Early RTC History (1997 - 2000)
In 1997, a group of concerned citizens, local and state government officials, consultants, and others met in Aspen, Colorado, to discuss how the western states could benefit from the utilization of high speed broadband services. Their concerns were focused on both the current and future deployment of broadband services by various types of service providers, and the lack of knowledge at the “grass roots” level of what types of “applications” were needed to be embraced at the community and corporate levels of education, health, government, and the private sector in rural America.
The meetings were initially supported by federal government grants and technical assistance provided by federal agencies in marketing the conference. In 1998, a local community college stepped up and became the host site for the annual meetings, which normally attracted 150 -200 people from around the country. By 2000, growing into its fourth year, the core group of people who had attended the meetings in Aspen since 1997 decided they needed to develop a more formal organizational structure and expand the organization on a more national scale.
The annual RTC meeting evolved into a formal organizational development conference once the Rural Telecommunications Congress was officially formed, officers were elected, by-laws were written, and the concept of state congresses were formalized. The 2001 RTC conference reached out in earnest to states east of the Rockies and to a national scale.
The meetings were initially supported by federal government grants and technical assistance provided by federal agencies in marketing the conference. In 1998, a local community college stepped up and became the host site for the annual meetings, which normally attracted 150 -200 people from around the country. By 2000, growing into its fourth year, the core group of people who had attended the meetings in Aspen since 1997 decided they needed to develop a more formal organizational structure and expand the organization on a more national scale.
The annual RTC meeting evolved into a formal organizational development conference once the Rural Telecommunications Congress was officially formed, officers were elected, by-laws were written, and the concept of state congresses were formalized. The 2001 RTC conference reached out in earnest to states east of the Rockies and to a national scale.
The Growth of RTC Conferences (2001-2008)
To expand the RTC reach and influence, it was decided to move the 2001 meeting to somewhere east of the Rockies. Initially, Washington, DC, was selected, but later changed to Des Moines, Iowa, based on concerns in Washington around 9/11. Amid travel concerns, many people from around the US attended the RTC conference for the first time. Des Moines was a success, the concept of “state congresses” took hold, and the annual meeting has continued to serve that vital function.
In Des Moines, each state in the US was represented by at least one person and 8 people came from counties around the world. The first conference featured a Federal Resource Center, with nationally recognized Federal and state speakers, industry speakers, and other governmental speakers key to rural broadband issues. The conference included a large vendor convention hall, and numerous concurrent breakout sessions. This conference format has been followed ever since.
The RTC immediately became “The National Rural Telecommunications conference” to attend, as it was focused on rural issues of broadband, and each year the conference theme changed to address current and future issues and trends. Depending on directions being taken in the industry, national issues, and community best practices, each year the conference would focus on a specific theme that became the basis for the overall conference.
In 2003, the RTC held its 2nd annual conference in Washington, DC, and again the conference attracted nearly 400 people from all over the country and the world. The RTC has met annually since then in:
The RTC annually attracts nearly 400 people from 30-40 states and from other counties to talk about what they have done in their rural states and communities to bring about the deployment and better utilization of broadband. Topics that have been discussed include:
Normally 40 -60 different speakers present papers / talks each year at the conference.
In Des Moines, each state in the US was represented by at least one person and 8 people came from counties around the world. The first conference featured a Federal Resource Center, with nationally recognized Federal and state speakers, industry speakers, and other governmental speakers key to rural broadband issues. The conference included a large vendor convention hall, and numerous concurrent breakout sessions. This conference format has been followed ever since.
The RTC immediately became “The National Rural Telecommunications conference” to attend, as it was focused on rural issues of broadband, and each year the conference theme changed to address current and future issues and trends. Depending on directions being taken in the industry, national issues, and community best practices, each year the conference would focus on a specific theme that became the basis for the overall conference.
In 2003, the RTC held its 2nd annual conference in Washington, DC, and again the conference attracted nearly 400 people from all over the country and the world. The RTC has met annually since then in:
- 2004 in Spokane, Washington
- 2005 in Lexington, Kentucky
- 2006 in Little Rock, Arkansas
- 2007 in Springfield, Illinois
- 2008 in Smugglers Notch, Vermont
- 2010 in Mesa, Arizon
- 2011 in Raleigh, North Carolina
The RTC annually attracts nearly 400 people from 30-40 states and from other counties to talk about what they have done in their rural states and communities to bring about the deployment and better utilization of broadband. Topics that have been discussed include:
- How communities are sustaining nascent networks;
- How different sectors of local communities and states are collaborating to ensure network benefits;
- How communities and states and regional areas have planned and implemented broadband strategies in their communities to ensure continued competitiveness and economic development growth;
- An endless number of innovative applications have been highlighted on distance learning, telemedicine, e-government, and e-business
Normally 40 -60 different speakers present papers / talks each year at the conference.
Conference Partnerships (2010-2014)
In the wake of the 2008 recession, local and state government travel restrictions, and reduced spending and sponsorships by many corporate vendors and sponsors caused the RTC to rethink the annual conference. So in 2010, the RTC began a partnership with Broadband Properties Magazine, which held an annual "Summit" each spring. The initial thought was that RTC would partner with the magazine in the spring to help facilitate sessions at the summit, and the magazine could help host sessions at the fall RTC conference. Since 2010, RTC has co-hosted what is now known as the "Broadband Communities Summit," with one day of the conference dedicated to rural issues, and facilitated by RTC:
In addition to the annual spring Summit, Broadband Communities has offered regional, economic development focused conferences, carrying on the spirit of the RTC each fall since 2012. Again, similar to the Summit, RTC members facilitate many sessions and panels focused on rural issues:
- 2010 in Dallas, Texas
- 2011 in Dallas, Texas
- 2012 in Dallas, Texas
- 2013 in Dallas, Texas
- 2014 in Austin, Texas
- 2015 in Austin, Texas
In addition to the annual spring Summit, Broadband Communities has offered regional, economic development focused conferences, carrying on the spirit of the RTC each fall since 2012. Again, similar to the Summit, RTC members facilitate many sessions and panels focused on rural issues:
- 2012 in Danville, Virginia
- 2013 in Tinley Park, Illinois
- 2014 in Springfield, Massachusetts