The Kansas Office for Broadband Development (KOBD) and various community stakeholders recently visited Nex-Tech and toured our broadband development project in Saline County, KS. Community Engagement Specialist, Friday Otuya, reflects on community and stakeholder involvement in effective broadband development.
If you are a decision-maker at a rural telecommunications company, you may be wondering how to cope with the end of the ACP program. ACP, or the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, was a federal program that gave a $30 monthly discount to low-income households to help them pay for their internet bills.
Did you know Nex-Tech has two programs that help the local economy across our service footprint?
Nex-Tech gives out loans and grants through:
– The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program (REDLG) and
– The Nex-Tech Revolving Loan Fund (RLF).
On June 12, 2024, Nex-Tech proudly hosted the Kansas Office for Broadband Development (KOBD) to showcase the ongoing efforts in rural Saline County. Joseph Le, Morgan Barnes and Shelley Paasch from KOBD joined Nex-Tech staff in Salina for a day to view the progress.
For many years Nex-Tech has invested in youth development across northwest and central Kansas. We pioneered the founding of Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth, Inc. (a 501(c)(3) organization). We continue to sow the seeds of community involvement in the minds of youths.
Nex-Tech continues to demonstrate its support for local organizations and institutions, especially in Lenora, KS, where it is headquartered. On May 25th, Friday Otuya of Nex-Tech met with the Lenora High School Class of 1964, who was having their 60th anniversary reunion.
As I travel across communities spreading the Nex-Tech story, people always ask me how I learned so much about the United States. While the question is understandable considering that I have been in the U.S. for only a couple of years, the answer is pretty simple. I gained insights into the workings of American society by intentionally learning from books, and other information sources on the internet, which was facilitated by a local library.
Many of us reading already know about all the good things Nex-Tech does. From Home/Business Broadband Services to TV Now, Managed IT and Cloud to Business Communications Infrastructure, Creative Solutions to Physical Security Solutions, and Cybersecurity to our NOC and Carrier Services; not forgetting our youth services, donations, sponsorships, and giveaways to members of our community.
Nex-Tech is headquartered in the City of Lenora, Kansas. The City of Lenora is located along Kansas Highway 9 (K-9), the second-longest highway in the state. I consider Lenora to be approximately (debatable) at the center of Northwest Kansas (Nex-Tech’s core footprint), with Nex-Tech’s services being offered to dozens of towns and cities within a 360° radius.
The American Public Power Association (APPA) has recognized the City of Russell Electric Utility with a “Certificate of Excellence in Reliability” for achieving exceptional reliability in 2023.