Illinois
COMMENTRY

Co-ops dishing up more than satellite TV

In 1986 rural electric leaders from Illinois and across the nation came together with a vision for the future — that rural communities would have access to the same modern telecommunications services enjoyed by urban residents. That vision became the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC).

Like the cooperative leaders that came before them more than a half-century ago, today's cooperative leaders do not want to see rural communities left behind. In the 1930s the vision was electricity. Now we are living in the information age and rural citizens deserve access to modern telecommunication service and the vital information link these new technologies provide to the rest of the world. With the combined strength of nearly 800 rural electric cooperative and telephone systems, and affiliated organizations in 48 states, NRTC has been an effective advocate for rural consumers.

Wm. David Champion, Jr.

Starting with satellite programming service, NRTC's members now provide two unique satellite television services which directly link more than three-quarters of a million rural consumers, many of whom live beyond the reach of cable and off-air television.

C-band satellites have been available since the early 1980s, opening the door to cable programming for many in rural, non-cabled areas. Now direct broadcast satellite (DBS) is the technology used to deliver DirecTV programming via the Digital Satellite System. The small, 18-inch DirecTV dish uses the newest digital technology, which delivers the clearest picture and sound, and brings up to 200 channels into the home.

NRTC helped veteran agricultural journalist Orion Samuelson launch Channel Earth, television's first news and information channel devoted exclusively to serving the unique needs of farmers, ranchers and all of rural America. Channel Earth delivered live and late-breaking agricultural news, weather, market and commodity information, plus instant updates on trends, policies and politics affecting farmers, ranchers and other rural citizens.

While satellite television was NRTC's first focus, it is only a part of the NRTC vision. Affordable, high-quality Internet access is vital to the future of rural communities. NRTC is helping to make Internet service available to several rural communities with a national service called "nrtc.net." The service is offered by NRTC and its partner Nortel (Northern Telecom). The goal is to develop new local Internet service or improve existing service as Internet service providers (ISPs) and through aggregation to lower the cost of Internet service.

NRTC is working with several partners to provide new services and products that can help local electric cooperatives improve basic electric service. For example, NRTC is working on a plan to help cooperatives use available radio frequencies. Co-ops will be able to provide dispatching, paging, remote meter reading and system control service for their systems and provide radio services to members.

NRTC is also in discussions with satellite service vendors on a two-way satellite system that can deliver high-speed Internet and video conferencing for about $1,000. It is scheduled to launch in 2001. NRTC is also talking to suppliers of low-Earth-orbit satellite systems to find out how their satellites can be used in rural areas for the benefit of businesses and consumers. These systems orbit about 100 miles above the earth instead of 22,500 miles.

NRTC has also developed LINK, a unique automated meter-reading and power-quality monitoring

Wm. David Champion, Jr. is president/CEO of Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative. He has represented Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin on NRTC's board of directors for the past nine years, currently as vice chairman. He completes his last term of eligibility this month.

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system that is available. LINK fits easily and compactly between the existing meter and meter base without need for any special modifications to the meter. In addition to standard monthly power usage readings, LINK provides real-time reports of power outages and restorations, high or low-voltage conditions, meter tampering and usage demand above a preset threshold. With two-way communications, the customer and cooperative will have more information about energy consumption and power quality. This information can help solve and prevent power problems.

It is interesting to note that in this age of utility deregulation, large investor-owned utilities are forming subsidiaries to market some of the same services NRTC and the electric cooperatives started providing in 1986. However, the investor-owned utilities' focus is not on the customer, it is on profits for the company. Cooperatives have a commitment to compete in this new age of deregulation, but it is through our collective strength and our commitment to the member that I believe we will succeed. Some things never change.

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