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OPASTCO 50th Anniversary Commemorative Booklet

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1963 – 2013

President John N. Rose

editorMartha K. Silver

AssociAte editorCaroline O’Reilly

Art directorSharri Harris WolfgangAURAS Design

Advertising sAlesPartyke Communications

Contributing Editorsdirector of technicAl issues

John T. McHugh

director of Business develoPment/senior Policy AnAlyst

Steve Pastorkovich

vice President of regulAtory Policy And Business develoPment

Stuart Polikoff

director of educAtionKathleen Kelley Riesett

vice President of legislAtive PolicyRandy Tyree

oPAstCo offiCErschAirmAn

Mike Osbornefirst vice chAirmAn/chAirmAn-elect

Rhonda Armstrongsecond vice chAirmAn

Cullen McCartytreAsurer

Pete Holland

OPASTCO Roundtable (ISSN-1043-6073) is published four times per year by the Organization for the Promotion

and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies, 2020 K Street, NW, 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20006; 202/659-5990.

Copyright 2013 by the Organi zation for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies. All rights reserved. OPASTCO Roundtable is a controlled circulation publication, third-class bulk postage paid at Altavista, Va. Appearance of advertisements in OPASTCO Roundtable does not constitute endorsement by OPASTCO. OPASTCO is a member of the Society of National Association Publications.

LeTTeR fROM PReSiDeNT JOHN ROSe

50 Fabulous Years of Achievement and Fellowship5

LeTTeR fROM CHAiRMAN MiKe OSbORNe

Pioneers Past, Present and Future7

ACKNOWLeDgeMeNTS

50th Anniversary Celebration Committee8

TiMeLiNe

OPASTCO: 50 Years of Connecting Communities

10

TRibUTe

John Rose: OPASTCO’s President and Industry Leader

34

JOHN ROSe’S TOP 10

Telecom Advocacy Efforts by OPASTCO38

fOUNDATiON

The History and Mission of FRED40

LeADeRSHiP AND SeRviCe

OPASTCO Presidents & Chairmen42

OPASTCO Award Recipients44

OPASTCO Boards & Directors48

ROUNDtableo P A s t C o

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 3

phone 301-459-7590 | email js i@jsitel .com | web www.jsitel .com

Headquarters – Greenbelt , Md. | Austin | Minneapolis | Atlanta | Salt Lake City

Congratulations OPASTCO on

JSI is proud to have stood with OPASTCO since its very start. Your work has made a difference

for both your members and the industry.

Through the ups and the downs of the last 50 years, the rural industry’s spirit of

cooperation has remained steadfast. We look forward to continuing that partnership with

everyone working on behalf of rural America.

50 YEARS!

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

JSI_OPASTCO_ad.pdf 1 12/27/12 12:31 PM

oPAstCo n Letter from John Rose

50 fabulous Years of Achievement and fellowship

OpastcO history is like family history to me. It is about the people, the rural community, generations of families and employees, and most of all, the rural pioneering can-do spirit. OpastcO member companies and cooperatives built the finest telecom-munications networks where the large at&t/Bell operating companies could see no business returns. Even some of the large independent holding companies built their com-panies on what small independents had already accomplished.

I have read all the individual, company and state telephone association histories that I could read. These histories and accomplishments are america’s successes. Rural telephone companies and cooperatives, OpastcO members, are proud of this heritage, and this 50th anniversary book commemorates this proud accomplishment. Rural companies have always invested in their community and their employees for the long term. small telecommunications companies were committed to their communities. OpastcO has been at the forefront in pushing for new opportunities, new businesses, new technology, and new ways of doing things. We have always known that problems are also opportunities, and we must continue to reinvent ourselves. The past is prologue to what the next fifty years may bring. We know that many challenges lay ahead; however, the track record that has been achieved with sparse resources gives us a road map for the future. The goal is the success of our busi-nesses and our communities in a world econ-omy. OpastcO and its members have always embraced new technology.

During the last fifty years, success has come through hard work and cooperation. We may have disagreed about the directions, but for the most part, we have not been disagreeable.

Our meetings were all over this land and have been conducted in a family atmosphere. We have reached out to include canadian small independents in the organization. We have made friends with the telephone companies in Finland. We have worked with the International Finance corporation to find opportunities in Hungary. We

have been at the table with both state and federal policy makers on all the major issues. OpastcO representatives have been voting members on all the Fcc technical advisory councils. all the large telecommunication companies know us as strong, forward-looking negotiators. This heritage will serve the industry well as we move forward for the next fifty years.

OpastcO was founded in 1963 as a result of toll ticketing settlements issues, and here we are still debating toll ticketing’s grandchild, access charges. There were many more indepen-dents in 1963, and OpastcO grew rapidly and reached its peak in membership around the year 2000 even as the number of small independent companies steadily decreased. But the spirit of OpastcO will never decline as long as it remains in the hearts of members and employees. Long live the OpastcO spirit and its boldness.

Let us toast every year to the legacy of rural telephony, rural telephone companies and OpastcO, and let us toast to the new industry and small telecommunications companies. The glasses will forever touch in my mind.

John Rosepresident, OpastcO

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 5

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oPAstCo n Letter from Mike Osborn

Pioneers Past, Present and future

Our industry has accomplished so much in the past 50 years. This com-memorative booklet is a testament to the challenges we have overcome and the progress we can achieve when we work together.

We created a community of OpastcO members, linking rural communities together through the desire to bring high-quality telecommunications services to our customers. Individual compa-nies and their employees were no longer each trying to solve the same problem on their own. Our collective expertise and hard work helped all of rural america’s telecommunications move forward.

as individual companies, we have come together through OpastcO and its commit-tees to steer public policies that would benefit rural networks and rural communities, and have created resources and tools that improved our business capabilities. together, we have met at OpastcO conventions to learn from each other, have reenergized ourselves in an atmosphere of camaraderie, and have brought valuable problem-solving information back to our rural companies and communities.

Now our industry is facing new challenges. as technology changes, so, too, must we change. We need to learn from the lessons of our history and recognize what we can accomplish if our coun-try’s rural telecommunications industry comes together, speaks as one voice, and strategically invests in our future.

Where the earliest pioneers in our industry were blazing new trails as independent telephone companies, during the past 50 years, we have added many telecommunications services to our networks. technologi-cal advances have played a big part in this growth. technology, however, has changed who determines what goes

over the network. In the past, we decided what our networks were used for; now, our customers decide what they want delivered to their homes, businesses and mobile devices.

today, we are still pioneers, and we are still providing telecommunications in areas the larger companies deem less financially desirable. Yet, through our networks, our customers can reach every corner of the globe, picking and choosing which broadband applications and resources they wish to use. We are pioneers that must determine a new direction for our industry.

Just as we came together in the past, we must now come together to explore telecommunica-tions’ future. as individual companies, we each must find our own solutions, but together we can achieve great things and use our strength in numbers to influence our destiny.

Mike Osbornechairman, OpastcO

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 7

oPAstCo n 50th Anniversary

OPASTCOAcknowledgements

50th Anniversary Celebration Committee

Ron Laudner, ChairmanOmniTel Communications

Brenda CordwellJohn Staurulakis Inc.

Mark GaileyTotah Communications

John GrangerMapcom Systems

Arturo “Archie” MaciasWheat State Telephone Company

Mike OsborneAce Communications

R. Craig SmithMGW Telephone

Ben SpearmanComporium

Manny StaurulakisJohn Staurulakis Inc.

OPASTCO Staff

Amanda Casey

Caroline O’Reilly

Kathleen Kelley Riesett

John N. Rose

Martha K. Silver

OPASTCO 50th Anniversary Commemorative BookletResearched and written by Martha K. SilverDesigned by Sharri Harris Wolfgang, AURAS Design

Sources for the OPASTCO 50th Anniversary Commemorative Booklet include the OPASTCO 40th Anniversary Commemorative Booklet, the OPASTCO 25th Anniversary Commemorative

Booklet, OPASTCO Board of Directors meeting minutes, OPASTCO filings and press releases, OPASTCO Roundtable magazine, The Washington Weekly Report, OPASTCO Advocate, OPASTCO 411,

and multiple sources found on the World Wide Web, including, the Telecommunications History Group, Aronsson’s Telecom History Timeline, NASA and Wikipedia. Most product shots are from respective

manufacturers. Some historic product shots from Max’s Museum at www.az-apco-nena.org. Archie and Veronica are copyrighted by Archie Comic Publications, Inc.

8 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

Power & Tel Congratulates OPASTCO for 50 Years of Commitment to the Rural Telecom Industry.

With five decades as your source for the products needed to build and maintain your

network, Power & Tel celebrates the importance of rural telecommunications and is proud

to have served as a supply chain partner for OPASTCO members for those 50 years.

Please visit Power & Tel booth 515/517 at the

Rural Telecom Industry Meeting and Expo.

Contact (800) 238-7514 | www.ptsupply.com | [email protected]

Connecting CommunitiesOPASTCO: 50 yeArS Of

10 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

For the past 50 years, OpastcO’s members have been a driving force in the connection of rural communities, people and member companies. OpastcO was born when a community of like-minded rural telephone companies and suppliers got together to brainstorm solutions to the schedule B toll settlements average schedule formula. as these pioneering individuals realized that they had common challenges that they could solve together, their community grew bigger.

as the OpastcO community grew and more inde-pendent telephone companies saw the value of sharing information, networking and collaborating to solve problems, more connections were made. OpastcO members worked together on task-specific commit-tees, they met at conventions to share ideas and make new professional connections, and they worked to ensure that their communities enjoyed high-quality services that connected them beyond their rural communities’ borders.

Keeping Rural America ConnectedJust as Keeping Rural america connected was the title of a groundbreaking 2004 OpastcO study on toll de-averaging that significantly influenced law-makers crafting the telecommunications act of 1996, it truly has been OpastcO’s mission to keep rural america’s communities connected. In the early years of OpastcO, the crucial work was to ensure telco members fared well in a world of regulation and the Bell system. In more recent years, OpastcO recog-nized the need to position members for a world where all communications are broadband and telecommuni-cations companies must stay ahead of their customers’ demands.

Making Connections, Sharing KnowledgeDuring the past 50 years, one of OpastcO’s strengths has been its ability to bring together rural telephone company owners and managers. Often residing in remote locations where they have little opportunity to network with fellow telecommunications professionals, OpastcO’s twice-annual meetings have been an important vehicle for knowledge-sharing and problem-solving. at OpastcO conventions, members have learned how others are making strategic decisions to prepare their companies for the future, have explored new business opportunities, and have brainstormed ideas that have been industry innovations realized. These achievements occurred because OpastcO connected members in an environment of fellowship and community, where opinions are respected and ideas are appreciated.

Committees as Communitiessince its earliest days in 1963, OpastcO has been a member-run organization. In the spirit of commu-nity, OpastcO members volunteer to participate on committees that run the association. some committees make management decisions, while others develop high-level policy positions, and others provide educa-

Connecting CommunitiesOPASTCO: 50 yeArS Of

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 11

OPASTCO n Timeline

tional services and knowledge-based resources. The committees are the heart and soul of the association, and every significant action OpastcO has taken has been based on member input and direction.

Over the years, OpastcO com-mittees have come and gone. some committees are created for short-term, ad hoc issues; committee members research an issue and make a recom-mendation to the board. Other com-mittees are long-term working groups that help mold telecom policy, oversee OpastcO’s financial operations, plan conventions, create marketing resources, and a host of other valuable services.

OpastcO committees are our true connections between our community of companies and our association. as you read through the timeline of OpastcO history, the association’s actions and achievements, please take a moment to recognize that every step of the way, members were involved—on the board level, committee level or both.

Our industry’s rich history is a history of people—OpastcO members—who made commitments to volunteer their time and their resources for the betterment of our companies and communities in rural america.

If you ever served on an OpastcO committee, thank you for your service. Whether the task was big or small, your active participation on an OpastcO committee made a difference and moved our industry forward.

OpastcO has made significant accomplishments; the timeline on the following pages tells a story of an industry and its association growing and evolving. History listed below the year is OpastcO history; history listed above the year shows telecommunications and technology events that ultimately changed the telephone industry of our grandfathers and brought new business opportunities to rural telecommunications.

oPAstCo Committees Through the YearsExecutive Committee

Associate Member CommitteeAverage Schedule Committee

Awards CommitteeBuilding Search Committee

Bylaws CommitteeCATV Cross-ownership Committee

CLEC CommitteeDues Structure Committee

Education CommitteeEVP Search Committee

Finance CommitteeIndustry Relations Committee

Insurance CommitteeISP Committee

Junk Fax Calls/900 Calls CommitteeL&R Conference Committee

Legislative and Regulatory CommitteeLegislative Policy Committee

Membership CommitteeMarketing Committee

Marketing/PR CommitteeMobile Wireless Committee

Nominating Committee, DirectorsNominating Committee, Officers

Operator Services CommitteePresident’s/Chairman’s Award Committee

Public Relations CommitteeRadio, Cellular, BETRs & PCN Committee

REA/Rural Development CommitteeRegulatory Policy Committee

ROSS 7 CommitteeRUS Committee

Separations & Access CommitteeSite Selection Committee

Speaker’s Bureau CommitteeStandards CommitteeTradeshow CommitteeTechnical Committee

Unification Leadership CommitteeVideo and Broadband Committee

Ad-Hoc Committees

40th Anniversary Celebration Committee50th Anniversary Celebration Committee

Board Expense CommitteeBoard Membership Committee

Cellular Committee

Future CommitteeLifetime Membership Dues Committee

Marketing OPASTCO CommitteeMembership Survey CommitteeMini MBA Program Committee

Modified Final Judgment Issues CommitteeNational Branding CommitteeTechnology Input Committee

Toll De-averaging Study CommitteeUniversal Service Committee

The Separations & Access Committee meets in Calgary, during the 2004

Summer Convention.

12 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

OPASTCO n Timeline

■n Representatives of 12 telephone companies and seven manufacturing companies meet in Memphis, tennessee, to discuss their dissatisfaction with the Schedule b toll settlements average schedule formula. The “Memphis plan Group” begins a small telephone company industry effort that within 10 months would formally be known as the Organization for the protection and advancement of small telephone companies (OpastcO).

p OPASTCO is formally created and holds its first general membership meeting. Later in the year, the certificate of incorporation of OpastcO as a Delaware corporation is signed.

■n OPASTCO has 39 paid members, including both telephone companies and suppliers.

■n OpastcO formally resolves to create an associate membership category with a formal dues structure so that a variety of suppliers to the independent telephone company industry may participate as members. prior to this resolution, only certain suppliers were invited to participate in the association.

p SAGE, the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment, is the first large computer network to provide man-machine interaction in “real time.” Each computer in the 27-center system contained more than 50,000 vacuum tubes, weighing 250 tons and occupying an acre of floor space.

■n Motorola develops the first rectangular picture tube for color television in a joint venture with National Video Corporation. The tube quickly becomes the standard for the industry. q

u American Airlines’ travel reservation system SABRE, developed by IBM, links 2,000 online terminals via phone lines.

■n Gordon Moore suggests that integrated circuits would double in complexity every year. This later becomes known as Moore’s Law. u

1 9 6 3

1 9 6 5

p The transistorized Pageboy pager, supplied to AT&T under the name Bellboy, is the first personal communications device to become a standard tool for business and industry.

■n A new average schedule is developed.

1 9 6 4

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 13

OPASTCO n Timeline

p Jim blackhall becomes OPASTCO’s first executive vice president. He takes a leave of absence from Itt-telecommunications to dedicate full-time attention to OpastcO. His role is to increase membership and serve the needs of the association’s members. Blackhall drives from town to town recruiting members across rural america.

■n OpastcO’s first headquarters are located in Jackson, Tennessee.

■n OpastcO’s first official publication, “Member Letter,” is launched. The monthly publication covers the activities of the OpastcO board, members, executive vice president and industry.

■n telephone company involvement in cable television and private financing are the focus of OpastcO’s third annual meeting.

■n By the end of 1966, OpastcO has close to 100 telephone company members.

1 9 6 8

1 9 6 6

■n OpastcO president Fred McGehee testifies before the House agriculture committee on the formation of the Rural electrification Administration’s (ReA) Rural Telephone bank. McGehee testifies in favor of the Bank bill, saying it would provide necessary financing to independent companies in rural america. u

■n Over concern about an increase in mergers and acquisitions of small telephone companies, OpastcO presents education sessions on property and casualty insurance, tax planning and antitrust laws at its annual fall meeting.

■n For the first time, OpastcO’s board goes on the record to recognize that the existing three independent telephone associations, OpastcO, the National telephone cooperative association (Ntca) and the United states Independent telephone association (UsIta), should work together when possible.

■n OpastcO begins working on behalf of its members on a growing problem with extended area service (eAS) settlements.

p IBM introduces the first disk storage system, the IBM RAMAC 305. It holds 5 MB of data on 50 2-foot wide platters.

■n The United States counts its 100 millionth fixed telephone line.

■n IBM builds the first floppy disk.

■n The first Consumer Electronics Show is held in New York City.

■n Motorola launches its Quasar television, America’s first all-transistor color television set. u

1 9 67

p The world’s first scientific desktop calculator, the HP 9100, is introduced by Hewlett-Packard.

■n The FCC adopts the Carterfone Decision, striking down existing interstate telephone tariffs prohibiting attachment of connection to the public telephone system of any equipment or device that was not supplied by the telephone companies.

■n The Group 1 standard for facsimile trans-mission over the public switched telephone network (PSTN) is issued; transmitting an 8 ½ x 11" size page takes six minutes.

14 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

OPASTCO n Timeline

1 9 6 9 1 9 7 0■n OPASTCO joins the

“Telephone group,” a number of companies and organizations that, at the request of the Fcc, join to speak for the interests of the independent telephone industry. William corman is appointed as OpastcO’s representative. u

■n OpastcO forms an extended Area Service (eAS) Committee to gather information and unite OpastcO members against inequitable settlements procedures, and a Resource Committee to assist small companies that believe they must sell their businesses.

■n Roland Nehring writes a series of articles, “Televalues,” to help members in the valuation of their companies for purposes of estate planning, federal taxes, or proposed mergers and sales.

■n as part of the telephone Group, OpastcO works on the Ozark Plan, which allocates a significantly greater portion of the costs of local plant to interstate jurisdiction. This reduces the local revenue requirement that has to be recovered through local rates. This increase in revenues allows many independent telephone companies to make major upgrades to their rural networks.

■n CompuServe Information Service launches in Columbus, Ohio, as a computer time-sharing service.

■n Intel announces a 1 kilobit RAM chip, which has a significantly larger capacity than any previously produced memory chip.

■n Man walks on moon. Astronaut Neil Armstrong’s first words from the moon are relayed to Earth by a Motorola radio transponder aboard the Apollo 11 lunar module. The transponder provides telemetry, tracking, two-way voice communications and television signal transmissions between Earth and the moon. u

■n Corning announces it has successfully made a quartz glass fiber useful for long distance communication.

■n The Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPAnet) is the first packet switching network and the progenitor to the Internet. One node is added to the ARPAnet each month.

■n The world’s first digital telephony system is installed in Lannison, France.

■n The FCC announces its plans for regulating the cable television industry.

■n OpastcO files its first petition with the fCC, asking the commission to reject at&t’s revisions to its long distance message telecommunications service tariff. OpastcO argues that the proposed rate reductions and revisions were determined by the Fcc and the Bell system “without any consideration of the operation and earning requirements of the other participating independent telephone companies,” many of which would be adversely affected by the changes. This petition establishes OpastcO’s position of opposing negotiations between at&t and the Fcc at the exclusion of small companies.

■n OpastcO members lobby their senators to support a bill to establish a federal-state joint board at the Fcc.

q at the fall Annual Meeting, OpastcO members learn about the impact of cable television and interconnection on independent telephone companies, the trend in independent telephone company acquisition, and the role of the Rural Electrification administration (REa) in the telephone industry.

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 15

OPASTCO n Timeline

1 9 7 1

1 9 7 3

1 9 7 2■n OPASTCO holds its first ever

winter meeting, delaying its annual meeting from september 1970 to January 1971. at the annual meeting, the membership votes down the proposal to change OpastcO’s name to the “National association of telephone company Owners.”

■n president Richard Nixon appoints 11 directors to the Rural Telephone bank, including two OPASTCO members: the current OpastcO second Vice chairman Jean Brandli of coosa Valley telephone co. in alabama, and Glenn Bergland of Winnebago cooperative telephone association in Iowa.

■n Leadership at the National telephone cooperative association approaches OpastcO’s leadership about the possible merger or federation of the two associations.

■n after developing a committee to address a possible federation of OpastcO and Ntca, the OpastcO board, later in the year, passes a resolution emphasizing “the desire of OPASTCO to retain its own identity and autonomy.”

■n OpastcO president William Ditto appears before the Price board in Washington, D.c., and testifies that small telephone companies receive adequate regulation and should be exempt from further federal price regulation.

■n OpastcO EVp Jim Blackhall retires, and John Reynolds, u publisher of Telephone Engineer and Management magazine, takes over as executive vice president.

■n OpastcO establishes a Cable Television Committee.

■n OpastcO begins publishing its first magazine, Telco Digest. u

■n OPASTCO membership grows to 203 telephone company and 27 supplier members.

u Dorothy Sietsema is added to the OpastcO staff as the executive assistant.

■n OpastcO Director William Ditto presents a statement to the Rural telephone Bank concerning legislation to change the Rural electrification

Act. Ditto reiterates OpastcO’s position against the recent action ending two percent REa loans to the Rural telephone Bank. OpastcO urges its members to support the House version of the Humphrey-akins Bill calling for re-establishment of the frozen REa funds.

■n The Rural Telephone Bank is created and signed into law.

■n Direct telephone dialing, as opposed to operator assisted calling, begins between

parts of the U.S. and Europe.

t IBM introduces the “memory disk,” or “floppy disk,” an 8-inch floppy plastic disk coated with iron oxide.

■n Intel develops the 4004 microprocessor, the

world’s first computer on a chip, performing 60,000 operations per second and able to address 640 bytes of memory.

■n The ARPAnet has 19 connected nodes.

p NASA launches Skylab I.

■n Motorola researcher Martin Cooper makes the first handheld mobile phone call to his rival, Dr. Joel S. Engel of Bell Labs.

■n The Ethernet is first described in a doctoral student’s PhD thesis.

■n The first international connections to ARPAnet are created in England and Norway.

■n The New York Times Information Service provides online search of six databases via telephone access.

p Atari is founded by Nolan Bushnell and ships Pong, the first commercial video game.

■n Hewlett-Packard introduces the world’s first handheld scientific calculator, the HP 35.

■n 5.25 inch diskettes/floppy disks first appear.

■n Steve Wozniak, later cofounder of Apple, builds a “blue box” tone generator that cancels the toll ticketing in AT&T’s long distance network.

■n ITT launches its first installation of a stored program computer-controlled automatic telephone exchange, the Metaconta system.

16 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

OPASTCO n Timeline

1 9 74

1 9 76

■n OpastcO begins publishing a monthly newsletter, “OPASTCO’s Newsletter.”

■n OpastcO studies the need for representation on the UsIta Separations and Settlements Committee.

■n First Use of term “Internet” appears in a conference paper by Vinton Cerf and Bob Kahn.

■n The ARPAnet moves 3 million packets of data each day.

■n The U.S. Department of Justice files an antitrust suit against AT&T. The suit will not be settled until January 1982, when AT&T agrees to divest itself of the wholly owned Bell operating companies that provided local exchange service.

q Intel receives a patent for a “memory system for a multichip digital computer.”

■n OpastcO forms a committee to explore how the association can secure representation in Washington, D.c.

■n OpastcO president Glenn Bergland announces plans to schedule a meeting of the national telephone trade associations to discuss the formation of the National Telecommunications Coordinating Council. consisting of OpastcO, UsIta, Ntca and the National REa telephone association (NREata), the council would function on an informal basis to study and develop workable solutions in areas of common concern.

p OpastcO elects Arne Haynes as its representative to the USiTA Telephone Separations and Settlements Task force and names a five-member backup committee to assist him. Haynes takes a seven-month leave of absence from his telephone company to move to the East coast to assist in the development of a database, which is instrumental to the telephone industry.

■n The Consumer Communications Reform Act (ccRa) is introduced in congress. OpastcO lobbies capitol Hill to protect rural customers from the impact of competition. OpastcO produces a brochure explaining the possible ramifications of the Fcc decisions on the future course of telecommunications.

■n The FCC adopts rules to allow manufac-turers to sell equipment for connection to the telephone network if they demonstrate to the Commission that the equipment does no harm.

■n IBM introduces the IBM 5100 portable computer, having 16 kB RAM expandable to 64 kB, priced between $8,975 and $19,975, featuring the IBM 5100 data cartridge tape, storing 204 kB on 300 feet of 1/4 inch tape.

■n Microsoft is founded by Bill Gates, age 19, and Paul Allen, age 22, in Gates’ dorm room at Harvard. Its first product is BASIC, a simple programming language. q

■n AT&T installs its first digital telephone switch.

■n The Group 2 standard for facsimile trans-mission over PSTN is issued, transmitting a page in only 3 minutes; scanning density is 100 lines per inch.

■n The FCC rules that a portion of the TV signal can be used for teletext.

■n Retail chain Radio Shack begins making plans to develop and sell a microcomputer.

■n Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak incorporate Apple Computer and introduce the Apple I as a kit. It is based on the 1 MHz Mostek 6502 CPU, with 8 kB RAM expandable to 32 kB, and optional floppy. Priced at $666.66. u

1 9 7 5

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 17

OPASTCO n Timeline

1 9 7 81 9 7 7■n OpastcO continues to track

legislative proposals to address competition in the telecommunications arena and play an active role in presenting the concerns of small independent telephone companies to members of congress.

■n John Reynolds, OpastcO’s executive vice president, loses his battle with cancer.

■n The “younger generation Program” is launched to provide support and advice to those contemplating taking over the family business. q

■n executive Assistant Dorothy Sietsema assumes all OpastcO administrative duties from her home in Wheaton, Illinois.

■n Four OpastcO members meet at the White House with a member of President Carter’s Domestic Council to discuss telecommunications. The OpastcO representatives discuss the problems faced by small companies and a report of their concerns is submitted to the president.

■n OpastcO hires the services of Washington consultant Nicholas Miller, on a part-time basis, to help represent the association in Washington, D.c.

t OpastcO Director Glenn Bergland testifies before the House communications subcommittee on the communications act of 1978. bergland urges legislators to be aware of the specific needs of rural companies as competition is introduced into the

common carrier market. OpastcO members also participate in regional hearings on the legislation, and the small telephone company provision of broadband services becomes a major part of the bill.

■n OpastcO representatives participate in the fCC’s hearings on AT&T’s exchange Network facilities for interstate Access (eNfiA) tariff. By fall, a memorandum of understanding is reached specifying a basis for agreeing on the interim charges for interstate carrier settlements to the local exchange plant.

■n Northern Telecom introduces its DMS line of digital switches.

■n Radio Shack introduces the Tandy TRS-80 personal computer.

■n An experimental Motorola cellular phone system designed to employ both portable and vehicular phones begins construction in the neighboring cities of Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland.

p Photographs of Saturn taken by Voyager 1 are returned to Earth over a distance of 1 billion miles. Voyagers 1 and 2 use Motorola equipment as their primary communications link with Earth during their 12-year tour of the solar system.

■n Dow Jones opens Dow Jones News/Retrieval. It provides access to a database of Wall Street Journal articles and information on publicly held companies.

t Philips and Sony unveil the music CD.

■n Federal and regulatory policymakers

allow the REA to lend to telephone companies for cable

TV operations.

■n Hayes begins to sell the first commercial modem, capable of 300 baud.

■n Apple introduces the Apple II, the first computer in a beige plastic case and first to display color graphics. Priced at $1,298.

■n Ward Christensen and Randy Seuss launch a computer bulletin board system in Chicago.

■n IBM introduces the IBM 5110 computer, having 16 kB RAM expandable to 64 kB, and diskette storage.

18 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

OPASTCO n Timeline

1 9 7 91 9 8 0

1 9 8 1

■n OPASTCO testifies seven different times on Capitol Hill addressing toll settlement charges, REa, terminal equipment and cable television.

■n The Rural Telephone Coalition is created by OpastcO, Ntca and NREata.

■n OpastcO appoints a committee to investigate establishing a Washington, D.c., headquarters and forms OPASTCO LAP (legislative action plan), a program designed to provide complete coverage of members’ legislators, both at home and in Washington.

■n OpastcO elects its first woman president, eleanor Haskin of Waitsfield-Fayston telephone co.

■n OpastcO’s monthly newsletter is revamped and relaunched as News Digest.

■n at the OpastcO convention, Ivo Bauman of Mt. angel telephone company and Eugene cole of canby cooperative, brainstorm together and come up with the formation of U.S. intelco Networks to manage the credit-card calling database. OpastcO members are invited to join.

■n OPASTCO opens a Washington, D.C., office and names James g. Mercer as OpastcO’s new executive vice president. u

■n With the introduction of the Telecommunications Competition and Deregulation Act of 1981, OpastcO addresses the small company perspective on toll settlement charges, universal service, cable television, terminal equipment deregulation and service deregulation on capitol Hill. Many of the concerns of OpastcO and the Rural telephone coalition eventually are amended into the legislation.

■n OpastcO retains the services of Washington, D.c., law firm fager and Singer.

p Motorola introduces its first 16-bit microprocessor, the MC68000. Capable of completing two million calculations per second, it is used both to run and to write programs for scientific, data processing and business applications.

■n Two extremely successful early PC software programs, WordStar and dBase II, hit the market.

■n Usenet newsgroups communicate between the University of North Carolina (UNC) and Duke University.

■n July 11, Skylab falls to Earth.

■n A digital facsimile transmission over PSTN transmits a page of text in less than one minute with a scanning resolution of 200 lines per inch.

■n The FCC issues its Computer Inquiry II decision, which differentiates between basic and enhanced services. Basic services require regulation.

■n IBM begins assembling a team to design the PC, including Microsoft for the creation of an operating system.

■n The VCR is introducted by Matsushita. 40,000 U.S. homes will have one within a year.

p The video game Pac-Man is released.

■n The Columbus Dispatch in Ohio becomes the first newspaper to offer an electronic edition via CompuServe, which has 3,600 total subscribers.

u President Ronald Regan attempts to slash the REA budget.

■n The FCC adopts rules to exempt some rural areas from the cable television cross-ownership restrictions.

■n National Science Foundation backbone goes up to connect U.S. universities to the ARPAnet.

■n Chemical Bank begins trials of Pronto, a telebanking service, in 200 New York homes. It goes commercial in late 1983 as part of Covidea.

■n The first flight of NASA’s space shuttle Columbia. u

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 19

OPASTCO n Timeline

1 9 8 2■n OpastcO and the Rural telephone

coalition meet with Justice Department officials to discuss the effect the breakup of the bell Systems would have on independents.

■n OPASTCO holds its first tradeshow at its summer convention in Dearborn, Michigan. at this convention, attendees are read a personal note of welcome from president Ronald Reagan and watch a videotaped greeting from Vice president George Bush.

■n Commodore Computer announces the Commodore 64. It has 64 kB of RAM, sound and color graphics when hooked to a color TV. Priced at $600. u

■n The FCC closes its investigation into its proposed access charge system and prepares to release its decision.

■n Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP 9000 workstation, “the first desktop mainframe.”

■n Eleven U.S. newspapers begin daily transmission of “electronic versions” via CompuServe, which now has 10,000 subscribers.

■n Compaq Computer Corporation is founded. The first product is an IBM PC clone portable personal computer able to run all the software being developed for the IBM PC.

■n The United States Justice Department announces a consent decree has been reached, in which AT&T agrees to divest itself of the wholly owned Bell operating companies that provide local exchange service.

1 9 8 3■n With small companies having only

40 days from the Fcc’s access charge ruling to decide whether or not they would concur with the access tariff filings of the Exchange carrier association, OpastcO holds regional access charge workshops to assist its members. The Fcc decision includes many of the safeguards OpastcO and the Rural telephone coalition had sought to ensure cost recovery and continued service in rural america.

■n OpastcO past president Evan copsey testifies before a joint hearing of the senate and House committees to testify in support of legislative proposals that would address universal service and reverse the Fcc’s access charge ruling. q

■n OPASTCO celebrates its 20th anniversary at its summer meeting at the peabody Hotel in Memphis, tennessee. The theme of the meeting is “an Exciting Future—a proud past.”

■n Four OpastcO members are elected to the exchange Carrier Association’s board of subset 3 directors: Ivo Bauman, Warren French, arne Haynes and alan pedersen. Rather than join the Eca tariff, several OpastcO members file their own billing and collection tariff as sEtcO, small Exchange telephone companies.

t Time magazine names no “Man of the Year.” Instead, the computer is dubbed “Machine of the Year.”

■n ARPAnet begins using TCP/IP.

■n The largest U.S. online services are Dow Jones, with 90,000 users, CompuServe, with 63,000 users, and The Source, with 36,000 users.

20 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

OPASTCO n Timeline

■n Fcc chairman Mark Fowler addresses the OpastcO convention to report on the access charge issue.

■n OpastcO members vote at the annual meeting to increase OpastcO’s eligibility for independent telephone companies with less than 25,000 access lines to those with less than 50,000 access lines.

■n OpastcO and Ntca begin discussing the benefits of merging to create the “American Rural Telecommunications Association.” Later in the year, both boards approve a resolution to move forward with the merger and a vote is planned for the next annual meeting of the memberships.

■n OpastcO and the Rtc form an industry study group to assist the Fcc in its decision on alternatives for the access charge plan and the Universal Service fund.

■n OpastcO advocates on behalf of small, rural telephone companies for policies formed in the creation of the National exchange Carrier Association, the organization created to administer access charges paid by long distance carriers.

■n The divestiture of AT&T marks the end of the Bell System. In its place is a new AT&T and seven regional telephone holding companies.

■n The National Exchange Carrier Association is created to administer fees long distance carriers pay to access local telephone networks.

■n Philips and Sony introduce the CD-ROM, an optical disk that can store very large amounts of digital data.

p Michael Dell founds Dell, selling personal computers by mail order.

■n Compaq introduces its first desktop, the Compaq Deskpro. Its first year revenues are $111.2 million—a U.S. business record. The company shipped more than 53,000 portable PCs.

■n CompuServe charges 13 cents per minute daytime and 10 cents at night for its online service. Dow Jones is $1.20 daytime and 20 cents at night.

p In its famous Superbowl commercial, Apple introduces the Macintosh based on the 8 MHz Motorola MC68000 CPU, 16 bit datapath, 64 kB ROM, 128 kB RAM, built-in 400 kB 3.5" floppy, built-in 9" monitor, B&W graphics screen, and 8 bit mono sound. Priced at $2,495. Within 75 days, 50,000 are sold.

■n OpastcO members vote down the proposed merger with Ntca to create the “american Rural telecommunications association.” The vote is 143 members against the proposal and 94 members in favor. two days prior to the vote, OpastcO Executive Vice president Jim Mercer submits his resignation to the board.

■n as Eas issues heat up again, OpastcO files a petition with the fCC asking for a more equitable division of revenues.

u Andrew Mulitz is appointed OpastcO’s new executive vice president. previously, Mulitz joined the OpastcO staff as a law clerk in early 1984 and served as acting Vp after Mercer’s resignation.

q The new OPASTCO logo is introduced.

■n OPASTCO advocates on behalf of its members on issues including the rewrite of the Uniform system of accounts, at&t’s plans to take over its own billing services, equal access requirements for independents, increased regulatory activity at the state level, rate of return changes and telecommunications trade problems.

■n OpastcO’s Telco Digest newsletter begins distribution as a weekly newsletter.

■n The $1 end-user access charge goes into effect on June 1.

p Gateway Computers is founded. Located in rural America, its mission is to sell more affordable personal computers.

■n The Internet connects 2,000 hosts.

1 9 8 4

1 9 8 5

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 21

OPASTCO n Timeline

1 9 8 6

1 9 8 8

■n OpastcO files jointly with the REa, Usta, NRta and Ntca asking the Fcc to allocate radio frequency for basic exchange Telecommunications Radio (BEtR) service as an alternative to wire local loops in remote areas.

■n OpastcO Board members vote to support Unity 1-A, the industry agreement recommending changes in the Universal service Fund, subscriber line charges, and other non-traffic sensitive cost issues.

p The United States Supreme Court rules, preventing the FCC’s pre-emption of depreciation for intrastate ratemaking.

■n The FCC adopts a proposal for the separation of joint costs between regulated and non-regulated activities of telephone companies.

■n The five NSF supercomputing centers are connected by a 56 kB backbone network. This sparks an evolution of regional networks around each center.

■n Congress passes the 1986 Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

p Microsoft ships the 1 millionth copy of Windows.

■n The first Subscriber Line Charge goes into effect. It is $.60. It increases to $3.50 over a three-year period.

■n The Internet connects 30,000 hosts.

1 9 8 7

p OpastcO lobbies capitol Hill to allow Cobank to make loans to the telecommunications industry.

■n The U.s. Justice Department releases its long-awaited recommendations to ease the Modified final Judgment (MfJ) restrictions on at&t. OpastcO advocates on behalf of small, rural carriers and is pleased when the MFJ restrictions are, for the most part, maintained.

■n The OPASTCO benefit Trust is created.

t John Rose replaces andrew Mulitz as OpastcO executive vice president.

u OpastcO launches a new bi-monthly magazine, OPASTCO Roundtable.

■n The OpastcO Board of Directors votes to establish the fund for Rural education and Development (fReD).

■n The first fiber optic cable is laid across the Atlantic Ocean.

■n New York Times photographers use a Macintosh and 9600 bps modem to send Dodgers-Mets photos from L.A. to New York.

■n Intel launches its 386SX microprocessor, capable of addressing 4 GB of memory.

p Hewlett-Packard introduces the Deskjet printer, HP’s first mass-market inkjet printer, offering plain-paper printing and industry-standard print resolution.

22 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

OPASTCO n Timeline

1 9 8 81 9 8 9

1 9 9 0

1 9 9 1

■n OpastcO holds its first Legislative and Regulatory Conference.

■n The Fund for Rural Education and Development (fReD) begins operations.

■n OpastcO builds a strong relationship with the National State Telephone executives Association. OpastcO president John Rose begins to speak 8 to 10 times each year at various state association meetings.

■n OpastcO First Vice president Margaret goacher testifies before the senate agriculture committee in support of REa. q

t Quantum Link, which provided a dedicated online service for Apple,

parts ways with Apple and rebrands as America Online, a walled-

garden online service available for Apple and PC owners.

■n The World Wide Web is invented when Tim Berners Lee proposes the introduction of a networked hypertext system.

■n Prodigy begins rolling out an online service in various metro areas. Pricing is unique—a flat rate of $9.95 per month plus a $49.95 start-up kit. It also sells modems for $100. By the end of the year, Prodigy has 100,000 customers in households in eight major metro areas.

■n The Internet connects 160,000 hosts.

■n Compaq introduces its first notebook PC, the Compaq LTE.

t OpastcO begins development of its PR idea Kit.

■n OpastcO creates the Average Schedule Committee to help members obtain more

participation in the average schedule process.

■n OpastcO advocates on its members’ behalf for a rural exemption for cable television cross ownership, tariffs and Fcc audits.

p OpastcO Director Louise brown testifies before the House appropriations committee in support of REa.

p NASA launches the Hubble space telescope.

■n The FCC lowers the rate-of-return (ROR) for local exchange carriers from 12 percent to 11.25 percent.

■n Motorola unveils the Iridium System low-Earth orbit satellite concept for global personal communications.

■n The ARPAnet is formally closed, having been replaced by NSFnet and interconnected networks. The era of the Internet begins.

■n A large part of AT&T’s telephone network crashes from a software bug.

■n OpastcO resolves to make technology deployment and small company input at various industry meetings critical to the association’s mission.

■n OPASTCO advocates for its members on potential loss of rate-of-return replaced by price caps for all local exchange carriers, NEca pooling, REa, spectrum auctions and cable television cross-ownership rules.

■n OpastcO president Don bond testifies before the House agriculture subcommittee on conservation, credit and Rural Development in support of REa. u

■n OpastcO’s annual Winter convention in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, has more than 800 registrants, a record-breaking number of attendees.

■n The NSFnet finally allows internetwork routing with commercial networks. The NSFnet backbone is completely upgraded to T3 speed (45 MB).

■n Bell Labs develops photonic switching.

■n The Internet connects 600,000 hosts in more than 100 countries.

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 23

OPASTCO n Timeline

1 9 9 2■n The Fcc creates the Network

Reliability Council and invites OpastcO to represent small, rural local exchange carriers on this new technical advisory group. OpastcO member Warren French of shenandoah telephone company becomes OpastcO’s first voting representative to the group.

■n OpastcO works on a broad range of regulatory and legislative issues ranging from taxes to access, universal service, cable television issues and personal communications services.

■n crossing the United states in a route that covers more than 13,600 miles, the OpastcO staff and driver Lou Bilodeau, retired from Northern telecom, visit more than 70 companies in 40 states. Each stop along the OPASTCO van Tour brings OpastcO staff, local telephone companies and their customers together to tell the story of small, independent telephone companies and their crucial role in rural communities. The Van tour finishes in Washington, D.c., with the celebration of OpastcO’s first small telephone company Week on capitol Hill. q

■n OPASTCO advocates on a wide range of issues, including 800 database, transport rate structure, pcs, cable television, collocation, spectrum auctions and infrastructure.

■n small telephone company Week’s name is changed to National Small independent Telephone Company Week.

■n Don Bond and Bob Halford lead the “Keeping Rural America Connected” toll de-averaging study project and paper. The group working on this important effort develop the concept, fundraise to cover the study’s costs, perform research and economic analysis of the data, and draft the final paper. The study’s consultants are Manny staurulakis and patricia Lum; OpastcO staff coordinating the effort are John Rose and Linda Buckley. The data collected from this study has a profound and positive effect on rural telecommunications policymaking by members of congress as they work through 1994 and 1995 to draft the telecommunications act of 1996.

p OpastcO sends six delegates to finland to study that country’s independent telephone companies, their innovations and regulatory policies. Results of that fact-finding mission are shared with the OpastcO membership.

p Veronica, a search service for Gopher is released by University of Nevada. (The name is a pun on Archie, the file transfer protocol search service. Archie and Veronica appear in the same comic strip.)

■n The Multicast Backbone (MBONE) for the first time carries audio and video.

■n The Internet connects one million hosts. u

■n The first digital mobile network is established in the U.S.

■n First text message sent phone to phone occurs in Finland. u

1 9 9 3

24 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

OPASTCO n Timeline

1 9 9 4

1 9 9 5

1 9 9 6

■n OPASTCO addresses issues affecting OpastcO members, including access, universal service, pcs, rate de-averaging, FBI wiretap, the North american Numbering plan administration, and the Internet.

■n “Keeping Rural America Connected,” the toll de-averaging study and series of papers, is published. The data results from the study provide solid evidence, which OpastcO and members of congress use to insert language into the telecommunications act of 1996 that represent the realities of providing local exchange service in rural america. u

■n OpastcO works closely with members of the Senate farm Team, a group of senators from rural states, on language that will be adopted in the telecommunications act of 1996.

■n OpastcO begins active advocacy to privatize the Rural Telephone bank.

■n The Independent Telephone and Telecommunications Alliance is formed to represent mid-sized telephone companies. ITTA is open to companies with 50,000 access lines or more, up through the size of GTE.

■n Yahoo! opens service from the Stanford office of two graduate students.

■n The FCC begins RF spectrum auctions.

■n America Online reaches one million members.

q Netscape Navigator is launched.

■n Amazon.com is founded. p

■n Number portability, ReA/RUS, universal service, rate averaging, DeM weighting and cable cross-ownership are all issues OpastcO addresses on behalf of the membership.

■n OpastcO begins the slow, meticulous work of advising the Fcc on interpretation and implemen-tation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and how their proposed rulemakings affect rural carriers and the communities they serve.

■n OPASTCO changes its name from the Organization for the protection and advancement of small telephone companies to the Organization for the promotion and advancement

of small telecommunications companies and introduces a revised logo. OPASTCO Roundtable gets a makeover as well. t

■n OpastcO is invited by the Fcc to hold a voting seat on the North American Numbering Council, a federal advisory committee created to foster efficient and impartial number administration. OpastcO continues to hold a voting seat to the present day.

■n OpastcO launches the indy Awards Competition for excellence in Publications. The competition is sponsored by the OPASTCO Roundtable magazine and is a project of the public Relations committee.

■n OPASTCO Retirement Trust is started.

p President Bill Clinton signs the Telecommunications Act of 1996 into law, heralding a new era in telecom competition.

■n The first webmail service, Hotmail, is launched.

■n The first high-definition television broadcast is made in the U.S.

■n REA is renamed the Rural Utilities Service (RUS).

■n Bells Labs develops Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM), which tremendously increases the capacity of optic fiber as a carrier of data.

■n “Cable modems” are introduced. These high speed digital connections over cable television networks are primarily used for Internet connectivity.

■n America Online reaches 4.5 million members. q

1 9 9 3

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 25

OPASTCO n Timeline

1 9 9 7

1 9 9 8

■n OpastcO continues to advise the Fcc on interpretation and implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and how their proposed rulemakings affect rural carriers and the communities they serve.

■n as a result of the telecom act of 1996, the Fcc makes rules for the four distinct funds: High cost, Low Income, schools and Libraries, and telemedicine. schools and Libraries, commonly known as the “e-rate” program, grants discounted rates for “telecommunications services, Internet access, and internal connections,” including “installation and maintenance.” Later, the E-rate program, as well as the cEtc program, cause the UsF program to balloon in size.

■n The District Court enters a preliminary injunction banning Microsoft to tie Internet Explorer to Windows.

t Intel introduces its Pentium II microprocessor, operating at

300 MHz, having a 64 bit bus, 7.5 million transistors,

and able to address 64 GB of memory. ■n OpastcO continues advocating

for rural America as the Fcc interprets and implements the telecommunications act of 1996.

■n to help create greater awareness and understanding of how rural ILEc regulation has evolved to its current state, congress’ intentions for the telecommunications act, the importance of rural telecommunications on economic development and why universal service must be strengthened, OPASTCO begins publishing a series of white papers under OpastcO’s white paper brand, “Keeping Rural america connected.”

■n Recognizing the increased speed in technological advances, members’ need for a technical resource, and the value of including technical expertise in a variety of advocacy efforts, OPASTCO adds a full-time technical director to the staff. The technical director’s role quickly expands beyond liaison to the technical committee and advisor to include acting as OpastcO’s representative on a variety of federal technical advisory groups, educational programming, and drafting comments and magazine articles.

■n OpastcO begins to address the Communications Assistance for Law enforcement Act (CALeA), which creates potential and significant costs for OpastcO members.

■n Local number portability heats up, and OpastcO advocates for policies that will not adversely affect OpastcO members’ universal service support or create undo hardship to implement the capability before there is significant rural consumer demand.

■n OpastcO and the Rural telephone coalition address advanced wireline telecommunications, including the Internet and Ip communications.

■n OpastcO recognizes the new directions the rural industry is facing and adds the CLeC and iSP committees.

■n In conjunction with OpastcO’s convention in toronto, the association builds strong ties with Canada. canadian telephone company membership grows, OpastcO meets with the canadian Regulatory telecommunications commission in canada, and canadian regulators later visit OpastcO in the United states. OpastcO meets with and speaks before the Ontario telecommunications

association and the association des compagnies de téléphone

du Québec on multiple occasions. Later, in

2003, OpastcO adds a canadian seat to its board.

t Apple Computer introduces the teal-and- translucent iMac, which is hailed as a revolu tion in computer design—inside and out.

■n Forbes magazine names Compaq its 1997 Company of the Year.

■n Yahoo! ends the year with 50 million unique members, 18 world properties and completes its first profitable year.

■n Compaq co-develops with Panasonic world’s first high definition digital television tuner-decoder for personal computers.

■n America Online surpasses 15 million members.

■n Compaq introduces the world’s first broadband-ready Internet PCs with Pinacor, Inc.

■n is founded.

■n Ericsson launches Bluetooth wireless technology for personal area networks. Bluetooth operates in the license-free 2.4 GHz band and promises speeds up to 1 Mbps in ranges up to 10 meters.

■n Compaq introduces a video conferencing kit and high-capacity diskette drive for portable PCs.

26 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

OPASTCO n Timeline

1 9 9 9

2 0 0 0

■n America Online surpasses 19 million members.

q Yahoo! is added to the S&P 500.

■n The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) sues Napster, an online peer-to-peer file sharing service, in federal court in San Francisco, alleging copyright infringement.

■n Apple introduces the iBook, a portable computer designed like the iMac, weighing 6.6 lbs. with a built-in 56 kbps modem and built-in 3.2 GB hard disk.

■n Intel introduces its Intel Mobile Pentium II processor, operating at 400 MHz. Two models are made, one based on a 0.25 micron process, the other on a 0.18 micron process.

Both having 27.4 million transistors, intended for use in mobile PCs.

■n Compaq announces the new Aero 8000, a handheld PC.

■n WiFi is first offered commercially.

t TiVo, a digital video recorder, is launched.

■n Intel introduces its Pentium III processor, operating at 450 or 500 MHz, having 9.5 million transistors, based on a 0.25 micron process, 100 MHz bus, 64 bit bus, intended for use in business and consumer PCs, one- and two-way servers, and workstations.

■n OpastcO addresses universal service, truth in billing, CALeA, calling party pays and competition on behalf of its membership.

■n The Fund for Rural Education and Development (FRED) changes its name to the foundation for Rural education and Development and unveils its new logo.

■n at a strategic planning session, OPASTCO adds the video and broadband Committee. In addition, OpastcO designated certain board members to represent the cLEc, Isp, and Video and Broadband interests of those committees.

■n OpastcO continues to advocate on behalf of its membership to ensure the Fcc’s rules designed to enhance local competition and advanced telecommunications services do not have unforeseen negative consequences for rural carriers.

■n OpastcO and its rural association allies work to address high interstate access rates. The groups come together to form the Multi-association Group (MaG). The MaG plan proposes to staunch access revenue losses by moving certain parts of access to the Universal service Fund. By lowering the access rates and moving the associated revenue requirements to the UsF, the MaG plan ultimately saves the rural industry significant regulated revenue that otherwise would have been lost.

■n Fcc chairman William Kennard addresses attendees at the OpastcO summer convention.

■n OpastcO is invited by the Fcc to participate in the Network Reliability and interoperability Council, an Fcc advisory council to address issues such as disaster preparedness and recovery, Ip networks, Ipv6 and next-generation public safety networks.

p America Online merges with Time Warner.

■n By the end of the year, 7.1 million U.S. homes and businesses have high-speed Internet connections, a 158 percent increase over the previous year. Of these, 5.2 million were homes or small businesses, 4.3 million were faster than 200 kbps in both directions (up 118 percent), 3.6 million were cable modems (up 153 percent), 2 million were DSL (up 435 percent).

■n Paypal is founded.

p The “Dot Com” bubble bursts on Wall Street as stock prices start to plunge for IT and e-business companies.

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 27

OPASTCO n Timeline

2 0 0 1

2 0 0 2

■n Following the MaG plan, OpastcO continues to advocate for access charge reform on behalf of its membership. The association also addresses universal service, spectrum allocation, customer proprietary network information rules, local number portability and caLEa.

■n OPASTCO’s legislative efforts address estate tax, reallocation of wireless spectrum in rural areas to create a secondary market, a separate rural exemption for voice and advanced services, numbering resource optimization, jurisdictional separations, and broadband deployment.

■n The Federal-state Joint Board on Universal service Rural task Force, working closely with OpastcO and allied associations, releases its recommendation to the fCC on what is necessary to create a good foundation for a rural Universal service Fund.

p OpastcO creates OPASTCorp, a limited liability corporation mandated to help OpastcO members through new business opportunities and cost-reducing services. Opastcorp’s first offering is its Roam-to-Home service, making it possible to connect to an Isp when outside the customer’s service area. Discount domain name registration and discount credit card processing offers follow.

■n New models of the Intel Pentium 4 processor operate at 1600 and 1800 MHz.

■n America Online membership surpasses 29 million worldwide.

■n Vonage, the broadband phone service, is launched.

■n The term “Exaflood” is coined. It describes the exponentially increasing amount of data transmitted over the Internet each year.

t Apple releases the iPod, a portable media player.

■n The WiMAX standard is released.■n OpastcO and rural association

allies begin advocating for a sustainable High Cost Universal Service fund that is not affected by ballooning growth created by competitive local exchange carriers.

■n OpastcO members Tom and Jan Lovell of Clear Lake independent Telephone Company testify before the senate Finance committee subcommittee on taxation and IRs Oversight about the costs and burdens associated with federal estate tax compliance.

■n In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, OpastcO and its charitable foundation, FRED, organize a 9/11 disaster relief fund. OpastcO member companies and their employees raise $60,303 and donate the funds to the shanksville Volunteer Fire Department, which responded to the crash site of United Flight 93. The fire department was unable to bring its failing fire engine to the crash site. The fire department is in need of a new fire engine, and the donation goes toward that purchase. q u

■n OpastcO Member Don bond of Public Service Telephone Company testifies before the senate commerce committee in opposition to the connections plan.

■n OpastcO continues to address ongoing issues such as estate tax, universal service, intercarrier compensation, number portability, RUs, and broadband implementation.

■n OpastcO launches new website to provide greater information to its membership.

■n T- 3G wireless service becomes commercially available in the U.S.

■n Camera phones are introduced.

■n Bluetooth technology becomes commonplace, causing many of us to think a lot of crazy people are walking the streets talking to themselves. u

28 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

OPASTCO n Timeline

2 0 0 32 0 0 4

p OpastcO publishes the “Universal Service in Rural America: A Congressional Mandate at Risk” white paper. Written by OpastcO’s stuart polikoff, the paper is conceived and developed by OpastcO’s Universal service committee.

■n OpastcO and Ntca file a petition with the United states court of appeals for the District of columbia circuit, calling for a review of the fCC’s wireline to wireless (intermodal) portability.

■n OPASTCO advocates on a wide range of issues, including universal service and cEtc costs, intermodal local number portability, government networks, customer proprietary network information and numbering.

■n On behalf of OpastcO, Itta, Ntca and the Western telecommunications alliance (Wta), OpastcO member Robert Orent of Hiawatha Communications testifies before the senate committee on commerce, science and transportation subcommittee on communications regarding the increasingly serious threats the Universal service Fund currently faces and the need for stepped-up congressional oversight.

u OpastO Board Member Robert Williams of Oregon farmers Mutual Telephone Company testifies before the House small Business Rural Enterprises, agriculture and technology subcommittee at “The Future of Rural telecommunications: Is the Universal service Fund sustainable?” hearing.

■n Representing OpastcO and Ntca, Sid Shank of bloomingdale Telephone Company testifies before the House telecommunications and the Internet subcommittee “The Future of Universal service” hearing.

q In Boston, OpastcO holds its first-ever Technical Symposium.

■n OpastcO advocates on a broad range of issues, including universal service, Ip-enabled services, caLEa, rate-of-return regulation, video competition, RUs, Usac audits and intercarrier compensation.

■n OpastcO chairman Arturo “Archie” Macias of Wheat State Telephone testifies before the senate committee on commerce, science and transportation regarding the Voice over Internet protocol (VoIp) Regulatory Freedom act. u

■n OpastcO Member S. Michael “Mick” Jensen of Great plains communications testifies before the House subcommittee on telecommunications and the Internet “Voice over Internet protocol services: Will the technology Disrupt the Industry or Will Regulation Disrupt the technology?” hearing.

■n OpastcO Member gene Johnson of fairPoint Communications testifies before the Federal-state Joint Board on Universal service at an en banc hearing regarding the basis of support in areas served by rural areas.

■n Regarding Nixon v. Missouri League, the Supreme Court rules that states can block local governments from providing telecom service. This is a huge win for OpastcO and other rural allies who participated in the petition.

■n The Universal Service fund receives a 12-month reprieve from antideficiency act requirements. OpastcO members lobby hard for this reprieve and continue to advocate for a permanent exemption.

■n OpastcO adds a non-voting associate member seat to its Board of Directors.

■n The social networking site, Facebook, is launched at Harvard by Mark Zuckerberg and his college friends.

■n NASA receives its last signal from the Pioneer 10 spacecraft (launched in 1972), approximately 7.5 billion miles from Earth.

■n Skype VoIP and software service are released.

p Apple launches its iTunes Music Store.

■n The United States National Do Not Call Registry enrolls almost 750,000 phone numbers on its first day.

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 29

OPASTCO n Timeline

2 0 0 5

■n OPASTCO advocates on a broad range of issues, including universal service contribution methodology, reverse auctions, Usac audits, video competition, Ip transport, number pooling, phantom traffic, RUs, separations reform, and roaming.

■n On behalf of OpastcO and the coalition to Keep america connected, centurytel cEO glen Post testifies before the senate commerce, science and transportation committee on the Universal service Fund contribution mechanism.

■n On behalf of OpastcO and the coalition to Keep america connected, Ntca’s Shirley bloomfield testifies before the congressional Rural caucus on the importance of the Universal service Fund and telecommunications challenges facing rural america.

■n The National association of Regulatory Utility commissioners’ Intercarrier com-pensation taskforce files the Missoula Plan with the Fcc. The Rural alliance, of which OpastcO is a member, supports the plan and holds a series of telebriefings to educate the rural industry about the plan and the Fcc’s rulemaking process.

■n On behalf of OpastcO and the coalition to Keep america connected, OpastcO’s John Rose testifies before the congressional Rural caucus on the “consumer choice and Broadband Deployment act of 2006.”

■n OpastcO’s technical committee establishes a relationship with the University of New Hampshire in an effort to get first-hand vendor interoperability test results for carriers attempting to deploy new technologies in rural networks.

t OPASTCO Roundtable introduces a new design.

p YouTube.com is founded to share video files and create personalized video channels.

t The Xbox 360 game console is launched. It has gaming, Internet, live chat, and video capabilities.

■n Senator Obama raises the issue of net neutrality during a presidential campaign speech.

t Twitter is launched. It is an online service with a limit of 140 characters per post. Twitter’s use of @ and # enter mainstream culture several years later.

■n OpastcO addresses telecom policy issues on behalf of its membership, including universal service and the antideficiency act, pre-paid calling cards, intercarrier compensation, wireless roaming, local number portability, DtV, and Vonage.

■n Following OpastcO and Ntca’s participation in a petition for a partial stay and clarification with the Fcc on its intermodal local number portability orders, the U.s. court of appeals for the D. c. circuit recognizes that the fCC failed to comply with the Regulatory Flexibility act’s requirement to prepare a final regulatory flexibility analysis regarding the order’s impact on small entities.

u OpastcO, Ntca, Wta and Itta found the Coalition to Keep America Connected, the start of a broad-based effort to ensure that both the public and policymakers understand how decisions made regarding the telecommunications act of 1996 rewrite affect rural consumers.

■n OpastcO Member Kevin Hess of TDS Telecom testifies before the House Rural caucus telecom task Force regarding regulatory issues that must be addressed to ensure rural consumers have continued access to a broadband network.

■n OpastcO joins the intercarrier Compensation forum, an industry-wide group of rural phone companies, long distance companies, cable tV providers, wireless providers and Bell companies working together to negotiate a consensus plan to be submitted to the Fcc.

■n OPASTCO becomes a voting member of the DSL forum (now known as the Broadband Forum) to address the challenges of deploying broadband DsL solutions in rural

areas. OpastcO’s representative to the DsL Forum/Broadband Forum is OpastcO technical committee Member Lynn Merrill of Monte R. Lee &

company.

2 0 0 6

30 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

OPASTCO n Timeline

2 0 0 7

■n The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit upholds the FCC’s Order to preempt state regulation of voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services.

p Netflix begins offering video streaming over the Internet.

■n Apple introduces its first smart phone, the iPhone.

■n The open source smart phone operating system, Android, is developed.

■n Hulu, the subscription streaming video service, is launched.

■n magicJack is invented; widespread commercial marketing begins a year later.

■n The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upholds the FCC’s classification of DSL as an information service under the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

■n OPASTCO advocates on a broad range of issues, including high-cost Universal service Fund stabilization, reverse auctions, video set-top boxes, retransmission consent reform, access stimulation, Usac audits, DEM weighting, broadband deployment and funding, video competition, customer proprietary network information, and voice over Internet protocol (VoIp).

■n OpastcO Legislative policy committee chair brent Christensen of Christensen Communications testifies before the House small Business subcommittee on Rural and Urban Entrepreneurship regarding how many rural communities depend on small, rural carriers to provide the rural telecommunications network necessary to provide broadband access.

t Representing OpastcO, Itta, Ntca and Wta, OpastcO chairman Roger Nishi testifies before the senate committee on commerce, science

and transportation’s hearing on assessing the recommendations of the Federal-state Joint Board on Universal service to temporarily cap high-cost Universal service Fund support for competitive local exchange carriers.

■n OPASTCO launches a new, redesigned website to provide its members with increased access to resources and tools, a document library, and other member benefits. q

2 0 0 62 0 0 8

■n OpastcO chairman Keith Oliver of Home Telephone Company (S.C.) testifies before the House committee on small Business subcommittee on contracting and technology in support of the DtV transition, and access to spectrum and content for small carriers. u

■n On behalf of OpastcO, Ntca and Wta, Raymond Henagan of Rock Port Telephone Company testifies before the senate committee on commerce, science and transportation on phantom traffic.

■n OPASTCO advocates on a broad range of issues, including high-cost Universal service Fund stabilization, UsF audits, intercarrier compensation, broadband reporting, broadband investment, video competition, DtV outreach mandate, spectrum, call signaling, and phantom traffic.

■n OpastcO is invited to meet with members of President-elect Obama’s fCC transition team.

■n OpastcO and Wta make major rural gains to the fCC’s universal service and intercarrier compensation reform plan. The associations stay at the negotiation table long after other associations have backed away. Through almost daily negotiations at the Fcc, significant concessions are gained. although the Fcc’s reform plan ultimately fails to be adopted, relationships between the Fcc and OpastcO are greatly strengthened.

■n The FCC adopts an interim Universal Service Fund cap for competitive eligible telecommunications companies (CETCs). This cap prevents the further upward spiral of high-cost fund growth by CETCs.

■n Apple opens the Apple Apps Store, offering applications (apps) downloadable to the iPhone.

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 31

OPASTCO n Timeline

2 0 1 0

2 0 0 9

p Apple introduces its first iPad tablet.

■n The first non-English-character domain names launch.

■n Facebook reaches 500 million members and Twitter reaches 145 million users.

■n “.com” turns 25 years old.

■n YouTube turns five years old.

■n The 10 billionth song is downloaded through iTunes.

■n Consumer 3D TVs are introduced.

■n OpastcO focuses the majority of its resources to address the fCC’s National broadband Plan and the potentially harmful consequences to rural broadband infrastructure if adopted.

■n Representing OpastcO, Ntca and Wta, Hill country telephone cooperative’s Delbert Wilson testifies before the senate committee on commerce, science and transportation subcommittee on communications for the “Universal service: transforming the High-cost Fund for the Broadband Era” hearing.

■n On behalf of OpastcO, Ntca and Wta, Ntca’s cEO Shirley bloomfield testifies before the House committee on Energy and commerce’s subcommittee on communications, technology and the Internet to explain how the “Universal service Reform act of 2010” helps update the universal service program to reflect the critical shift from voice to broadband.

■n OpastcO is invited to participate as a member of the National Coordination Center for Communications, which answers to the Department of Homeland security and is the single point of coordination for communications carriers to report network status or to get relief assistance in case of natural or other disasters. OpastcO uses this relationship to get member companies in touch with federal aid organizations, such as FEMa, prior to and after a disaster.

q fCC Chairman Julius genachowski addresses attendees at the OpastcO summer convention and tradeshow.

■n OPASTCO advocates on a broad range of issues, including universal service and intercarrier compensation reform, broadband stimulus, comprehensive rural broadband strategy, and separations access freeze.

■n OpastcO chairman Mark gailey testifies before the House subcommittee on telecommunications and the Internet’s hearing on the Universal service Fund. u

■n OpastcO First Vice chairman Catherine Moyer testifies before the House subcommittee on communications, technology and the Internet on the Universal service Reform act of 2009.

■n Representatives of OpastcO and Wta testify at seven public roundtables hosted by the National telecommunications and Information administration and RUs, to discuss rural broadband providers thoughts on how broadband funds from the american Recovery and Reinvestment act of 2009 should be awarded.

■n OpastcO is invited by the Fcc to participate on its Technical Advisory Council, which advises the Fcc on technical considerations that need to be addressed in the transition of current pstN networks to all-broadband Ip networks.

■n The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is signed into law and includes $7.2 billion in funding for broadband build-outs to under- and unserved communities.

■n The FCC releases a Notice of Inquiry seeking comments on the development of a National Broadband Plan.

32 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

OPASTCO n Timeline

2 0 1 1■n OPASTCO advocates for

universal service and intercarrier compensation reform to ensure consumers everywhere have sustainable access to broadband as it pertains to support of existing broadband networks, and underserved and unserved areas. additionally, issues such as call completion, access to video content, retransmission consent, RUs, truth in caller ID, carrier customers’ tariff obligations, and estate tax are addressed.

■n OpastcO, in partnership with Ntca and Wta, creates the Save Rural broadband campaign to increase rural america’s understanding of how the Fcc’s universal service and intercarrier compensation reforms could affect their access to high-speed broadband, and to generate grassroots action.

■n On behalf of OpastcO, Ntca and Wta, Ntca cEO Shirley bloomfield testifies before the United states senate committee on commerce, science and transportation in the matter of “Universal service Reform—Bringing Broadband to all americans.”

■n OPASTCO and NTCA’s boards begin to explore whether or not ongoing unified efforts between OpastcO and Ntca should be formalized so that resources to advocate for the industry may be combined.

■n OPASTCO advocates for universal service and intercarrier compensation reform to ensure consumers everywhere have sustainable access to broadband, as well as new broadband service to underserved and unserved areas. additionally, issues such as call completion, access to video content, retransmission consent, and RUs are addressed.

■n OpastcO and Ntca’s boards further explore and formalize a process to unify the two associations. The boards vote to legally bind the two organizations to a unification vote by the memberships, which is scheduled for February 6, 2013.

2 0 1 2p On February 2, OpastcO celebrates its 50th anniversary and the retirement of OpastcO president John Rose after 25 years of service to OpastcO at a gala in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

■n OpastcO and Ntca jointly hold the Rural Telecom industry Meeting & eXPO in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, February 3–6. The joint meeting brings both commercial and cooperative telcos together under one roof for the largest industry meeting of its kind. q

p Netflix has 24.4 million subscribers for its streaming-video-over-Internet and DVD-by-mail services.

■n Facebook users start making live voice and video calls via Facebook Chat.

■n iPhone users can make video calls using a mobile version of Skype.

■n Skype is purchased by Microsoft for $8.5 billion. There are more than 600 million users worldwide.

■n Skype partners with Comcast to offer video chat to Comcast customers via their high-definition televisions.

■n Ultra HDTV, with four times the resolution of standard 1080p HD models, is introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show.

p Intel begins mass-production of processors based on 3D transistors.

■n Wireless connections surpass 6 billion with 90 percent using 3GPP technologies

■n Mobile broadband HSPA and LTE connections reach one billion.

2 0 1 3

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 33

Lt. Cmdr. Rose with sons Matthew and Jack.

John and his wife, Cathy, soak up the warmth at a winter convention in Hawaii.

John speaks to members during OPASTCO’s 30th anniversary year.

oPAstCo n 50th Anniversary

34 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

oPAstCo n Tribute

For 25 years, John N. Rose has been the steady hand guiding OpastcO and its membership through the highs and lows of rural telecom industry change. From the days of network expansion to regula-tory reforms and leaps in technology, Rose has kept OpastcO members looking forward to prepare for future challenges.

Rose the Naval OfficerLooking back on his career, Rose can directly con-nect many of his strengths to his time in the Navy. as a young naval officer, Rose learned the discipline necessary to set goals and follow through on them. He enjoyed a series of quick promotions, and within three years was a lieutenant on a minecraft support ship, responsible for 26 minesweeper boats and 125 men.

Rose recalls his proudest moment in the navy; he used all of the information at his disposal and was confident his instincts were correct.

One night, Rose was the officer on the deck, in charge of a cruiser-size ship, one hundred miles out of Rio de Janeiro making top speed for Norfolk, Va. It was pitch-dark with no moon, and orders were to move the ship at top speed. There were many small blips on the radar, but the crew assumed the blips were waves. Rose’s instincts told him that he should slow down and shine a floodlight on his course. From everything he had seen during his time in Rio, he didn’t believe that all of the blips were waves. When the ship slowed, the captain came to the bridge of the ship to find out why Rose had slowed down. He was annoyed by the slow-down and the floodlight, and wanted to stay on sched-ule. Rose prevailed and at that moment, the floodlight began to show that the blips on the radar were dozens of small fishing boats in the path of the naval ship. If the ship had proceeded at speed, it would have plowed through the Brazilian fishing boats. Rose had prevented an international incident and loss of human life.

Rose used the skills he honed in the Navy, after he left for a life on shore. During his years at chesa-peake & potomac (c&p) and the Rural Electrification administration (REa), Rose continued to serve in the Navy Reserve. stationed at the pentagon, as a Lieuten-ant commander, during the Reagan years, Rose worked

on the strategic planning of national resources in the event of World War III and used the early Internet as part of his work.

From Renegade to Rural Industry ExpertOnce his years in the Navy were over, Rose returned to a life on land. He had a growing family and was ready to build his civilian career.

at c&p, Ma Bell trained him well on switching, transmission, traffic and cost accounting. Rose worked in accounting, auditing, and separations with inde-pendent companies. During his seven-year tenure at c&p, Rose became known as a bit of a renegade. He performed many unpopular audits on c&p people—several who later became his bosses.

after seven years at c&p, Rose was ready for something new. He found it at the Rural Electrification administration (REa). He joined as a public util-ity specialist, quickly moving up to branch chief and then director of the telecommunications management division. Rose found himself involved in many differ-ent areas of REa, where he absorbed a huge body of knowledge covering all aspects of loan administration, toll separations, and toll deaveraging. He regularly interacted with the National telecommunications and Information administration and the Federal commu-nications commission, and wrote congressional testi-mony for REa’s administrator, as well as providing his own testimony to congress. Rose’s range of knowledge was so broad, he once attended a meeting where he spoke on six topics; at&t was at the meeting and sent six different experts.

Leveraging the knowledge he gained from seven years working at REa on the complexities of the independent telephone company industry, Rose moved on to the United states telecom association (Usta).

1988 – 2013John rosEOPASTCO’s President and Industry Leader

Upon John’s retirement, we reflect on his 25 years at the helm of OPASTCOM A R T H A K . S i Lv e R

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 35

oPAstCo n Tribute

at Usta, John worked for four years on behalf of the rural industry before he was recruited to head OpastcO as the association’s executive vice president in 1988. His title was changed to president in 1996.

Rose Reinvigorates OPASTCO and Its MissionUnder Rose’s leadership, OpastcO grew as an association, reaching out to its members, offering new member benefits, and strengthening its relationships with other industry organizations, the Fcc and capitol Hill. For the next 25 years, Rose dedicated himself to the time and travel necessary to make OpastcO an influential advocate for rural telecommunications.

In his first year at OpastcO, 1988, he launched OPASTCO Roundtable magazine and paved the way for the Fund for Rural Education and Development (FRED) to grow into a successful 501(c)3 charity. The following year, OpastcO held its first legislative and regulatory conference and began to build a strong relationship with the National state telephone Executives associa-tion. Over the next few years, OpastcO developed the PR Idea Kit, added the average schedule committee, advocated on significant cross-ownership and regulated revenue issues, and testified before congress. By 1991, Rose created significant momentum for OpastcO and its winter convention had a record-breaking number of attendees.

The momentum continued with the 1992 Van tour, visiting more than 70 small, rural telephone compa-

rose as an industry LeaderOne of the most frequently mentioned attributes that John Rose has brought to his success as an industry leader is his ability to bring divergent groups together to find common ground and reach agreement. As a consensus builder, Rose often found that industry parties, regardless of size, could see the long-term benefit of a prosperous rural telecom industry.

With the small and rural telecommunications industry, Rose used these same skills to bring many uniquely situated and diverse small telecommunications companies and their trade associations together to support policy positions that looked beyond the immediate needs of a single company to ensure that the rural telecom industry as a whole was best positioned to address the challenges of a changing competitive environment.

In the face of striking industry changes, Rose has surprised many with his calm demeanor in the face of heated debate and seemingly impossible challenges. In these situations, the uninitiated might think Rose was unconcerned about the debated issues or consequences; nothing could be farther from the truth. In times when tempers ran high and talks at the negotiation tables became emotional pleas, Rose fell back on the basic truths of strategic thinking he learned during his years in the Navy. Staying cool and calm in the face of a crisis is the only way to see above the fray to plot a successful course.

36 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

oPAstCo n Tribute

nies in 40 states; the first small telephone company Week; the groundbreaking and influential “Keep Rural america connected” toll de- averaging study; people-to-people visits by staff to the member ship; OpastcO seats on the Network Reliability council and the North american Numbering council; the creation of the OPASTCO Advocate monthly issues-focused newsletter; the addition of Isp, cLEc and Video and Broadband committees; OpastcO’s Indy awards competition for publication Excellence; work with the Farm team on capitol Hill to get rural-friendly language in the tele-communications act of 1996; the addition of full-time technical and Legislative affairs directors; building strong ties with companies and regulatory bodies in canada; the creation of Opastcorp; and advocacy for a sustainable Universal service High-cost Fund.

In addition to orchestrating the creation of new member benefits and functions for OpastcO, Rose was crucial in OpastcO’s long history of working together with other groups that share common goals or members, including the Rural telephone coalition, the Network Reliability council, the National state telephone Executives association, the National asso-ciation for Rural Utility commissioners, the National

Exchange carrier association, canadian associations and the canadian Regulatory telecommunications commission, the Multi-association Group, the Inter-carrier compensation Forum, the coalition to Keep america connected, the High-tech Digital television coalition, Fair access to content and telecommu-nications, coalition for competition in the Media, american television alliance, coalition for competi-tive access to content, the Fcc’s technical advisory council, the telecommunications Industry association, and many more informal groups. Through all of these industry connections, Rose ensured OpastcO was well-positioned to be a part of the significant conversa-tions for the rural telecom industry.

Rose’s Next Chapter: Retirementas Rose retires Feb. 28, 2013, our industry says thank you to a man who had the vision, dedication and lead-ership to think strategically above the fray and prepare OpastcO members for the challenges of tomorrow.

congratulations and thank you, John Rose, for all your hard work on behalf of the rural telecommunica-tions industry. May you have a well-deserved happy and healthy retirement!

John rosE: A talented leader, gifted facilitator, patient educator, dedicated emissary, and always a good sport

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 37

For the past 25 years, OPASTCO President John Rose has been leading the association and spearheading its

advocacy efforts. Here are 10 overarching telecom policy advocacy efforts that have had profound effects on the rural

telecommunications industry.

OPASTCO…

4 negOTiATed continuously with the

FCC and industry to maximize DEM weighting in order to pay for rural switch upgrades.

3 WOrked for the creation of NECA and small company

representation on the board to replace the Bell settlements system. Pushed for the creation of per minute IXC access charges, flat rate subscriber charges, and a universal service fund.

2 PrOmOTed before all policymakers and

members alike the need for small telephone companies to provide services such as wireless, CATV, USINTELCO (SS7), and other services and businesses.

1 SuPPOrTed the legislation to allow CoBank to lend to rural

communications providers and supported the creation of RTFC by NRECA to lend to small rural communications providers. OPASTCO continues to support REA (RUS) funding at maximum levels.

John rosE’s toP 10 telecom Advocacy Efforts

by oPAstCo

oPAstCo n 50th Anniversary

38 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

10 AggreSSively PrOmOTed at all

venues the roll out of broadband in rural America and the modernization rural networks.

8 AdvOCATed for ten years promoting

privatization of the Rural Telephone Bank, which yielded significant funds to upgrade rural networks.

6 APPOinTed voting members of all the FCC

Technical Advisory Committees from the early 1990s to present in order to influence policy and ensure that recommendations were small company friendly.

9 ACTively liAiSed, on behalf of rural telcos, with the “Rural

Task Force,” which stabilized the Universal Service Fund and reinitialized the cap on the USF.

7 AggreSSively SuPPOrTed the Multi Association Group

(MAG) plan, which moved revenue requirements from per minute access to the Universal Service Fund. This was a controversial issue which eventually proved beneficial to small companies.

5 lOBBied the Senate “Farm Team” throughout 1994–95 to codify

universal service and funding. OPASTCO published the study “Keeping Rural America Connected: Costs and Rates in the Competitive Era, 1994,” which influenced the 1996 legislation.

oPAstCo n Advocacy

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 39

1988 – 2013The history and Mission of frEdproviding resources for rural communities has always been important to OpastcO members. In 1988, Everette Kneece, from south carolina, and a group of his fellow OpastcO members wanted to strengthen their efforts to help their home towns. They had a vision of a nonprofit organization that would help improve rural education and community development. During that year, plans were put in place to establish a new organization, and in 1989, the Fund for Rural Education and Development or FRED was created, thanks to a $5,000 donation from Mr. Kneece.

In 1991, FRED created the first of two endowment funds through a $25,000 donation from Everette and Martha Kneece. That next year, FRED awarded its first two scholar-ships worth $1,000 each. In 1998, after a decade of success with its scholarship program, FRED began to provide new publications and programs. to reflect this evolution, the FRED board changed the name from “Fund” to “Founda-tion,” updated the logo, and implemented a strategic plan to further expand programs and funding for OpastcO member communities.

Those efforts have made FRED the national founda-tion that it is today. Throughout the last 25 years, FRED has awarded $2.6 million in scholarships, grants and other

funding through its programs. as OpastcO’s exclusive foundation, FRED has helped the members gain leverage within their local communities by providing them with a competitive edge against larger providers.

While FRED has evolved over the last two decades into a full foundation, it remains deeply rooted in tradition and is driven by the concepts and principals of the founding OpastcO members. With a healthy endowment worth $1.6 million and generous supporters, FRED is able to provide more than $125,000 in funding each year through scholarships, awards and grants. FRED is proud to be part of OpastcO’s rich history, and salutes the many accom-plishments it has made for rural companies and individuals during the last 50 years.

—MeLiSSA A. KORzUCH, Foundation Director

2 5 Y E A r sFRED Has Given Back to Rural America

$1,129,070 scholarships $475,433 community development grants $275,000 youth leadership grants $740,000 technology upgrade grants $90,000 hurricane Katrina relief $60,303 9/11 recovery efforts

Nation’s ford received a Technology grant for $4,800.

ethyl grants provide matching support of

up to $2,500 for rural schools and communities.

everette Kneece’s service to fReD was acknowledged by OPASTCO friends during the 2005 summer convention in boston.

oPAstCo n 50th Anniversary

40 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

oPAstCo n FRED

1988 OPASTCO Board votes to create a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

1989 FRED is created

1990 First Compensation and Benefit Survey published

1991 Everette and Martha Kneece make a $25,000 donation to start scholarship endowment fund

1992 First two FRED scholarships awarded

1993 – 2006 Rural Development Achievement Award Program

1994 Community Development Guidebook published

1995 Capital Campaign launches with goal of $1 million for scholarships

1996 – 2007 Teacher of the Year Award Program

1999 Community Development Guidebook revised and republished

First Canadian-nominated student earns FRED scholarship

2001 Ethyl Grant Program launches Technology Grants for Rural Schools Program

2002 FRED raises $60,303 toward recovery efforts from the 9/11 terrorist attacks

2002 – 2012 Leadership Through Learning Program

2004 Kneece Challenge raises $700,000 for FRED programs

2006 FRED raises $90,000 to help victims of Hurricane Katrina

2011 FRED awards $77,000 in scholarships—the largest amount ever awarded in one year

2012 FRED awards top scholarship to 14-year-old student

Martha and everette Kneece

fReD events held during OPASTCO’s conventions have been important fundraisers—with an emphasis on the “fun.”

glenbrook elementary School was the recipient of an ethyl grant in 2005.

Loretto High School received a Technology grant in 2005.

Members of the Shanksville volunteer fire Department, which responded to the crash of United flight 93 on 9/11, accept a donation toward a new fire truck.

t High school students in the Leadership Through Learning program show spirit during a visit to Washington, D.C., in 2010.

t Susan Rand, right, daughter of fReD’s first president, Hobart Rand of granite State Telephone, presents a scholarship check to a local student.

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 41

1 9 6 4William E. Corman

Southland Telephone Company

Atmore, Alabama

1 9 6 5 – 1 9 6 6Fred McGeheeWest Florida

Telephone Companymarianna, Florida

1 9 7 3 – 1 9 74Robert G. MussmanNorthwestern Indiana Telephone Company

Hebron, indiana

1 9 7 5Glenn Bergland

Lake Mills Telephone Company

lake mills, iowa

1 9 76W.S. “Babe” Howard

Millington Telephone Companymillington, Tennessee

1 9 7 7Art W. Barnes

Chickamauga Telephone Corporation

Chickamauga, georgia

1 9 7 8Patrick PriceSan Marcos

Telephone CompanySan marcos, Texas

1 9 8 4Bob Boaldin

Elkhart Telephone Company

elkhart, kansas

1 9 8 5H. Milton Stewart

Standard Telephone Company

Cornelia, georgia

1 9 8 6Robert Rierson

Bridge Water Telephone Companymonticello, minnesota

1 9 8 7S. Mick Jensen

Great Plains Communications

Blair, nebraska

1 9 8 8Everette Kneece

Pond Branch Telephone Company

gilbert, South Carolina

1 9 9 4Glenn RauhMetamora

Telephone Companymetamora, illinois

1 9 9 5Allen Arvig

East Otter Tail Telephone CompanyPerham, minnesota

1 9 9 6Ed Dailor

Empire Telephone Company

Prattsburgh, new york

1 9 9 7Edwin H. Eichler

Pigeon Telephone Company

Pigeon, michigan

1 9 9 8J. Allen Layman

R&B Telephone Company

daleville, virginia

2 0 0 4Arturo “Archie” Macias

Wheat State Telephone Company

udall, kansas

2 0 0 5Robert Williams

Oregon Farmers Mutual Telephone Company

Oregon, missouri

2 0 0 6Chad MilesEnhanced

Telecommunications Corporation

Sunman, indiana

2 0 0 7Roger Nishi

Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom

Waitsfield, vermont

2 0 0 8H. Keith OliverHome Telephone

Company Inc.moncks Corner, South Carolina

1964 – 2013oPAstCo Presidents & Chairmen

oPAstCo n 50th Anniversary

42 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

1 9 67Robert M. Pirnie

Union Springs Telephone Company

union Springs, Alabama

1 9 6 8Hugh R. Wilbourn, Jr.

Allied Telephone Companylittle rock, Arkansas

1 9 6 9 – 1 9 7 0Gene Daubendiek

Jefferson Telephone Company

Jefferson, iowa

1 9 7 1H. Zeine Goatcher

Cimarron Telephone Companymannford, Oklahoma

1 9 7 2William H. Ditto

LaFourche Telephone Company

larose, louisiana

1 9 7 9Carlton E. Appelo

Western Wahkiakum County Telephone Company

grays river, Washington

1 9 8 0Eleanor Haskin

Waitsfield-Fayston Telephone CompanyWaitsfield, vermont

1 9 8 1Norman H. McFarlinMontezuma Mutual Telephone Company

montezuma, iowa

1 9 8 2Evan R. Copsey

Fidelity Telephone Company

Sullivan, missouri

1 9 8 3Kenneth L. Lein

Winnebago Cooperative Telephone Association

lake mills, iowa

1 9 8 9 Jim Pendergast

San Marcos Telephone Company

San marcos, Texas

1 9 9 0Margaret Goatcher

Cimarron Telephone Companymannford, Oklahoma

1 9 9 1Don Bond

Public Service Telephone Company

reynolds, georgia

1 9 9 2Robert Halford

Clear Lake Independent Telephone Company

Clear lake, iowa

1 9 9 3Paula Eller

Yukon Telephone Company

Wasilla, Alaska

1 9 9 9James Sherburne

United Farmers Telephone Company

everly, iowa

2 0 0 0Robert Miles, Jr.

Sunman Telephone Company

Sunman, indiana

2 0 0 1James P. Forcier

Chazy & Westport Telephone Corporation

Westport, new york

2 0 0 2Robert H. Riordan

Northeast Telephone Company

Pulaski, Wisconsin

2 0 0 3Herb Bivens

United Telephone CompanyChapel Hill, Tennessee

2 0 0 9Mark Gailey

Totah Communications

Ochelata, Oklahoma

2 0 1 0Catherine Moyer

Pioneer Communicationsulysses, kansas

2 0 1 1Ronald Laudner, Jr.

OmniTel Communications

nora Springs, iowa

2 0 1 2Mike Osborne

Ace CommunicationsAllendale, michigan

oPAstCo n Presidents & Chairmen

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 43

1987– 2013oPAstCo Award Recipients

OPASTCO Chairman’s AwardThe OpastcO chairman’s award is the highest honor bestowed by OpastcO. It is presented to an individual who has made outstanding, lifelong contributions to the independent telecommunications industry. Nominees must be a current or retired employee of a member telecommunications company, have a history of participating in OpastcO committees, and have a record of outstanding contributions that benefit the independent telecommunications industry at the national level. Begun in 1987, it was called the president’s award through 1998.

President’s Award Recipients1 9 8 7

Ivo BaumanMt. Angel Telephone Company

mt. Angel, Oregon1 9 8 8

Warren FrenchShenandoah Telephone

Companyedinburg, virginia

1 9 8 9Bill Corman

Southland Telephone CompanyAtmore, Alabama

1 9 9 0Bob Boaldin

Elkhart Telephone Companyelkhart, kansas

1 9 9 1Eleanor Haskin

Waitsfield-Fayston Telephone Company

Waitsfield, vermont1 9 9 2

Ken LeinWinnebago Cooperative Telephone Association

lake mills, iowa

1 9 9 3Evan Copsey

Holway Telephone CompanyBourbon, missouri

1 9 9 4Everette Kneece

Pond Branch Telephone Company

gilbert, South Carolina1 9 9 5

S. Michael JensenGreat Plains Communications

Blair, nebraska1 9 9 6

Carlton E. AppeloWahkiakum West Telephone

grays river, Washington1 9 9 7

Arne L. HaynesMashell Telecom Inc.

eatonville, Washington1 9 9 8

Don BondPublic Service Telephone

Companyreynolds, georgia

Chairman’s Award Recipients1 9 9 9

Margaret GoatcherCimarron Telephone Company

mannford, Oklahoma2 0 0 0

W.S. “Babe” HowardMillington Telephone Company

millington, Tennessee2 0 0 1

Paula EllerYukon Telephone Company

Wasilla, Alaska2 0 0 2

John Barnes, Sr.Comporium Group

rock Hill, South Carolina2 0 0 3

Robert HalfordClear Lake Independent

Telephone CompanyClear lake, iowa

2 0 0 4Allen Arvig

Arvig Communications Systems

Perham, minnesota2 0 0 5

Glenn RauhMetamora Telephone Company

metamora, illinois

2 0 0 6Gene Johnson

FairPoint CommunicationsCharlotte, north Carolina

2 0 0 8James Sherburne

United Farmers Telephone Company

everly, iowa2 0 0 9

Edwin EichlerPigeon Telephone Company

Pigeon, michigan2 0 1 1

James ForcierChazy & Westport Telecom

Westport, new york2 0 1 2

Robert Miles Jr.Enhanced Telecommunications

CorporationSunman, indiana

2 0 1 3Gene R. Daubendiek

Jefferson Telephone CompanyJefferson, iowa

t Don bond, with his wife, beverlyn, accepted the 1998 President’s Award from Past President’s Committee Chair Paula eller, who herself would later receive the Chairman’s Award in 2001.

ed eichler, accompanied by his wife, Wanda, received the Chairman’s Award in 2009. u

oPAstCo n 50th Anniversary

44 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

oPAstCo n Award Recipients

OPASTCO Lifetime Achievement AwardThe OpastcO Lifetime achievement award was initiated in 1996 and honors individuals who have worked to further the independent telecommunications industry throughout their careers, specifically at the state or local level. This award recognizes effective leadership and advocacy, along with outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the local community and state industry associations.

1 9 9 6Floyd Olson

Great Plains CommunicationsBlair, nebraska

1 9 9 7Louise Brown

Loretto Telephone Companyloretto, Tennessee

1 9 9 8George Nustad

Melrose Telephone Companymelrose, minnesota

1 9 9 8Dick Violette

Merrimack County Telephone Company

Contoocook, new Hampshire

1 9 9 9Harry Vickroy

Great Plains CommunicationsBlair, nebraska

2 0 0 0Dian Boaldin

Elkhart Telephone Companyelkhart, kansas

2 0 0 1Ross Vernon

Northern Iowa Telephone Company

Sioux Center, iowa2 0 0 2

Gordon LaymonCitizens Telephone Company

Warren, indiana

2 0 0 3David Southwick

The Champlain Telephone Company

Champlain, new york2 0 0 4

Everette KneecePBT Communicationsgilbert, South Carolina

2 0 0 5Hobart Rand

Granite State Telephone Inc.Weare, new Hampshire

2 0 0 7Gerald Gallimore

Citizens Telephone CooperativeFloyd, virginia

2 0 0 9Harry Baker

Sierra TelephoneOakhurst, California

2 0 1 0Joseph “Jody” Fail

Bay Springs Telephone CompanyBay Springs, mississippi

2 0 1 1Robert HelmlyHome Telecom

moncks Corner, South Carolina2 0 1 2

Kenneth KnuthWoodstock Telephone Company/

Finley Engineeringruthton, minnesota

t Dian boaldin, recipient of the 2000 Lifetime Achievement Award, accepted a congratulatory kiss from Chairman bob Miles as her husband and granddaughters watched.

John Rose presented Kenneth Knuth with the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award. u

george Nustad and Dick violette both received Lifetime Achievement Awards in 1998, the only year there were two awardees.

OPASTCO Chairman Rob Riordan presented the 2002 Lifetime Achievement Award to gordon Laymon, who was joined on stage by his wife, ellen.

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 45

oPAstCo n Award Recipients

Grassroots Advocacy Excellence AwardThe Grassroots advocacy Excellence award was established in 2008 and recognizes an individual or group of individuals that have shown outstanding grassroots efforts to the benefit of the OpastcO membership.

2 0 0 8Linda Burton

Sierra TelephoneOakhurst, California

2 0 0 9Ron Strecker

Panhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc.

guymon, Oklahoma

2 0 1 0Lou Mize

ElectriCom Inc.Paoli, indiana

2 0 1 1Karen McKee

Horizon TelecomChillicothe, Ohio

2 0 1 2John Granger

Mapcom Systemsrichmond, virginia

2 0 1 3Roger Nishi

Waitsfield and Champlain Valley

TelecomWaitsfield, vermont

Associate Member Distinguished Service AwardThe associate Member Distinguished service award, established in 1999, honors associate members who have performed outstanding service on behalf of the independent telecommunications industry and OpastcO.

1 9 9 9Maxine Manning

Gensoft Systems Inc.geneseo, illinois

2 0 0 1Malcom Wentling

National Farmers Union Insurance

greenwood village, Colorado2 0 0 2

Cliff AlbertsonBadger Communications

Corporationdurand, Wisconsin

2 0 0 3Hank Buchanan

Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative

Herndon, virginia2 0 0 4

Louis BilodeauNortel Networks

raleigh, north Carolina2 0 0 5

Rod ChristensenMid America Computer

CorporationBlair, nebraska

2 0 0 6Dick Gesinger

Warinner, Gesinger and Associates LLC

Tacoma, Washington2 0 0 7

Caressa “Carri” BennetBennet & Bennet, PLLC

Washington, d.C.2 0 0 8

Rob WestCoBank

greenwood village, Colorado

2 0 1 0Steve Meltzer

John Staurulakis, Inc.greenbelt, maryland

2 0 1 1John Granger

Mapcom Systemsrichmond, virginia

2 0 1 2Lynn Merrill

Monte R. Lee & CompanyOklahoma City, Oklahoma

grassroots Advocacy excellence Award winners from left to right: 2008 recipient Linda burton with Keith Oliver; 2009 winner Ron Strecker receiving congratulations from John Rose; and 2011 recipient Karen McKee with Catherine Moyer.

t The Associate Member Distinguished Service Award was awarded to Louis bilodeau by Archie Macias in 2004.

John granger, the 2011 recipient, was presented with his award by Roger Nishi and Rhonda Armstrong. u

46 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

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oPAstCo n Boards 1963 – 1968

1964-1965

William CormanPRESIDENt

Southland Telephone CompanyAlabama

Hugh Wilbourn, Jr.VICE PRESIDENt

Allied Telephone CompanyArkansas

Roland NehringSECREtARy/tREASuRER

Universal TelephoneWisconsin

Bruce BarksdaleGreenwood Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

James BlackhallITT KelloggTennessee

Charles EhingerCitizens Telephone Companyindiana

Julius GarrettWalnut Hill Telephone CompanyArkansas

Fred McGeheeWest Florida Telephone CompanyFlorida

Homer SmithStromberg-Carlsonnew york

DECEMBER 1965-1966

Fred McGeheePRESIDENt

West Florida Telephone CompanyFlorida

Hugh Wilbourn, Jr.VICE PRESIDENt

Allied Telephone CompanyArkansas

Roland NehringtREASuRER

Universal TelephoneWisconsin

William CormanSECREtARy

Southland Telephone CompanyAlabama

James BlackhallITT KelloggTennessee

Ed BurneyWalker County Telephone Companygeorgia

Mitchell DrewQuincy Telephone CompanyFlorida

Charles EhingerCitizens Telephone Companyindiana

Julius GarrettWalnut Hill Telephone CompanyArkansas

Jack HoltStilwell Telephone CompanyOklahoma

W.S. “Babe” HowardMillington Telephone CompanyTennessee

Charles MathewsStatesboro Telephone Companygeorgia

Wade MorrisCitizens Telephone Companyindiana

Homer SmithStromberg-Carlsonnew york

Clarke WilliamsLiberty Telephone Companylouisiana

OCtOBER 1966 – SEPtEMBER 1967

Fred McGeheePRESIDENt

West Florida Telephone CompanyFlorida

Charles EhingerVICE PRESIDENt

Citizens Telephone Companyindiana

Roland NehringtREASuRER

Universal TelephoneWisconsin

Robert PirnieSECREtARy

Union Springs Telephone CompanyAlabama

Ed BurneyWalker County Telephone Companygeorgia

Evan CopseyFidelity Telephone Companymissouri

William CormanSouthland Telephone CompanyAlabama

Don DavisonOgden Telephone Companynew york

Zeine GoatcherCimarron Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Jack HoltStilwell Telephone CompanyOklahoma

W.S. “Babe” HowardMillington Telephone CompanyTennessee

Charles MathewsStatesboro Telephone Companygeorgia

Wade MorrisCitizens Telephone Companyindiana

Lou RitterE. Ritter Telephone CompanyArkansas

Hugh Wilbourn, Jr.Allied Telephone CompanyArkansas

Clarke WilliamsLiberty Telephone Companylouisiana

Bechtel WingerSweetser Rural Telephone Companyindiana

SEPtEMBER 1967 – SEPtEMBER 1968

Robert PirniePRESIDENt

Union Springs Telephone CompanyAlabama

Hugh Wilbourn, Jr.FIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Allied Telephone CompanyArkansas

Gene Daubendiek SECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Jefferson Telephone Companyiowa

Norman McFarlinSECREtARy

Montezuma Mutual Telephone Companyiowa

Wade MorristREASuRER

Citizens Telephone Companyindiana

Lauren BeranRedwood County Telephone Companyminnesota

Waldo BuchananEastern Missouri Telephone Companymissouri

Evan CopseyFidelity Telephone Companymissouri

William CormanSouthland Telephone CompanyAlabama

Don DavisonOgden Telephone Companynew york

Zeine GoatcherCimarron Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Jack HoltStilwell Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Richard HuntArlington Telephone Companynebraska

1963 – 2013oPAstCo Boards & Directors

48 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

oPAstCo n Boards 1968– 1973

Charles MathewsStatesboro Telephone Companygeorgia

Fred McGeheeWest Florida Telephone CompanyFlorida

Roland NehringUniversal TelephoneWisconsin

Madison NewThomaston Telephone Companygeorgia

Lou RitterE. Ritter Telephone CompanyArkansas

SEPtEMBER 1968 – SEPtEMBER 1969

Hugh Wilbourn, Jr.PRESIDENt

Allied Telephone CompanyArkansas

Gene DaubendiekFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Jefferson Telephone Companyiowa

Zeine GoatcherSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Cimarron Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Robert PirnieSECREtARy

Union Springs Telephone CompanyAlabama

Herbert BivenstREASuRER

Crockett Telephone CompanyTennessee

Lauren BeranRedwood County Telephone Companyminnesota

Waldo BuchananEastern Missouri Telephone Companymissouri

William DittoLaFourche Telephone CompanyLouisiana

Richard HuntArlington Telephone Companynebraska

Charles MathewsStatesboro Telephone Companygeorgia

Robert McClellandLakeland Telephone Companymissouri

Norman McFarlinMontezuma Mutual Telephone Companyiowa

Robert MussmanNorthwestern Indiana Telephone Companyindiana

Roland NehringArizona Telephone CompanyArizona

Madison NewThomaston Telephone Companygeorgia

Floyd PorterC-R Telephone Companyillinois

Holland young Price, Jr.San Marcos Telephone CompanyTexas

George twomblyStandish Telephone Companymaine

SEPtEMBER 1969 – JANuARy 1971

Gene DaubendiekPRESIDENt

Jefferson Telephone Companyiowa

Zeine GoatcherFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Cimarron Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Holland young Price, Jr.SECOND VICE PRESIDENt

San Marcos Telephone CompanyTexas

William DittoSECREtARy

LaFourche Telephone Companylouisiana

Herbert BivenstREASuRER

Crockett Telephone CompanyTennessee

Lauren BeranRedwood County Telephone Companyminnesota

Jean BrandliCoosa Valley Telephone CompanyAlabama

Waldo BuchananEastern Missouri Telephone Companymissouri

Charles FailBay Springs Telephone Companymississippi

Richard HuntArlington Telephone Companynebraska

Robert McClellandLakeland Telephone Companymissouri

Norman McFarlinMontezuma Mutual Telephone Companyiowa

Fred McGeheeWest Florida Telephone CompanyFlorida

Robert MussmanNorthwestern Indiana Telephone Companyindiana

Madison NewThomaston Telephone Companygeorgia

Floyd PorterC-R Telephone Companyillinois

George twomblyStandish Telephone Companymaine

Miller WeaverPeoples Telephone CompanyAlabama

JANuARy 1971 – JANuARy 1972

Zeine GoatcherPRESIDENt

Cimarron Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Holland young Price, Jr.FIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

San Marcos Telephone CompanyTexas

Jean BrandliSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Coosa Valley Telephone CompanyAlabama

William DittoSECREtARy

LaFourche Telephone Companylouisiana

Herbert BivenstREASuRER

Crockett Telephone CompanyTennessee

Charles FailBay Springs Telephone Companymississippi

William FoglePierce Telephone Companynebraska

Royce GaunttChickasaw Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Leslie JensenPeoples Telephone & Telegraph CompanySouth dakota

Walter KarnoppEastern Oregon Telephone CompanyOregon

Robert KeatingAmberg Telephone & Telegraph CompanyWisconsin

Robert McClellandLakeland Telephone Companymissouri

Fred McGeheeWest Florida Telephone CompanyFlorida

Stephen MikesellSouthern Kansas Telephone Companykansas

Robert MussmanNorthwestern Indiana Telephone Companyindiana

Floyd PorterC-R Telephone Companyillinois

Roy thomasPerco Telephone CompanyArkansas

George twomblyStandish Telephone Companymaine

Miller WeaverPeoples Telephone CompanyAlabama

JANuARy 1972 – JANuARy 1973

William DittoPRESIDENt

LaFourche Telephone Companylouisiana

Jean BrandliFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Coosa Valley Telephone CompanyAlabama

George twomblySECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Standish Telephone Companymaine

Robert MussmanSECREtARy

Northwestern Indiana Telephone Companyindiana

Herbert BivenstREASuRER

Crockett Telephone CompanyTennessee

Charles FailBay Springs Telephone Companymississippi

Royce GaunttChickasaw Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Zeine GoatcherCimarron Telephone CompanyOklahoma

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 49

oPAstCo n Boards 1973-1977

Leslie JensenPeoples Telephone & Telegraph CompanySouth dakota

Walter KarnoppEastern Oregon Telephone CompanyOregon

Robert KeatingAmberg Telephone & Telegraph CompanyWisconsin

Robert McClellandLakeland Telephone Companymissouri

Fred McGeheeWest Florida Telephone CompanyFlorida

Stephen MikesellSouthern Kansas Telephone Companykansas

Floyd PorterC-R Telephone Companyillinois

Holland young Price, Jr.San Marcos Telephone CompanyTexas

Roy thomasPerco Telephone CompanyArkansas

Miller WeaverPeoples Telephone CompanyAlabama

JANuARy 1973 – JANuARy 1974

Robert MussmanPRESIDENt

Northwestern Indiana Telephone Companyindiana

George twomblyFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Standish Telephone Companymaine

Royce GaunttSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Chickasaw Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Herbert BivensSECREtARy/tREASuRER

Crockett Telephone CompanyTennessee

Carlton AppeloWestern Wahkiakum County Telephone CompanyWashington

Art BarnesChickamauga Telephone Corp.georgia

Glenn BerglandWinnebago Cooperative Telephone Associationiowa

William DittoLaFourche Telephone Companylouisiana

Clifton GuffySouth Central Rural Telephone Cooperative Corp.kentucky

Walter KarnoppEastern Oregon Telephone CompanyOregon

Robert KeatingAmberg Telephone & Telegraph CompanyWisconsin

Harry LackeyHughes Telephone Companymississippi

Robert McClellandLakeland Telephone Companymissouri

Stephen MikesellSouthern Kansas Telephone Companykansas

Madison NewThomaston Telephone Companygeorgia

Floyd PorterC-R Telephone Companyillinois

Roy thomasPerco Telephone CompanyArkansas

Herman WagnerEmpire Telephone Corp.new york

James yagerMonrovia Telephone Corp.indiana

JANuARy 1974 – JANuARy 1975

Robert MussmanPRESIDENt

Northwestern Indiana Telephone Companyindiana

Glenn BerglandFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Lake Mills Telephone Companyiowa

Roy thomasSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Perco Telephone CompanyArkansas

Herbert BivensSECREtARy/tREASuRER

Crockett Telephone CompanyTennessee

Carlton AppeloWestern Wahkiakum County Telephone CompanyWashington

Art BarnesChickamauga Telephone Corp.georgia

Ivo BaumanMt. Angel Telephone CompanyOregon

William DittoLaFourche Telephone Companylouisiana

W.S. “Babe” HowardMillington Telephone CompanyTennessee

Walter KarnoppEastern Oregon Telephone CompanyOregon

Harry LackeyHughes Telephone Companymississippi

Robert McClellandLakeland Telephone Companymissouri

Fred McGeheeWest Florida Telephone CompanyFlorida

Madison NewThomaston Telephone Companygeorgia

Floyd PorterC-R Telephone Companyillinois

George twomblyStandish Telephone Companymaine

Herman WagnerEmpire Telephone Corp.new york

James yagerMonrovia Telephone Corp.indiana

JANuARy 1975 – JANuARy 1976

Glenn BerglandPRESIDENt

Lake Mills Telephone Companyiowa

W.S. “Babe” HowardFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Millington Telephone CompanyTennessee

Art BarnesSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Chickamauga Telephone Corp.georgia

Roy thomastREASuRER

Perco Telephone CompanyArkansas

Carlton AppeloWestern Wahkiakum County Telephone CompanyWashington

Ivo BaumanMt. Angel Telephone CompanyOregon

Evan CopseyFidelity Telephone Companymissouri

Warren FrenchShenandoah Telephone Companyvirginia

Zeine GoatcherCimarron Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Eleanor HaskinWaitsfield-Fayston Telephone Companyvermont

Walter KarnoppEastern Oregon Telephone CompanyOregon

Joseph KeatingThorp Telephone CompanyWisconsin

Harry LackeyHughes Telephone CompanyWisconsin

Fred McGeheeWest Florida Telephone CompanyFlorida

Madison NewThomaston Telephone Companygeorgia

Patrick PriceSan Marcos Telephone CompanyTexas

Herman WagnerEmpire Telephone Corp.new york

James yagerMonrovia Telephone Corp.indiana

FEBRuARy 1976 – JANuARy 1977

W.S. “Babe” HowardPRESIDENt

Millington Telephone CompanyTennessee

Art BarnesFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Chickamauga Telephone Corp.georgia

Patrick PriceSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

San Marcos Telephone CompanyTexas

50 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

oPAstCo n Boards 1977 – 1978

Roy thomastREASuRER

Perco Telephone CompanyArkansas

Carlton AppeloWestern Wahkiakum County Telephone CompanyWashington

Ivo BaumanMt. Angel Telephone CompanyOregon

Glenn BerglandLake Mills Telephone Companyiowa

Bob BoaldinElkhart Telephone Companykansas

Evan CopseyFidelity Telephone Companymissouri

Warren FrenchShenandoah Telephone Companyvirginia

Zeine GoatcherCimarron Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Eleanor HaskinWaitsfield-Fayston Telephone Companyvermont

Walter KarnoppEastern Oregon Telephone CompanyOregon

Joseph KeatingThorp Telephone CompanyWisconsin

Fred McGeheeWest Florida Telephone CompanyFlorida

tom MooreOdin Telephone Exchange Inc.illinois

Howard SmithNevada Telephone & Telegraph Companynevada

Herman WagnerEmpire Telephone Corp.new york

JANuARy 1977 – JANuARy 1978

Art BarnesPRESIDENt

Chickamauga Telephone Corp.georgia

Patrick PriceFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

San Marcos Telephone CompanyTexas

Carlton AppeloSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Western Wahkiakum County Telephone CompanyWashington

Roy thomastREASuRER

Perco Telephone CompanyArkansas

Ivo BaumanMt. Angel Telephone CompanyOregon

Glenn BerglandLake Mills Telephone Companyiowa

Bob BoaldinElkhart Telephone Companykansas

Evan CopseyFidelity Telephone Companymissouri

Warren FrenchShenandoah Telephone Companyvirginia

Zeine GoatcherCimarron Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Eleanor HaskinWaitsfield-Fayston Telephone Companyvermont

W.S. “Babe” HowardMillington Telephone CompanyTennessee

Joseph KeatingThorp Telephone CompanyWisconsin

Norman McFarlinMontezuma Mutual Telephone Companyiowa

Congratulations to OPASTCO on 50 years of service

to rural telecommunications providers.

800-542-8072 www.cobank.com

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 51

oPAstCo n Boards 1978– 1982

Fred McGeheeWest Florida Telephone CompanyFlorida

tom MooreOdin Telephone Exchange Inc.illinois

Howard SmithNevada Telephone & Telegraph Companynevada

Herman WagnerEmpire Telephone Corp.new york

JANuARy 1978 – JANuARy 1979

Patrick PricePRESIDENt

San Marcos Telephone CompanyTexas

Carlton AppeloFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Western Wahkiakum County Telephone CompanyWashington

Eleanor HaskinSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Waitsfield-Fayston Telephone Companyvermont

Norman McFarlinSECREtARy

Montezuma Mutual Telephone Companyiowa

Roy thomastREASuRER

Perco Telephone CompanyArkansas

Art BarnesPASt PRESIDENt

Chickamauga Telephone Corp.georgia

Ivo BaumanMt. Angel Telephone CompanyOregon

Glenn BerglandLake Mills Telephone Companyiowa

Bob BoaldinElkhart Telephone Companykansas

Evan CopseyFidelity Telephone Companymissouri

Warren FrenchShenandoah Telephone Companyvirginia

Zeine GoatcherCimarron Telephone CompanyOklahoma

W.S. “Babe” HowardMillington Telephone CompanyTennessee

Joseph KeatingThorp Telephone CompanyWisconsin

Richard KernGermantown Independent Telephone CompanyOhio

Fred McGeheeWest Florida Telephone CompanyFlorida

tom MooreOdin Telephone Exchange Inc.illinois

Howard SmithNevada Telephone & Telegraph Companynevada

Herman WagnerEmpire Telephone Corp.new york

JANuARy 1979 – JANuARy 1980

Carlton AppeloPRESIDENt

Western Wahkiakum County Telephone CompanyWashington

Eleanor HaskinFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Waitsfield-Fayston Telephone Companyvermont

Norman McFarlinSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Montezuma Mutual Telephone Companyiowa

Roy thomastREASuRER

Perco Telephone CompanyArkansas

Patrick PricePASt PRESIDENt

San Marcos Telephone CompanyTexas

Ivo BaumanMt. Angel Telephone CompanyOregon

Bob BoaldinElkhart Telephone Companykansas

John BradyLaFourche Telephone Companylouisiana

Evan CopseyFidelity Telephone Companymissouri

Zeine GoatcherCimarron Telephone CompanyOklahoma

W.S. “Babe” HowardMillington Telephone CompanyTennessee

Joseph KeatingThorp Telephone CompanyWisconsin

Richard KernGermantown Independent Telephone CompanyOhio

Kenneth LeinWinnebago Cooperative Telephone Associationiowa

tom MooreOdin Telephone Exchange Inc.illinois

Howard SmithNevada Telephone & Telegraph Companynevada

Milton StewartStandard Telephone Companygeorgia

JANuARy 1980 – JANuARy 1981

Eleanor HaskinPRESIDENt

Waitsfield-Fayston Telephone Companyvermont

Norman McFarlinFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Montezuma Mutual Telephone Companyiowa

Evan CopseySECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Fidelity Telephone Companymissouri

Francis BowerstREASuRER

Moultrie Independent Telephone Companyillinois

Carlton AppeloPASt PRESIDENt

Western Wahkiakum County Telephone CompanyWashington

Bob BoaldinElkhart Telephone Companykansas

John BradyLaFourche Telephone Companylouisiana

Warren FrenchShenandoah Telephone Companyvirginia

Zeine GoatcherCimarron Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Joseph KeatingThorp Telephone CompanyWisconsin

Richard KernGermantown Independent Telephone CompanyOhio

Kenneth LeinWinnebago Cooperative Telephone Associationiowa

David MeyerSiskiyou Telephone CompanyCalifornia

David MillerCross Telephone CompanyOklahoma

tom MooreOdin Telephone Exchange Inc.illinois

Glenn RamseyToledo Telephone CompanyWashington

Robert RiersonBridge Water Telephone Companyminnesota

todd SandersYell County Telephone CompanyArkansas

Milton StewartStandard Telephone Companygeorgia

JANuARy 1981 – JANuARy 1982

Norman McFarlinPRESIDENt

Montezuma Mutual Telephone Companyiowa

Evan CopseyFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Fidelity Telephone Companymissouri

Kenneth LeinSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Winnebago Cooperative Telephone Associationiowa

Francis BowerstREASuRER

Moultrie Independent Telephone Companyillinois

Eleanor HaskinPASt PRESIDENt

Waitsfield-Fayston Telephone Companyvermont

Ivo BaumanMt. Angel Telephone CompanyOregon

52 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

oPAstCo n Boards 1982 – 1983

Bob BoaldinElkhart Telephone Companykansas

John BradyLaFourche Telephone Companylouisiana

Don GrovesArdmore Telephone CompanyTennessee

Arne HaynesMashell Telephone CompanyWashington

Everett KneecePond Branch Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

David MeyerSiskiyou Telephone CompanyCalifornia

Frank MilesCenterville Telephone CompanyPennsylvania

David MillerCross Telephone CompanyOklahoma

tom MooreOdin Telephone Exchange Inc.illinois

Glenn RamseyToledo Telephone CompanyWashington

Robert RiersonBridge Water Telephone Companyminnesota

todd SandersYell County Telephone CompanyArkansas

David SouthwickThe Champlain Telephone Companynew york

Milton StewartStandard Telephone Companygeorgia

JANuARy 1982 – JANuARy 1983

Evan CopseyPRESIDENt

Fidelity Telephone Companymissouri

Kenneth LeinFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Winnebago Cooperative Telephone Associationiowa

Bob BoaldinSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Elkhart Telephone Companykansas

Francis BowerstREASuRER

Moultrie Independent Telephone Companyillinois

Norman McFarlinPASt PRESIDENt

Montezuma Mutual Telephone Companyiowa

Ivo BaumanMt. Angel Telephone CompanyOregon

John BradyLaFourche Telephone Companylouisiana

John CallenderFort Bend Telephone CompanyTexas

Don GrovesArdmore Telephone CompanyTennessee

Arne HaynesMashell Telephone CompanyWashington

Everett KneecePond Branch Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

David MeyerSiskiyou Telephone CompanyCalifornia

Frank MilesCenterville Telephone CompanyPennsylvania

Glenn RamseyToledo Telephone CompanyWashington

Robert RiersonBridge Water Telephone Companyminnesota

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 53

oPAstCo n Boards 1983– 1987

todd SandersYell County Telephone CompanyArkansas

David SouthwickThe Champlain Telephone Companynew york

Milton StewartStandard Telephone Companygeorgia

JANuARy 1983 – JANuARy 1984

Kenneth LeinPRESIDENt

Winnebago Cooperative Telephone Associationiowa

Bob BoaldinFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Elkhart Telephone Companykansas

Milton StewartSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Standard Telephone Companygeorgia

Francis BowerstREASuRER

Moultrie Independent Telephone Companyillinois

Evan CopseyPASt PRESIDENt

Fidelity Telephone Companymissouri

Ivo BaumanMt. Angel Telephone CompanyOregon

John BradyLaFourche Telephone Companylouisiana

John CallenderFort Bend Telephone CompanyTexas

Don GrovesArdmore Telephone CompanyTennessee

Arne HaynesMashell Telephone CompanyWashington

Everett KneecePond Branch Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

David MeyerSiskiyou Telephone CompanyCalifornia

Frank MilesCenterville Telephone CompanyPennsylvania

David MillerCross Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Glenn RamseyToledo Telephone CompanyWashington

Robert RiersonBridge Water Telephone Companyminnesota

todd SandersYell County Telephone CompanyArkansas

David SouthwickThe Champlain Telephone Companynew york

JANuARy 1984 – JANuARy 1985

Bob BoaldinPRESIDENt

Elkhart Telephone Companykansas

Milton StewartFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Standard Telephone Companygeorgia

todd SandersSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Yell County Telephone CompanyArkansas

Francis BowerstREASuRER

Moultrie Independent Telephone Companyillinois

Kenneth LeinPASt PRESIDENt

Winnebago Cooperative Telephone Associationiowa

John BradyLaFourche Telephone Companylouisiana

John CallenderFort Bend Telephone CompanyTexas

Evan CopseyFidelity Telephone Companymissouri

Don GrovesArdmore Telephone CompanyTennessee

Arne HaynesMashell Telephone CompanyWashington

Everett KneecePond Branch Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

David MeyerSiskiyou Telephone CompanyCalifornia

Frank MilesCenterville Telephone CompanyPennsylvania

David MillerCross Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Glenn RamseyToledo Telephone CompanyWashington

Robert RiersonBridge Water Telephone Companyminnesota

David SouthwickThe Champlain Telephone Companynew york

JANuARy 1985 – JANuARy 1986

Milton StewartPRESIDENt

Standard Telephone Companygeorgia

todd SandersFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Yell County Telephone CompanyArkansas

Robert RiersonSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Bridge Water Telephone Companyminnesota

Francis BowerstREASuRER

Moultrie Independent Telephone Companyillinois

Bob BoaldinPASt PRESIDENt

Elkhart Telephone Companykansas

Don BondPublic Service Telephone Companygeorgia

Evan CopseyFidelity Telephone Companymissouri

Margaret GoatcherCimarron Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Don GrovesArdmore Telephone CompanyTennessee

Arne HaynesMashell Telephone CompanyWashington

W.S. “Babe” HowardMillington Telephone CompanyTennessee

Mick JensenGreat Plains Communicationsnebraska

Everett KneecePond Branch Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

David MeyerSiskiyou Telephone CompanyCalifornia

Frank MilesCenterville Telephone CompanyPennsylvania

David MillerCross Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Robert MussmanNorthwestern Indiana Telephone Companyindiana

Hobart RandGranite State Telephone Companynew Hampshire

David SouthwickThe Champlain Telephone Companynew york

JANuARy 1986 - 1987

Robert RiersonPRESIDENt

Bridge Water Telephone Companyminnesota

Mick JensenFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Great Plains Communicationsnebraska

Everette KneeceSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Pond Branch Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

Bob BoaldintREASuRER

Elkhart Telephone Companykansas

Milton StewartPASt PRESIDENt

Standard Telephone Companygeorgia

Don BondPublic Service Telephone Companygeorgia

Evan CopseyFidelity Telephone Companymissouri

Paula EllerYukon Telephone CompanyAlaska

Chris FrenchShenandoah Telephone Companyvirginia

Margaret GoatcherCimarron Telephone CompanyOklahoma

54 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

oPAstCo n Boards 1987– 1989

Don GrovesArdmore Telephone CompanyTennessee

Robert HalfordClear Lake Independent Telephone Companyiowa

Sharon LundgrenVolcano Telephone CompanyCalifornia

Robert MussmanNorthwestern Indiana Telephone Companyindiana

James PendergastSan Marcos Telephone CompanyTexas

Jay PrestonRonan Telephone Companymontana

Glenn RamseyToledo Telephone CompanyWashington

Hobart RandGranite State Telephone Companynew Hampshire

Glenn RauhMetamora Telephone Companyillinois

David SouthwickThe Champlain Telephone Companynew york

JANuARy 1987 – JANuARy 1988

Mick JensenPRESIDENt

Great Plains Communicationsnebraska

Everette KneeceFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Pond Branch Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

James PendergastSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

San Marcos Telephone CompanyTexas

Bob BoaldintREASuRER

Elkhart Telephone Companykansas

Robert RiersonPASt PRESIDENt

Bridge Water Telephone Companyminnesota

Don BondPublic Service Telephone Companygeorgia

Louise BrownLoretto Telephone CompanyTennessee

Evan CopseyFidelity Telephone Companymissouri

Paula EllerYukon Telephone CompanyAlaska

Chris FrenchShenandoah Telephone Companyvirginia

Margaret GoatcherCimarron Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Robert HalfordClear Lake Independent Telephone Companyiowa

Sharon LundgrenVolcano Telephone CompanyCalifornia

Robert MussmanNorthwestern Indiana Telephone Companyindiana

Jay PrestonRonan Telephone Companymontana

Glenn RamseyToledo Telephone CompanyWashington

Hobart RandGranite State Telephone Companynew Hampshire

Glenn RauhMetamora Telephone Companyillinois

David SouthwickThe Champlain Telephone Companynew york

Larry SlatteryState Telephone Companynew york

JANuARy 1988 – JANuARy 1989

Everette KneecePRESIDENt

Pond Branch Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

James PendergastFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

San Marcos Telephone CompanyTexas

Margaret GoatcherSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Cimarron Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Bob BoaldintREASuRER

Elkhart Telephone Companykansas

Mick JensenPASt PRESIDENt

Great Plains Communicationsnebraska

Don BondPublic Service Telephone Companygeorgia

Louise BrownLoretto Telephone CompanyTennessee

Paula EllerYukon Telephone CompanyAlaska

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 55

oPAstCo n Boards 1989– 1993

Chris FrenchShenandoah Telephone Companyvirginia

Robert HalfordClear Lake Independent Telephone Companyiowa

Sharon LundgrenVolcano Telephone CompanyCalifornia

Robert MussmanNorthwestern Indiana Telephone Companyindiana

Jay PrestonRonan Telephone Companymontana

Glenn RamseyToledo Telephone CompanyWashington

Hobart RandGranite State Telephone Companynew Hampshire

Glenn RauhMetamora Telephone Companyillinois

Robert RiersonBridge Water Telephone Companyminnesota

Larry SlatteryState Telephone Companynew york

JANuARy 1989 – JANuARy 1990

James PendergastPRESIDENt

San Marcos Telephone CompanyTexas

Margaret GoatcherFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Cimarron Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Don BondSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Public Service Telephone Companygeorgia

Bob BoaldintREASuRER

Elkhart Telephone Companykansas

Everette KneecePASt PRESIDENt

Pond Branch Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

Don BondPublic Service Telephone Companygeorgia

Louise BrownLoretto Telephone CompanyTennessee

Cecil DupreeGraceba Total CommunicationsAlabama

Ed EichlerPigeon Telephone Companymichigan

Paula EllerYukon Telephone CompanyAlaska

Robert HalfordClear Lake Independent Telephone Companyiowa

Mick JensenGreat Plains Communicationsnebraska

Sharon LundgrenVolcano Telephone CompanyCalifornia

Jay MitchellSeneca Telephone Companymissouri

Robert MussmanNorthwestern Indiana Telephone Companyindiana

Glenn RamseyToledo Telephone CompanyWashington

Hobart RandGranite State Telephone Companynew Hampshire

Glenn RauhMetamora Telephone Companyillinois

Robert RiersonBridge Water Telephone Companyminnesota

Larry SlatteryState Telephone Companynew york

JANuARy 1990 – JANuARy 1991

Margaret GoatcherPRESIDENt

Cimarron Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Don BondFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Public Service Telephone Companygeorgia

Robert HalfordSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Clear Lake Independent Telephone Companyiowa

Bob BoaldintREASuRER

Elkhart Telephone Companykansas

James PendergastPASt PRESIDENt

San Marcos Telephone CompanyTexas

Allen ArvigEast Otter Tail Telephone Companyminnesota

Louise BrownLoretto Telephone CompanyTennessee

Cecil DupreeGraceba Total CommunicationsAlabama

Ed EichlerPigeon Telephone Companymichigan

Paula EllerYukon Telephone CompanyAlaska

Everett KneecePond Branch Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

Sharon LundgrenVolcano Telephone CompanyCalifornia

Jay MitchellSeneca Telephone Companymissouri

Robert MussmanNorthwestern Indiana Telephone Companyindiana

Glenn RamseyToledo Telephone CompanyWashington

Hobart RandGranite State Telephone Companynew Hampshire

Glenn RauhMetamora Telephone Companyillinois

Robert RiersonBridge Water Telephone Companyminnesota

Larry SlatteryState Telephone Companynew york

JANuARy 1991 – 1992

Don BondPRESIDENt

Public Service Telephone Companygeorgia

Robert HalfordFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Clear Lake Independent Telephone Companyiowa

Paula EllerSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Yukon Telephone CompanyAlaska

Bob BoaldintREASuRER

Elkhart Telephone Companykansas

Margaret GoatcherPASt PRESIDENt

Cimarron Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Allen ArvigEast Otter Tail Telephone Companyminnesota

Louise BrownLoretto Telephone CompanyTennessee

Ed DailorEmpire Telephone Companynew york

Cecil DupreeGraceba Total CommunicationsAlabama

Ed EichlerPigeon Telephone Companymichigan

Everett KneecePond Branch Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

Allen LaymanR&B Telephone Companyvirginia

Sharon LundgrenVolcano Telephone CompanyCalifornia

Dave Miller IICross Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Jay MitchellSeneca Telephone Companymissouri

Phil NelsonHamilton Telephone Companynebraska

James PendergastSan Marcos Telephone CompanyTexas

Glenn RamseyToledo Telephone CompanyWashington

Glenn RauhMetamora Telephone Companyillinois

56 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

oPAstCo n Boards 1993 – 1995

Robert RiersonBridge Water Telephone Companyminnesota

Larry SlatteryState Telephone Companynew york

JANuARy 1992 – JANuARy 1993

Robert HalfordPRESIDENt

Clear Lake Independent Telephone Companyiowa

Paula EllerFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Yukon Telephone CompanyAlaska

Glenn RauhSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Metamora Telephone Companyillinois

Bob BoaldintREASuRER

Elkhart Telephone Companykansas

Don BondPASt PRESIDENt

Public Service Telephone Companygeorgia

Allen ArvigEast Otter Tail Telephone Companyminnesota

Louise BrownLoretto Telephone CompanyTennessee

Jay Cerveny, Jr.Lewis River Telephone CompanyWashington

Ed DailorEmpire Telephone Companynew york

Cecil DupreeGraceba Total CommunicationsAlabama

Ed EichlerPigeon Telephone Companymichigan

Kitna GriggsLake Dallas Telephone CompanyTexas

Gary KennedyPanhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc.Oklahoma

Everett KneecePond Branch Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

Allen LaymanR&B Telephone Companyvirginia

Sharon LundgrenVolcano Telephone CompanyCalifornia

Dave Miller IICross Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Jay MitchellSeneca Telephone Companymissouri

Phil NelsonHamilton Telephone Companynebraska

Glenn RauhMetamora Telephone Companyillinois

Robert RiersonBridge Water Telephone Companyminnesota

Larry SlatteryState Telephone Companynew york

JANuARy 1993 – JANuARy 1994

Paula EllerPRESIDENt

Yukon Telephone CompanyAlaska

Glenn RauhFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Metamora Telephone Companyillinois

Allen ArvigSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

East Otter Tail Telephone Companyminnesota

Bob BoaldintREASuRER

Elkhart Telephone Companykansas

Robert HalfordPASt PRESIDENt

Clear Lake Independent Telephone Companyiowa

John BarnesRock Hill Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

Lee BartonHart Telephone Companygeorgia

tom BaumanMt. Angel Telephone CompanyOregon

Jay Cerveny, Jr.Lewis River Telephone CompanyWashington

Ed DailorEmpire Telephone Companynew york

Cecil DupreeGraceba Total CommunicationsAlabama

Ed EichlerPigeon Telephone Companymichigan

Kitna GriggsLake Dallas Telephone CompanyTexas

Gary KennedyPanhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc.Oklahoma

Allen LaymanR&B Telephone Companyvirginia

Dave Miller IICross Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Jay MitchellSeneca Telephone Companymissouri

Robert MilesSunman Telephone Companyindiana

Phil NelsonHamilton Telephone Companynebraska

Robert RiersonBridge Water Telephone Companyminnesota

James SherburneUnited Farmers Telephone Companyiowa

Larry SlatteryState Telephone Companynew york

JANuARy 1994 – JANuARy 1995

Glenn RauhPRESIDENt

Metamora Telephone Companyillinois

Allen ArvigFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

East Otter Tail Telephone Companyminnesota

Jay MitchellSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Seneca Telephone Companymissouri

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1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 57

oPAstCo n Boards 1995 – 1998

Ed DailortREASuRER

Empire Telephone Companynew york

Paula EllerPASt PRESIDENt

Yukon Telephone CompanyAlaska

John BarnesRock Hill Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

Lee BartonHart Telephone Companygeorgia

tom BaumanMt. Angel Telephone CompanyOregon

Jay Cerveny, Jr.Lewis River Telephone CompanyWashington

Cecil DupreeGraceba Total CommunicationsAlabama

Ed EichlerPigeon Telephone Companymichigan

James P. ForcierChazy & Westport Telephone Corp.new york

Kitna GriggsLake Dallas Telephone CompanyTexas

Gary KennedyPanhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc.Oklahoma

Allen LaymanR&B Telephone Companyvirginia

Dave Miller IICross Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Robert MilesSunman Telephone Companyindiana

Phil NelsonHamilton Telephone Companynebraska

Brooks RosemanSierra TelephoneCalifornia

James SherburneUnited Farmers Telephone Companyiowa

JANuARy 1995 – JANuARy 1996

Allen ArvigPRESIDENt

East Otter Tail Telephone Companyminnesota

Ed DailorFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Empire Telephone Companynew york

Ed EichlerSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

Pigeon Telephone Companymichigan

Jay MitchelltREASuRER

Seneca Telephone Companymissouri

Glenn RauhPASt PRESIDENt

Metamora Telephone Companyillinois

John BarnesRock Hill Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

Lee BartonHart Telephone Companygeorgia

tom BaumanMt. Angel Telephone CompanyOregon

Herb BivensUnited Telephone CompanyTennessee

trent BoaldinElkhart Telephone Companykansas

James P. ForcierChazy & Westport Telephone Corp.new york

Joey GarnerBay Springs Telephone Companymississippi

Gary KennedyPanhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc.Oklahoma

Robert KruegerHawkinsville Telephone Companygeorgia

Allen LaymanR&B Telephone Companyvirginia

Dave Miller IICross Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Robert MilesSunman Telephone Companyindiana

Phil NelsonHamilton Telephone Companynebraska

Susan RandGranite State Telephone Companynew Hampshire

Robert RiordanNortheast Telephone CompanyWisconsin

Brooks RosemanSierra TelephoneCalifornia

James SherburneUnited Farmers Telephone Companyiowa

JANuARy 1996 – JANuARy 1997

Ed DailorPRESIDENt

Empire Telephone Companynew york

Ed EichlerFIRSt VICE PRESIDENt

Pigeon Telephone Companymichigan

Allen LaymanSECOND VICE PRESIDENt

R & B Telephone Companyvirginia

James SherburnetREASuRER

United Farmers Telephone Companyiowa

Allen ArvigPASt PRESIDENt

East Otter Tail Telephone Companyminnesota

John BarnesRock Hill Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

Lee BartonHart Telephone Companygeorgia

tom BaumanMt. Angel Telephone CompanyOregon

Herb BivensUnited Telephone CompanyTennessee

trent BoaldinElkhart Telephone Companykansas

Robert EddySherburne County Rural Telephone Companyminnesota

James P. ForcierChazy & Westport Telephone Corp.new york

Joey GarnerBay Springs Telephone Companymississippi

Robert KruegerHawkinsville Telephone Companygeorgia

Dave Miller IICross Telephone CompanyOklahoma

Robert MilesSunman Telephone Companyindiana

Phil NelsonHamilton Telephone Companynebraska

Susan RandGranite State Telephone Companynew Hampshire

Robert RiordanNortheast Telephone CompanyWisconsin

Brooks RosemanSierra TelephoneCalifornia

JANuARy 1997 – JANuARy 1998

Ed EichlerCHAIRMAN

Pigeon Telephone Companymichigan

Allen LaymanFIRSt VICE CHAIRMAN

R & B Telephone Companyvirginia

James SherburneSECOND VICE CHAIRMAN

United Farmers Telephone Companyiowa

Robert MilestREASuRER

Sunman Telephone Companyindiana

Ed DailorPASt PRESIDENt

Empire Telephone Companynew york

Bryant BarnesRock Hill Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

Lee BartonHart Telephone Companygeorgia

tom BaumanMt. Angel Telephone CompanyOregon

Herb BivensUnited Telephone CompanyTennessee

trent BoaldinElkhart Telephone Companykansas

Robert EddySherburne County Rural Telephone Companyminnesota

58 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

oPAstCo n Boards 1998 – 2001

Charles FastConsolidated Telco Inc.nebraska

James P. ForcierChazy & Westport Telephone Corp.new york

Joey GarnerBay Springs Telephone Companymississippi

Gene JohnsonMJD Communicationsnorth Carolina

Robert KruegerHawkinsville Telephone Companygeorgia

Arturo “Archie” MaciasWheat State Telephone Companykansas

Susan RandGranite State Telephone Companynew Hampshire

Robert RiordanNortheast Telephone CompanyWisconsin

Brooks RosemanSierra TelephoneCalifornia

Ron StreckerPanhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc.Oklahoma

JANuARy 1998 – JANuARy 1999

Allen LaymanCHAIRMAN

R & B Telephone Companyvirginia

James SherburneFIRSt VICE CHAIRMAN

United Farmers Telephone Companyiowa

Robert MilesSECOND VICE CHAIRMAN

Sunman Telephone Companyindiana

James P. ForciertREASuRER

Chazy & Westport Telephone Corp.new york

Ed EichlerPASt CHAIRMAN

Pigeon Telephone Companymichigan

Bryant BarnesRock Hill Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

Lee BartonHart Telephone Companygeorgia

tom BaumanMt. Angel Telephone CompanyOregon

Herb BivensUnited Telephone CompanyTennessee

trent BoaldinElkhart Telephone Companykansas

Robert EddySherburne County Rural Telephone Companyminnesota

Charles FastConsolidated Telco Inc.nebraska

Joey GarnerBay Springs Telephone Companymississippi

Gene JohnsonMJD Communicationsnorth Carolina

Susan Rand KingGranite State Telephone Companynew Hampshire

Robert KruegerHawkinsville Telephone Companygeorgia

Arturo “Archie” MaciasWheat State Telephone Companykansas

Robert RiordanNortheast Telephone CompanyWisconsin

Brooks RosemanSierra TelephoneCalifornia

Ron StreckerPanhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc.Oklahoma

JANuARy 1999 – JANuARy 2000

James SherburneCHAIRMAN

United Farmers Telephone Companyiowa

Robert MilesFIRSt VICE CHAIRMAN

Sunman Telephone Companyindiana

James P. ForcierSECOND VICE CHAIRMAN

Chazy & Westport Telephone Corp.new york

Robert RiordantREASuRER

Northeast Telephone CompanyWisconsin

Allen LaymanPASt CHAIRMAN

R & B Telephone Companyvirginia

Alan AndersonGeneseo Telephone Companyillinois

Bryant BarnesRock Hill Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

Herb BivensUnited Telephone CompanyTennessee

trent BoaldinElkhart Telephone Companykansas

Sharon CarlsonSierra TelephoneCalifornia

Robert EddySherburne County Rural Telephone Companyminnesota

Charles FastConsolidated Telco Inc.nebraska

Joey GarnerBay Springs Telephone Companymississippi

Diana GradertWilton Telephone Companyiowa

Allan HoopesSilver Star Telephone CompanyWyoming

Gene JohnsonMJD Communicationsnorth Carolina

Susan Rand KingGranite State Telephone Companynew Hampshire

Robert KruegerHawkinsville Telephone Companygeorgia

Arturo “Archie” MaciasWheat State Telephone Companykansas

Ron StreckerPanhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc.Oklahoma

JANuARy 2000 – JANuARy 2001

Robert MilesCHAIRMAN

Sunman Telephone Companyindiana

James P. ForcierFIRSt VICE CHAIRMAN

Chazy & Westport Telephone Corp.new york

Robert RiordanSECOND VICE CHAIRMAN

Northeast Telephone CompanyWisconsin

Herb BivenstREASuRER

United Telephone CompanyTennessee

James SherburnePASt CHAIRMAN

United Farmers Telephone Companyiowa

Alan AndersonGeneseo Telephone Companyillinois

Bryant BarnesRock Hill Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

trent BoaldinElkhart Telephone Companykansas

Sharon CarlsonSierra TelephoneCalifornia

Robert EddySherburne County Rural Telephone Companyminnesota

Charles FastConsolidated Telco Inc.nebraska

Joey GarnerBay Springs Telephone Companymississippi

Diana GradertWilton Telephone Companyiowa

Allan HoopesSilver Star Telephone CompanyWyoming

Gene JohnsonFairPoint Communicationsnorth Carolina

Susan Rand KingGranite State Telephone Companynew Hampshire

Robert KruegerHawkinsville Telephone Companygeorgia

Arturo “Archie” MaciasWheat State Telephone Companykansas

A.J. PassarellaLoretto Telephone CompanyTennessee

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 59

oPAstCo n Boards 2001 – 2005

Ron StreckerPanhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc.Oklahoma

Robert WilliamsOregon Farmers Mutual Telephone Companymissouri

JANuARy 2001 – JANuARy 2002

James P. ForcierCHAIRMAN

Chazy & Westport Telephone Corp.new york

Robert RiordanFIRSt VICE CHAIRMAN

Northeast Telephone CompanyWisconsin

Herb BivensSECOND VICE CHAIRMAN

United Telephone CompanyTennessee

Arturo “Archie” MaciastREASuRER

Wheat State Telephone Companykansas

Robert MilesPASt CHAIRMAN

Sunman Telephone Companyindiana

Alan AndersonGeneseo Telephone Companyillinois

Bryant BarnesRock Hill Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

Sharon CarlsonSierra TelephoneCalifornia

Robert EddySherburne County Rural Telephone Companyminnesota

Charles FastConsolidated Telco Inc.nebraska

Diana GradertWilton Telephone Companyiowa

Allan HoopesSilver Star Telephone CompanyWyoming

Gene JohnsonFairPoint Communicationsnorth Carolina

Susan Rand KingGranite State Telephone Companynew Hampshire

Robert KruegerHawkinsville Telephone Companygeorgia

Larry “Buddy” LovellRitter CommunicationsArkansas

A.J. PassarellaLoretto Telephone CompanyTennessee

Ron StreckerPanhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc.Oklahoma

Robert WilliamsOregon Farmers Mutual Telephone Companymissouri

JANuARy 2002 – JANuARy 2003

Robert RiordanCHAIRMAN

Northeast Telephone CompanyWisconsin

Herb BivensFIRSt VICE CHAIRMAN

United Telephone CompanyTennessee

Arturo “Archie” MaciasSECOND VICE CHAIRMAN

Wheat State Telephone Companykansas

Larry “Buddy” LovelltREASuRER

Ritter CommunicationsArkansas

James P. ForcierPASt CHAIRMAN

Chazy & Westport Telephone Corp.new york

Alan AndersonGeneseo Telephone Companyillinois

Bryant BarnesRock Hill Telephone CompanySouth Carolina

Christopher BeckerThe Middleburgh Telephone Companynew york

Sharon CarlsonSierra TelephoneCalifornia

Michael GarrettAlaska Power & Telephone CompanyAlaska

Diana GradertWilton Telephone Companyiowa

Allan HoopesSilver Star Telephone CompanyWyoming

Dan HuntHunTel Systemsnebraska

Gene JohnsonFairPoint Communicationsnorth Carolina

Chad MilesEnhanced Telecommunications Corp.indiana

Roger NishiWaitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecomvermont

Robert OrentHiawatha Telephone Companymichigan

A.J. PassarellaLoretto Telephone CompanyTennessee

Ron StreckerPanhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc.Oklahoma

Robert WilliamsOregon Farmers Mutual Telephone Companymissouri

JANuARy 2003 – JANuARy 2004

Herb BivensCHAIRMAN

United Telephone CompanyTennessee

Arturo “Archie” MaciasFIRSt VICE CHAIRMAN

Wheat State Telephone Companykansas

Robert WilliamsSECOND VICE CHAIRMAN

Oregon Farmers Mutual Telephone Companymissouri

Larry “Buddy” LovelltREASuRER

Ritter CommunicationsArkansas

Robert RiordanPASt CHAIRMAN

Northeast Telephone CompanyWisconsin

David ArvigArvig Enterprises Inc.minnesota

Christopher BeckerThe Middleburgh Telephone Companynew york

Sharon CarlsonSierra TelephoneCalifornia

James P. ForcierChazy & Westport Telephone Corp.new york

Mark GaileyTotah Telephone Company Inc.Oklahoma

Diana GradertWilton Telephone Companyiowa

Allan HoopesSilver Star Telephone CompanyWyoming

Dan HuntHunTel Systemsnebraska

Greg KillpackEmery Telcomutah

Chad MilesEnhanced Telecommunications Corp.indiana

Hans NilssonBruce Municipal Telephone SystemOntario

Roger NishiWaitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecomvermont

H. Keith OliverHome Telephone Company Inc.South Carolina

Robert OrentHiawatha Telephone Companymichigan

A.J. PassarellaLoretto Telephone CompanyTennessee

thomas SquiresManawa Telephone Company Inc.Wisconsin

JANuARy 2004 – JANuARy 2005

Arturo “Archie” MaciasCHAIRMAN

Wheat State Telephone Companykansas

Robert WilliamsFIRSt VICE CHAIRMAN

Oregon Farmers Mutual Telephone Companymissouri

Chad MilesSECOND VICE CHAIRMAN

Enhanced Telecommunications Corp.indiana

Larry “Buddy” LovelltREASuRER

Ritter CommunicationsArkansas

Herb BivensPASt CHAIRMAN

United Telephone CompanyTennessee

60 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

oPAstCo n Boards 2005 – 2008

David ArvigArvig Enterprises Inc.minnesota

Christopher BeckerThe Middleburgh Telephone Companynew york

Sharon CarlsonSierra TelephoneCalifornia

John DudaFairPoint Communicationsnorth Carolina

Mark GaileyTotah Telephone Company Inc.Oklahoma

Richard GesingerWarinner, Gesinger & Associates LLCWashington

Diana GradertWilton Telephone Companyiowa

Allan HoopesSilver Star Telephone CompanyWyoming

Dan HuntHunTel Systemsnebraska

Greg KillpackEmery Telcomutah

Hans NilssonBruce Municipal Telephone SystemOntario

Roger NishiWaitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecomvermont

H. Keith OliverHome Telephone Company Inc.South Carolina

Robert OrentHiawatha Telephone Companymichigan

A.J. PassarellaLoretto Telephone CompanyTennessee

thomas SquiresManawa Telephone Company Inc.Wisconsin

JANuARy 2005 – JANuARy 2006

Robert WilliamsCHAIRMAN

Oregon Farmers Mutual Telephone Companymissouri

Chad MilesFIRSt VICE CHAIRMAN

Enhanced Telecommunications Corp.indiana

Roger NishiSECOND VICE CHAIRMAN

Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecomvermont

Larry “Buddy” LovelltREASuRER

Ritter CommunicationsArkansas

Arturo “Archie” MaciasPASt CHAIRMAN

Wheat State Telephone Companykansas

Michelle AndersonRye Telephone CompanyColorado

David ArvigArvig Enterprises Inc.minnesota

Christopher BeckerThe Middleburgh Telephone Companynew york

Chris DupreeGraceba Total Communications Inc.Alabama

Mark GaileyTotah Telephone Company Inc.Oklahoma

Richard GesingerWarinner, Gesinger & Associates LLCWashington

Dan HuntHunTel Systemsnebraska

Greg KillpackEmery Telcomutah

Ronald Laudner, Jr.OmniTel Communicationsiowa

Hans NilssonBruce Municipal Telephone SystemOntario

H. Keith OliverHome Telephone Company Inc.South Carolina

Robert OrentHiawatha Telephone Companymichigan

A.J. PassarellaLoretto Telephone CompanyTennessee

thomas SquiresManawa Telephone Company Inc.Wisconsin

Michael urdahlGreat Plains Communicationsnebraska

JANuARy 2006 – JANuARy 2007

Chad MilesCHAIRMAN

Enhanced Telecommunications Corp.indiana

Roger NishiFIRSt VICE CHAIRMAN

Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecomvermont

H. Keith OliverSECOND VICE CHAIRMAN

Home Telephone Company Inc.South Carolina

Hans NilssontREASuRER

Bruce Municipal Telephone SystemOntario

Robert WilliamsPASt CHAIRMAN

Oregon Farmers Mutual Telephone Companymissouri

Michelle AndersonRye Telephone CompanyColorado

David ArvigArvig Enterprises Inc.minnesota

Christopher BeckerThe Middleburgh Telephone Companynew york

Robert DebrouxTDS TelecomWisconsin

Chris DupreeGraceba Total Communications Inc.Alabama

Mark GaileyTotah Telephone Company Inc.Oklahoma

Dan HuntHunTel Systemsnebraska

Greg KillpackEmery Telcomutah

Ronald Laudner, Jr.OmniTel Communicationsiowa

G. Steve MooreComporium Business SolutionsSouth Carolina

A.J. PassarellaLoretto Telephone CompanyTennessee

thomas SquiresManawa Telephone Company Inc.Wisconsin

Michael urdahlGreat Plains Communicationsnebraska

Derek WhiteGila River TelecommunicationsArizona

JANuARy 2007 – JANuARy 2008

Roger NishiCHAIRMAN

Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecomvermont

H. Keith OliverFIRSt VICE CHAIRMAN

Home Telephone Company Inc.South Carolina

Mark GaileySECOND VICE CHAIRMAN

Totah CommunicationsOklahoma

Hans NilssontREASuRER

Bruce Municipal Telephone SystemOntario

Chad MilesPASt CHAIRMAN

Enhanced Telecommunications Corp.indiana

David ArvigArvig Enterprises Inc.minnesota

Robert DebrouxTDS TelecomWisconsin

tony DuetLaFourche Telephone Company Inc.louisiana

Chris DupreeGraceba Total Communications Inc.Alabama

Pete HollandHorizon TelcomOhio

Greg KillpackSignal Telcom Partnersutah

Ronald Laudner, Jr.OmniTel Communicationsiowa

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 61

oPAstCo n Boards 2008 – 2012

G. Steve MooreComporium Business SolutionsSouth Carolina

Catherine MoyerPioneer Communicationskansas

Al PedersenSandwich Isles CommunicationsHawaii

thomas SquiresManawa Telephone Company Inc.Wisconsin

Derek WhiteGila River TelecommunicationsArizona

JANuARy 2008 – JANuARy 2009

H. Keith OliverCHAIRMAN

Home Telephone Company Inc.South Carolina

Mark GaileyFIRSt VICE CHAIRMAN

Totah CommunicationsOklahoma

Catherine MoyerSECOND VICE CHAIRMAN

Pioneer Communicationskansas

Pete HollandtREASuRER

Horizon TelcomOhio

Roger NishiPASt CHAIRMAN

Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecomvermont

Rhonda ArmstrongSebastian Corp.California

David ArvigArvig Enterprises Inc.minnesota

Robert DebrouxTDS TelecomWisconsin

tony DuetLaFourche Telephone Company Inc.louisiana

Chris DupreeGraceba Total Communications Inc.Alabama

John GrangerMapcom Systemsvirginia

Greg KillpackSignal Telcom Partnersutah

Ronald Laudner, Jr.OmniTel Communicationsiowa

Cullen McCartySmithville Telephone Co. Inc.indiana

Mike OsborneAllendale Communicationsmichigan

Al PedersenSandwich Isles CommunicationsHawaii

thomas SquiresManawa Telephone Company Inc.Wisconsin

Derek WhiteGila River TelecommunicationsArizona

Robert Wrighter, Sr.Hancock Telephone Companynew york

JANuARy 2009 – JANuARy 2010

Mark GaileyCHAIRMAN

Totah CommunicationsOklahoma

Catherine MoyerFIRSt VICE CHAIRMAN

Pioneer Communicationskansas

Ronald Laudner, Jr.SECOND VICE CHAIRMAN

OmniTel Communicationsiowa

Pete HollandtREASuRER

Horizon TelcomOhio

H. Keith OliverPASt CHAIRMAN

Home Telephone Company Inc.South Carolina

Rhonda ArmstrongSebastian Corp.California

Robert DebrouxTDS TelecomWisconsin

tony DuetLaFourche Telephone Company Inc.louisiana

Chris DupreeKnologyAlabama

Godfrey EnjadyMescalero Apache Telecom Inc.new mexico

Ben FosterTwin Valley Telephone Inc.kansas

John GrangerMapcom Systemsvirginia

Jim KailLaurel Highland Telephone CompanyPennsylvania

Cullen McCartySmithville Telephone Co. Inc.indiana

Mike OsborneAllendale Communicationsmichigan

Al PedersenSandwich Isles CommunicationsHawaii

Gene SouthLakedale Telephone Companyminnesota

Michael urdahlSignal Telcom Partnersnebraska

Robert Wrighter, Sr.Hancock Telephone Companynew york

JANuARy 2010 – JANuARy 2011

Catherine MoyerCHAIRMAN

Pioneer Communicationskansas

Ronald Laudner, Jr.FIRSt VICE CHAIRMAN

OmniTel Communicationsiowa

Mike OsborneSECOND VICE CHAIRMAN

Ace Communicationsmichigan

Pete HollandtREASuRER

Horizon TelcomOhio

Mark GaileyPASt CHAIRMAN

Totah CommunicationsOklahoma

Rhonda ArmstrongSebastian Corp.California

Janet BrittonEATELlouisiana

Robert DebrouxTDS TelecomWisconsin

Chris DupreeKnologyAlabama

Godfrey EnjadyMescalero Apache Telecom Inc.new mexico

Ben FosterTwin Valley Telephone Inc.kansas

Jim KailLaurel Highland Telephone CompanyPennsylvania

Cullen McCartySmithville Telephone Co. Inc.indiana

Lynn MerrillMonte R. Lee and CompanyOklahoma

Bill OtisNU-Telecomminnesota

Al PedersenSandwich Isles CommunicationsHawaii

Gene SouthLakedale Telephone Companyminnesota

Ben SpearmanPBT Telecom Inc. d/b/a Comporium MidlandsSouth Carolina

Michael urdahlSignal Telcom Partnersnebraska

Robert Wrighter, Sr.Hancock Telephone Companynew york

JANuARy 2011 – JANuARy 2012

Ronald Laudner, Jr.CHAIRMAN

OmniTel Communicationsiowa

Mike OsborneFIRSt VICE CHAIRMAN

Ace Communicationsmichigan

Rhonda ArmstrongSECOND VICE CHAIRMAN

Sebastian Corp.California

Pete HollandtREASuRER

Horizon TelcomOhio

Catherine MoyerPASt CHAIRMAN

Pioneer Communicationskansas

Janet BrittonEATELlouisiana

Robert DebrouxTDS TelecomWisconsin

Dave DunningPolar Communicationsnorth dakota

62 O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S n 1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3

Godfrey EnjadyMescalero Apache Telecom Inc.new mexico

Ben FosterTwin Valley Telephone Inc.kansas

Jim KailLaurel Highland Telephone CompanyPennsylvania

Cullen McCartySmithville Telephone Co. Inc.indiana

Lynn MerrillMonte R. Lee and CompanyOklahoma

Bill OtisNU-Telecomminnesota

Al PedersenSandwich Isles CommunicationsHawaii

Ben SpearmanPBT Telecom Inc. d/b/a Comporium MidlandsSouth Carolina

Michael urdahlSignal Telcom Partnersnebraska

JANuARy 2012 – JANuARy 2013

Mike OsborneCHAIRMAN

Ace Communicationsmichigan

Rhonda ArmstrongFIRSt VICE CHAIRMAN

Sebastian Corp.California

Cullen McCartySECOND VICE CHAIRMAN

Smithville Communications Inc.indiana

Pete HollandtREASuRER

Horizon TelcomOhio

Ronald Laudner, Jr.PASt CHAIRMAN

OmniTel Communicationsiowa

Doug BoonePremier Communicationsiowa

Janet BrittonEATELlouisiana

Robert DebrouxTDS TelecomWisconsin

Dave DunningPolar Communicationsnorth dakota

Godfrey EnjadyMescalero Apache Telecom Inc.new mexico

Ben FosterTwin Valley Telephone Inc.kansas

Mark GaileyTotah CommunicationsOklahoma

Jim KailLaurel Highland Telephone CompanyPennsylvania

Catherine MoyerPioneer Communicationskansas

Bill OtisNU-Telecomminnesota

timothy OwensCronin Communicationsdistrict of Columbia

R. Craig SmithMGW Telephone Companyvirginia

Ben SpearmanPBT Telecom Inc. d/b/a Comporium MidlandsSouth Carolina

oPAstCo n Boards 2012 – 2013

1 9 6 3 – 2 0 1 3 n O PA S T C O 5 0 y e A R S 63