HERNDON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ken Johnson, former RUS Administrator and former Chief Executive Officer of Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, Tipton, MO, has joined NRTC as Senior Vice President of Broadband Programs. Ken’s goal will be to work with all NRTC members, electric and telephone, to promote the development of broadband services in rural America.
Ken brings a distinguished and long-standing career to bear on his new position, having served in the cooperative industry for nearly four decades. In addition to his role at Co-Mo, Johnson was a director and past president for Central Electric Power Cooperative, and a director for the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, where he served on the executive and legislative committees. Johnson was general manager for Twin Valleys PPD in Nebraska after beginning his career with the Nebraska Public Power District. Ken was appointed by President Trump as RUS Administrator earlier in 2018.
Tim Bryan, NRTC’s CEO commented, “Ken’s passion for driving broadband deeper into rural America is in perfect alignment with NRTC’s mission. An early and influential advocate for rural broadband at Co-Mo Electric, Ken brings a unique perspective to fellow cooperative management teams and their boards as they consider the best way to deliver broadband to their rural members and communities. Importantly, Ken will also work with NRTC’s telephone members on ways to leverage their networks while working with electric and telephone utilities to partner where possible to maximize the rate of return on rural investments.”
Ken Johnson added, “I’ve spent my life working in rural America, providing services to members that promote economic growth and prosperity in our communities. Working with a cooperative like NRTC gives me the platform to reach out to all NRTC members – to continue to ensure we keep capital and people in rural America.”
Eric Freesmeier, Pulse Broadband’s CEO stated, “I’m thrilled to be working with Ken again after collaborating with Co-Mo many years ago. As Pulse approaches 150 employees, and $750 million in broadband investment by Pulse-assisted cooperatives, I’m thankful that Ken’s wisdom and common sense are available to all NRTC members.”
About NRTC
We are Member Driven and Technology Focused. NRTC provides solutions that help our 1,500 electric and telephone members bring all of the advantages of today’s evolving technology to rural America.
NRTC’s products and services are developed specifically to meet the needs of rural utilities and their customers, and include integrated smart grid and utility solutions, advanced energy, broadband infrastructure and managed network services, wireless technologies and programming distribution capabilities for video providers. NRTC helps ensure our members' success by aggregating their individual buying power, negotiating national contracts, and helping members integrate technology solutions with existing infrastructure.