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The Architect of the Network, The Narrator of Technological Reckoning
The blurring of humans and machines, the use of technology to improve the human condition, and the dependency of humanity on their inventions are some of the themes of Thomas J.J. Starr’s books. Many might recognize Starr’s name from his leadership in helping to facilitate the spread of one of those inventions: broadband. As he…
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Exit Interview with Gary Johnson
It must have been the winter of 2000 when I met Gary Johnson. He was a relatively young engineer with a remarkable grasp of technology and the needs of Paul Bunyan Telephone’s members. He was part of a group of Minnesota telephone companies exploring video-on-demand.1 Fast-forward to today and Gary is retiring from the company…
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New Light on Improving Brain Function
Focus, focus, focus…Focus is challenging in a world of seemingly infinite tabs and multiple devices with their ever-distracting notifications. Enter Mendi with its neurofeedback product that promises to help its users improve their brain health. This means sharpened focus, better sleep, and enhanced mood control by improving the brain’s neuroplasticity. From Mendo’s website: “Neuroplasticity is…
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The Smart and Secure Farm & More
“Agriculture faces no less of a threat from cybersecurity incidents or adversarial impacts than any other industry,” says NTCA’s Josh Seidemann. In the above interview, filmed at NTCA’s Smart Rural Community Live, Seidemann, who is NTCA’s VP of Policy and Innovation, provides terrifying examples of potential vulnerabilities as agriculture becomes increasingly reliant on technology. He…
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Vantage Point – Helping Build Better Broadband & Better Lives in Rural Uganda
What sets NTCA members apart is their commitment to service and to their communities. Mirroring its NTCA member customers, several of Vantage Point’s staff have undertaken Herculean efforts to bring connectivity to an area where reliable electricity is still a luxury. A few of those staff members were at NTCA’s 2023 RTIME and provide an…
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21st Century Training for the Broadband Workforce
Northwood Technical College in Wisconsin is working to address broadband workforce development challenges in rural communities by developing an innovative online training program in partnership with NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association. Northwood Tech’s Broadband Academy is self-paced and open-ended so that students can learn on their own timeline, wherever convenient. It is the partnership…
