Keeping Americans Connected with Broadband Built to Last

The idea that all Americans should have reliable access to communications services at a reasonable cost has been a national objective for over a century. Today, the federal Universal Service Fund (USF) helps rural Americans connect to high-quality, affordable broadband and supports critical connections for low-income families, schools, libraries and healthcare facilities in rural communities.

Without USF support, it is difficult to make a business case to invest in many rural areas, to sustain networks once they are built, or to keep service rates affordable. According to an August 2024 survey of more than 200 community-based broadband providers across 35 states, the loss of USF support could be catastrophic for rural consumers, efforts to keep investing in broadband deployment, and the viability of existing rural broadband networks.

Respondents reported that rural consumers could see their bills increase by $72 per month if USF support were eliminated. In addition, 68% of respondents said they could face the need to cancel deployment projects next year equaling over $1 billion, representing nearly 80% of these companies’ planned broadband investments for 2025.

Even as new broadband deployment programs offer great promise for reaching unserved areas, the USF remains critical to both getting and keeping rural consumers connected to high-quality, affordable services.

Visit NTCA’s YouTube Page to learn more about how USF helps rural Americans get and stay connected >>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDMgMq3YAPU

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NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is building a better broadband future for rural America. Proudly representing about 850 independent, family-owned and community-based telecommunications companies, NTCA helps members build and deliver broadband connectivity and operate essential services in rural and small-town communities across the U.S.

NTCA is committed to advancing policies to help connect communities across rural America and advocates on behalf of its members in the legislative and regulatory arenas and provides educational programming, training and development by publishing comprehensive industry research, conducting in person and virtual events and offering an array of employee benefit programs.

Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association provides Landline Telephone, Digital TV and Internet service to 16 rural communities on a Fiber driven network just outside the Fort Dodge, Iowa area: Pilot Mound, Boxholm, Lanyon, Paton, Churdan, Farnhamville, Gowrie, Somers, Moorland, Knierim, Barnum, Clare, Thor, Badger, Vincent, Duncombe and in the towns of Lohrville, Manson, Rockwell City, Lake City, and Rural Fort Dodge.

WCCTA is Gigabit Certified and designated a Smart Rural Community by NTCA: the Rural Broadband Association.

Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association Receives Ripple Effect Grant

Independent Telecom to help Manson Hometown Grocery

WEST DES MOINES, IA (December 15, 2021)— Aureon has announced Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association (WCCTA) as the recipient of a $5,000 Ripple Effect grant to assist with the rural grocery store in Manson, Iowa.

Manson, a community of 1,867 in Calhoun County, rallied together to save their local grocery store after the former owner closed its doors. The vision for the community to create a non-profit grocery store for the community has become a reality and almost a year after it closed the new Manson Hometown Grocery opened in November of 2020.

The Ripple Effect grant application was made to Aureon on behalf of Manson Hometown Grocery by Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association, a new provider of internet, cable, and phone services in Manson. In addition to the $5,000 Ripple Effect grant from the Iowa Area Development Group and Aureon, WCCTA will provide a matching grant of $5,000 for a total of $10,000 in grant funding. Plans are to make changes to the air handling system to more efficiently heat the store.

“The ability to keep a grocery store in the community is vital as it serves as a cornerstone to the downtown and attracts people from surrounding rural communities,” says Marcie Boerner, COO of Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association. “It’s a great thing when a community comes together around a project – and that’s just what happened in Manson. WCCTA is honored to give this Ripple Effect grant award to a project that will have a positive effect on the residents, businesses, and surrounding rural communities for years to come.”

About Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association

Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association is the leading provider of voice, video, and data services in North Central Iowa. With headquarters in Gowrie, IA, WCCTA provides 20 communities with local and long-distance voice services, high-speed Internet, and cable television programming. As a certified Gig Capable provider from the NTCA, The Rural Broadband Association, WCCTA provides up to Gigabit and symmetrical Internet speeds. WCCTA is increasing broadband in rural Iowa and is staying in touch with the needs of the residents and businesses providing Landline Telephone, Internet and digital television service to the Iowa communities of Gowrie, Pilot Mound, Vincent, Thor, Churdan, Knierim, Somers, Barnum, Duncombe, Farnhamville, Badger, Clare, Moorland, Boxholm, Lanyon, Paton, Lohrville, Manson, Rockwell City, and Lake City. Follow on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and their website at wccta.com

For more information visit www.wccta.com

About Aureon

Aureon is a business solutions provider who connects possibilities to productivity by providing unique and scalable business support services for organizations – small and large. Headquartered in the heart of the Midwest, and serving clients nationally with a presence in 48 states, Aureon offers a comprehensive suite of support solutions, with a focus on Technology, HR and Contact Center services. Aureon’s unique combination of talent, technology and tools enable clients to focus on their core business.

For more information visit www.Aureon.com

About Ripple Effect

The Ripple Effect program, a partnership alliance between Aureon and Iowa Area Development Group (IADG), is designed to advance the business and community development vitality of rural Iowa by joining local Independent Telecommunications Companies and partnering municipalities in their economic development initiatives. The program provides financial and technical assistance to businesses and industries and communities, through local telecommunication providers, to stimulate growth and development in rural Iowa. The program makes available low-interest loans to business applicants and planning grants to communities and their economic development partners for various types of community development projects. At a minimum, the Independent Telecommunications Companies are required to match the local financial assistance provided by Ripple Effect.

Other Ripple Effect services include financial packaging for development projects; research and education; awareness and training; business marketing and outreach; and development project facilitation including direct financial assistance through loans and grants from Aureon. For decades Aureon, through Iowa’s Independent Telecommunications Companies and IADG, on behalf of the Rural Electric Cooperatives, has provided leadership, vision and commitment to rural communities. For more information about this grant or the Ripple Effect program, contact IADG; www.rippleeffectworks.org and on Twitter @RippleEffectIA; 515-777-7308.