?8 6G6?E H:E9 2 (6=4@>6 E@ v:8 r@F?ECJ E96>6 :?4=F565 2 3C62<72DE 2?5 C@F?5E23=6 5:D4FDD:@? H:E9 &]$] #6AC6D6?E2E:G6 |@C82? vC:77:E9[ 8F6DED 7C@> E96 urr 2?5 }%rp 2?5 @E96C @77:4:2=D[ 7@==@H65 3J 2 AC6DD 4@?76C6?46 2?5 E@FCD @7 r:E:K6?D’ 46?EC2= @77:46] x? E96 6G6?:?8 2 4@>>F?:EJ 46=63C2E:@? 762EFC65 >FD:4 2?5 7@@5]k^Am

kAmqJ E96 6?5 @7 E9:D J62C r:E:K6?D H:== AC@G:56 ?62C=J e_ A6C46?E @7 u=@J5 r@F?EJ H:E9 v:823:E u:36C E@ E96 w@>6 Wu%%wX[ rt~ 2?5 v| vC68 $2AA E@=5 E96 8C@FA] qJ E96 6?5 @7 E96 AC@;64E :? a_a`[ ?62C=J hf A6C46?E @7 u=@J5 r@F?EJ 9@>6D H:== 92G6 7:36C 2446DD]k^Am

kAmpD9=6J $A:?<D[ r@>>F?:42E:@?D r@@C5:?2E@C 7@C }%rp – E96 #FC2= qC@2532?5 pDD@4:2E:@?[ D2:5 E96 }%rp 92D @G6C g__ 4@>>F?:EJ\32D65 E6=64@>>F?:42E:@?D 4@>A2?:6D] r:E:K6?D :D @?6 @7 E96 }%rp’D `f_ v:8 46CE:7:65 423=6 4@>A2?:6D “@? E96 4FEE:?8 6586 @7 3C@2532?5 E649?@=@8J…=:E6C2==J :?G6DE65 :? E96:C 4@>>F?:E:6D 2?5 D6CG:?8 7C:6?5D[ 72>:=:6D 2?5 3FD:?6DD6D…]#FC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D ?665 E9:D 2446DD E@ C@3FDE 3C@2532?5 E@ >2<6 DFC6 E96J 92G6 E96 D2>6 BF2=:EJ @7 =:76 2D FC32? A2CED @7 E9:D 4@F?ECJ] r@?8C6DD 92D C6BF:C65 p>6C:42 92G6 E9:D CFC2= 6BF2= 2446DD…]r:E:K6?D :D 96=A:?8 E@ 7F=7:== E92E >2?52E6]”k^Am

kAm$A:?<D ?@E65 E92E “A@AF=2E:@? 56?D:EJ :? A=246D =:<6 u=@J5 r@F?EJ :D =@H 2?5 86@8C2A9:42= 492==6?86D 2C6 9:89] qF:=5:?8 @FE 7:36C ?6EH@C<D @G6C H:56 @A6? DA246D…:D 6IA6?D:G6]” %96 C6H2C5D 2C6 6G6? 8C62E6C] “$A665D E92E H6 5@?’E 6G6? ?665 ?@H H:== 36 AC@G:565 7@C 564256D :? E96 7FEFC6] %92E’D 2 3:8 562=…]x?G6DE:?8 :? CFC2= 3C@2532?5 :D 8@:?8 E@ 96=A 4=@D6 E96 5:8:E2= 5:G:56]”k^Am

kAmtG2? u6:>2?[ E96 v@G6C?@C’D r9:67 qC@2532?5 p5G:D@C[ DE2E65 :E :D “2>2K:?8 E@ D66 u=@J5 r@F?EJ =625:?8 E96 H2J” H:E9 E9:D AC@;64E] “x E9:?< H6 D9@F=5 46=63C2E6 2??@F?46>6?ED =:<6 E9:D…]%96 92C5 H@C< E92E r:E:K6?D 92D 5@?6 E@ ECF=J ?@E ;FDE 244@>A=:D9 E96:C >:DD:@?[ 3FE 36 ?2E:@?2= =6256CD :? E96 H2J E92E J@F 244@>A=:D9 E92E >:DD:@? :D 72?E2DE:4]”k^Am

kAmr:E:K6?D :D “A2CE @7 E96 723C:4 @7 E9:D 4@>>F?:EJ[” C6>2C<65 sFC2?E s] (2=E@?[ tI64FE:G6 s:C64E@C @7 E96 ':C8:?:2 %6=64@> x?5FDECJ pDD@4:2E:@?] “%96J D92C6 E96 >@DE 6DD6?E:2= >:DD:@? – E92E’D C6DA@?D:3=6 E6=64@>>F?:42E:@?D D6CG:46] r:E:K6?D C62=:K6D E92E DF446DD :? E9:D 4@>>F?:EJ >62?D 9:89\DA665 3C@2532?5 E@ 3FD:?6DD6D @? >2:? DEC66E E@ E96 72C>6CD 2?5 E96 9@>6D E92E 6?23=6 :ED 4:E:K6?D E@ =:G6[ E@ =62C?[ E@ 62C?[ 2?5 E@ DE2J :? u=@J5 r@F?EJ]”k^Am

kAm$2AA D2:5 r:E:K6?D’ 9:DE@CJ @7 AC@G:5:?8 E6=64@>>F?:42E:@?D D6CG:46 E@ :ED 4FDE@>6CD 52E6D 324< E@ `h`c[ H96? 2 8C@FA @7 4:E:K6?D 42>6 E@86E96C E@ AC@G:56 E6=6A9@?6 D6CG:46 “H96? ?@ @?6 H2?E65 E@ D6CG6 @FC CFC2= 2C62”] x? `hhd r:E:K6?D 3682? E@ @776C 5:2=\FA :?E6C?6E D6CG:46 2?5 2 76H J62CD =2E6C s${ 3C@2532?5 :?E6C?6E D6CG:46 @G6C :ED 4@AA6C H:C6D] x? a_`g E96 4@>A2?J =2F?4965 C6D:56?E:2= 8:823:E :?E6C?6E D6CG:46 :? u=@J5 r@F?EJ]k^Am

kAm%96 4@>A2?J ?@H @776CD ` 8:823:E A6C D64@?5 5@H?=@25 2?5 d__ >6823:ED A6C D64@?5 FA=@25 – “E96 @?=J DA665 H6’C6 @776C:?8 F?E:= H6 42? E2<6 :E 6G6? 9:896C[” $2AA 6IA=2:?65] !C:4:?8 DE2CED 2E Sbh]hd H:E9 FD286 E:6CD 36J@?5 E92E] “(6 E9:?< @7 E96 :?E6C?6E =:<6 6=64EC:4:EJ 2?5 49@:46D D9@F=5 46?E6C 2C@F?5 FD286 2?5 ?@E DA665]”k^Am

kAmx? >2<:?8 E96 8:823:E D6CG:46 A@DD:3=6[ $2AA D2:5 r:E:K6?D’ q@2C5 @7 s:C64E@CD “92D G:D:@?[ 2?5 H6 92G6 2 72>:=J @7 ea G6CJ E2=6?E65 2?5 42C:?8 6>A=@J66D…E92E >2<6 :E 2== 92AA6?]k^Am

kAm“(6’C6 2=D@ 23@FE =@?8\E6C> 8C@HE9 2?5 DFDE2:?23:=:EJ 2?5 2C6 ?@E 7@4FD65 @? D9@CE E6C> AC@7:ED]” w6 25565 :E H:== E2<6 2 >:?:>F> @7 g\`_ J62CD E@ C64@FA E96 4@DE @7 6249 7:36C 4@??64E65 9@>6]k^Am

kAm%96 E@E2= 4@DE @7 E96 AC@;64E H:== 6I4665 Sbd >:==:@?[ 2?5 r:E:K6?D 92D C646:G65 7F?5:?8 E@ 96=A H:E9 E92E 6IA6?D6]k^Am

kAmx? }@G6>36C a_`e r:E:K6?D 6=64E65 E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? E96 p=E6C?2E:G6 r@??64E p>6C:42 r@DE |@56= Wp\rp|X 2=E6C?2E:G6 H:E9 a__ @E96C 4@>A2?:6D] %96 2=E6C?2E:G6 AC@G:565 6IEC2 F?:G6CD2= D6CG:46 7F?5D @G6C 2 `_\J62C A6C:@5 E@ :>AC@G6 3C@2532?5 D6CG:46] %96 4@>A2?J 2=D@ 4@>>:EE65 E@ 46CE2:? >6EC:4D H:E9:? E92E A6C:@5] p\rp| 7F?5:?8 C6AC6D6?ED 2C@F?5 ag A6C46?E @7 E96 AC@;64E 4@DE]k^Am

kAmp=D@[ 2 C646?E=J 2H2C565 >2E49:?8 8C2?E E9C@F89 E96 ':C8:?:2 %6=64@>>F?:42E:@? x?:E:2E:G6 W'p%xX :D 96=A:?8 E@ 3C:?8 3C@2532?5 E@ >F49 @7 r@AA6C w:==] %96 8C2?E AC@G:56D ca A6C46?E @7 E96 4@DE[ $2AA D2:5[ 6IAC6DD:?8 9:D 2AAC64:2E:@? E@ E96 8@G6C?@C 2?5 @E96CD] #6D:56?ED :? E96 r@AA6C w:== 2C62 H:== 36 8@:?8 “7C@> ?@ 3C@2532?5 E@ @?6 8:823:E D6CG:46 7:36C E@ E96 9@>6]”k^Am

kAmr@FCE?6J s@K:6C[ r9:67 s6AFEJ H:E9 E96 $E2E6 s6A2CE>6?E @7 w@FD:?8 U2>Aj r@>>F?:EJ s6G6=@A>6?E[ D2:5 D96 H2D “6DA64:2==J A=62D65 E@ 2H2C5 E96 8C2?E E92E’D 8@:?8 WE@H2C5X E96 AC@;64E] “%92E’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 `c >:=6D @7 7:36C E92E H@F=5 92G6 366? 2 =@?8 E:>6 4@>:?8 7@C E92E 4@>>F?:EJ] xE C6AC6D6?ED 6I24E=J E96 EJA6 @7 A2CE?6CD9:A E92E :D 2 >@56= 7@C E96 C6DE @7 E96 DE2E6]”k^Am

kAm#2J {2|FC2[ !C6D:56?E @7 E96 ':C8:?:2 r23=6 %6=64@>>F?:42E:@?D pDD@4:2E:@? W'r%pX[ 28C665 2?5 D2:5 r:E:K6?D’ 64@?@>:4 :>A24E @? E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 :ED =6256CD9:A :? E9:D AC@;64E H2D D@>6E9:?8 @E96CD D9@F=5 “=@@< E@”]k^Am

kAmr@?8C6DD>2? |@C82? vC:77:E9 2=D@ 6>A92D:K65 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 E96 8:823:E D6CG:46 :? u=@J5 r@F?EJ 2?5 E96 A@DD:3:=:E:6D :E 4@F=5 @776C[ 7@C :?DE2?46 7@C E6=6>65:4:?6] x? E96 5:DEC:4E 96 C6AC6D6?ED[ 96 4@>>6?E65[ E96C6 2C6 “2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 H9@ 42?’E 86E E@ E96 ?62C6DE 9@DA:E2= :? 2 C62D@?23=6 A6C:@5 @7 E:>6] %6=6>65:4:?6 :D 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 C6G@=FE:@?2CJ :E6> 7@C CFC2= p>6C:42[ 3FE J@F’G6 8@E E@ 92G6 2446DD E@ 8@@5 :?E6C?6E D6CG:46…]xE’D 8@:?8 E@ 492?86 E96 H2J H6 5@ >65:4:?6 :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 3FE A2CE:4F=2C=J :? E96 CFC2= 2C62D @7 p>6C:42…]”k^Am

kAm{J562?2 |2CE:?[ u=@J5 r@F?EJ’D r@>>F?:EJ 2?5 t4@?@>:4 s6G6=@A>6?E s:C64E@C[ H:E9 H9@> r:E:K6?D A2CE?6C65 H:E9 @? E96 'p%x 2AA=:42E:@?[ D2:5 E92E E92?<D E@ r:E:K6?D “7@CH2C5 E9:?<:?8 2?5 DFAA@CE 7C@> A2CE?6CD” 3J `hhd 6G6CJ D49@@= :? u=@J5 r@F?EJ H2D 4@??64E65 3J 7:36C 2?5 6G6CJ 4=2DDC@@> 925 2446DD E@ E96 :?E6C?6E] “xE’D 366? EC2?D7@C>2E:G6 7@C @FC 4@>>F?:EJ]”k^Am

kAmx? u=@J5 r@F?EJ “H6 5@?’E 92G6 D@>6 EC25:E:@?2= 64@?@>:4 56G6=@A>6?E :?7C2DECF4EFC6” \ 2? :?E6CDE2E6[ A@CE[ C2:=[ @C F?:G6CD:EJ] “(92E H6 5@ 92G6 :D 2 G:3C2?E 4@>>F?:EJ E92E :D 8C@H:?8 3FD:?6DD6D 2?5 ;@3D 72DE6C E92? h_ A6C46?E @7 ':C8:?:2’D =@42=:E:6D] x? E96 A2DE E9C66 J62CD H6’G6 925 >@C6 E92? h_ ?6H 3FD:?6DD6D] (6’G6 925 >@C6 E92? d__ ?6H ;@3D]”k^Am

kAm|2CE:? D2:5[ “~FC 3:886DE 4@??64E:@? E@ E96 H@C=5 :D 7:36C[” 2?5 E92E 2==@HD =@42= C6D:56?ED E@ ?@E @?=J 36 4@?DF>6CD 3FE 2=D@ “E@ 3FJ 2?5 D6== @?=:?6”] u:36C 92D 6?23=65 =@42= 3FD:?6DD6D E@ 8C@H[ D96 25565] “(6 DE:== 92G6 @FC DECF88=6D 64@?@>:42==J] (286D DE:== =28…](6 DE:== 92G6 =@ED @7 A6@A=6 4@>>FE:?8 @FE[ 3FE H6’C6 H@C<:?8 C62==J 92C5 E@ 5:G6CD:7J @FC 64@?@>J… 2?5 6?92?46 H@C<7@C46 D<:==D]” w@H6G6C[ D96 25565[ E96 4@F?EJ :D “3=6DD65 E@ 92G6 2 8C@H:?8 64@?@>J” 2?5 “2 A2E9 7@CH2C5” 5F6 E@ r:E:K6?D]k^Am

kAm$FA6CG:D@CD {2FC6? *@56C 2?5 {:?52 s6':E@ zF496?3F49[ 2=@?8 H:E9 |2J@C (:== vC:77:? 2=D@ 2EE6?565 E96 AC6DD 4@?76C6?46] zF496?3F49 4@>>6?E65 E92E 4@>>F?:42E:@?D E649?@=@8J AC652E65 CFC2= 6=64EC:7:42E:@? :? E9:D 4@F?EJ] “*@F H6C6 23=6 E@ DA62< @? 2 A9@?6 367@C6 J@F 925 2 =:89E :? J@FC 9@FD6]”k^Am

kAm%92E <:?5 @7 =6256CD9:A :D H92E :D D@ :>A@CE2?E E@ E96 7FEFC6 @7 u=@J5 r@F?EJ[ D96 25565[ “2?5…x’> D@ AC@F5 @7 E9:D @C82?:K2E:@? 7@C :ED 7@C6D:89E … E@ 36 23=6 E@ =@@< 2?5 D66 E9:D H2D 2 H2J 7@C E96 4@F?EJ ?@E @?=J E@ 4@>>F?:42E6 H:E9 6249 @E96C[ 3FE 7@C u=@J5 r@F?EJ E@ 4@>>F?:42E6 H:E9 E96 H@C=5]”k^Am