Episode Category The StoryConnect Podcast
The story of Freedom Fiber

What You’ll Learn Tombigbee Electric Cooperative was early to the game on fiber optics. What can other electrics learn from Tombigbee’s Freedom Fiber service? Guest Speaker Steve Foshee Show Notes Transcripts have been lightly edited for clarity and readability. Andy…
Partnership Helps Electric Cooperative Enter Broadband Business

What You’ll Learn Appalachian Electric Cooperative in New Market, Tennessee, did its homework before deciding to enter the broadband business — what Director of Member Services Mitch Cain calls “the largest investment our cooperative had ever made.” In this episode,…
When a DDoS Attack Derails Your Rebranding Efforts

What You’ll Learn In the summer of 2019, Director of Communications Patricia Contic and her team at Morristown (TN) Utility Systems were set to launch a company-wide rebranding effort. And then someone launched a DDoS attack on their network. In…
Electrics Getting Member Approval to Offer Broadband

What You’ll Learn The demand for broadband was there, but Joe Wheeler EMC (Trinity, Alabama) needed approval from its membership to enter the business. In this episode, Director of Communications Michael Cornelison talks about the actions his electric cooperative took…
Boost Business with Diversified Services

What You’ll Learn How can we diversify services to create market resilience, reduce churn, and increase revenue? What innovative methods can we use to add to the value we provide to customers? To explore these and other questions, NeoNova conducted…
Options for Funding Broadband Expansion

What You’ll Learn Federal and state grant programs are providing another source of funding for many to expand their broadband buildout. Whether an outright grant, a low-interest loan, or funding through the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunities Fund, there are several…
An Overview of RUS Broadband Funding Programs

What You’ll Learn Shawn Arner is the USDA RUS Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Loan Origination and Approval Division. He spoke from the conference main stage about the many funding programs available through the Rural Utilities Service. To learn more,…
Is the End of Robocalls Near?

What You’ll Learn Robocalling is a huge issue for all of us and continues to be the number-one complaint to the FCC and FTC. More than half the calls to all mobile phones in the US in 2019 will be…
A Framework for Listening to your Customers

What You’ll Learn If your company wants to reach its goals, improve its results and become more competitive, the Baldrige Framework provides a system for moving you toward excellence. In his presentation to on the conference main stage, Keiffer dove…
Building a Broadband Brand
What You’ll Learn When Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative wanted to get into the broadband business, they created the Wave Rural Connect brand. How did they do it and what are the advantages of building a new brand? Guest Speaker James…