JUNE 2022
DCN SELECTED AS ETHERNET PROVIDER FOR STATE
The partnership between DCN and the State of North Dakota has been recognized nationally as a model public-private relationship.
Since 2000, DCN and the State of North Dakota have had a highly successful partnership, and that partnership will officially continue. DCN was recently awarded the latest contract for STAGEnet Ethernet transport services. “The State of North Dakota has been long been recognized as providing some of the best broadband capabilities for government and education across the State,” said Duane Schell, chief technology officer at North Dakota Information Technology. “We would not be able to provide these critical capabilities if not for the strong partnerships we have with our broadband providers and are extremely grateful for all that DCN has done for the citizens of the State.” This public-private partnership has received national recognition as an example of how states can leverage an organization like DCN to provide state agencies, K-12 schools, higher education entities, and the public safety sector with reliable, scalable, secure technology services. In fact, in August 2019, this partnership enabled North Dakota to become the first in the nation to provide onegigabit service to all public K-12 schools and higher education institutions statewide. This was crucial when the COVID-19 continued on pg. 3
CHANGE TO DCN'S OWNERSHIP GROUP In the early 1990s, North Dakota’s independent broadband companies (back then, they were rural telephone companies), had an idea. They were going to work together to create a company that could tie all of them together to offer customers statewide service of the emerging technology called internet. That concept came to fruition in 1996 with the formation of DCN. There have been some changes along the way in this group of Owners, most recently when RTC Networks acquired Midstate Communications. Midstate was owned by the Wilhelmi family since 1958 and, you may recall, Ryan Wilhelmi, Midstate president/ general manager, was Left: Shane Hart, CEO/General Manager, recently recognized for his RTC Networks service as the chairman of Right: Ryan Wilhelmi, President/General Manager, DCN’s Board of Governors. Midstate Communications RTC will continue to provide Midstate customers with phone, internet, and video in Stanley, Portal, Medora, Beach, Golva, and the surrounding communities. Wilhelmi said, “RTC Networks and Midstate Companies have both provided excellent service to their respective customers since they started doing business. We are confident that RTC Networks will continue their tradition of providing excellent, cutting-edge services as they bring our existing customers into their network.” RTC Networks is a cooperative that was formed in 1951. Headquartered in Parshall, RTC Networks serves New Town, Watford City, Garrison, Max, Kenmare, New Town, Watford City, and Alexander with fiber-based internet, phone, video, business phone systems, and surveillance cameras. While this change doesn’t directly affect DCN customers, we are excited to see how the acquisition will make a positive impact on customers in the Midstate territory.
CEO’S MESSAGE Our industry is in a state of constant change, which makes this an exciting job. I’ve been fortunate to work in this industry for almost 25 years, and I’ve developed many great relationships. In April, our industry lost a great one: David Crothers. David was the executive director at BAND, the Broadband Association of North Dakota, and passed away after battling cancer. I am dedicating this CEO Corner to my friend and colleague, Mr. David Crothers. David was epitome of a gentleman. I remember the first time I met him in 2002. David was speaking at a regional industry meeting, and I recall thinking, “Now that is a professional and a gentleman.” Those of you who had the opportunity to meet Mr. Crothers likely thought the same. That is, unless you met him in the parking lot while he was enjoying a cigarette and Diet Coke. J When I took over for Evan Hass at DCN in 2013, David quickly became one of my greatest advocates. He was a friend, mentor, supporter, and sounding board. His involvement and guidance over the years significantly contributed to DCN’s success. Most importantly, David did it in a way that he almost made me feel like I was doing him a favor whenever I called on him for his wisdom. David spent much of his career advocating for North Dakota’s rural telecommunications providers and helped secure billions of dollars that were invested in fiber infrastructure. He was blessed with the ability to eloquently articulate that every North Dakotan deserved access to affordable high speed internet access. Without even knowing him, we’ve all benefited from David’s hard work and commitment to the telecommunications industry. Rest in peace, my friend. Seth Arndorfer, CEO
ARNDORFER REPRESENTING DCN, NORTH DAKOTA ON NATIONAL LEVEL Reappointed to FCC task force, elected INDATEL VP Sometimes rural states are overlooked and underestimated when it comes to technology. That is why being part of the conversation on a national level is so important. DCN’s CEO Seth Arndorfer currently holds two roles that provide North Dakota representation on a national level: he was reappointed as a working group member to serve on the Federal Communications Commission Precision Ag Connectivity Task Force and was elected vice president of the INDATEL Services Board of Managers. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, in consultation with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, made the task force appointment. During the twoyear term, Arndorfer will serve on the working group focused on examining Arndorfer with Mike Romano, NTCA senior VP current and future connectivity demand of industry affairs and business development, for precision agriculture. During his at FCC headquarters in Washington, D.C. first term, Arndorfer was on the task force working group focused on broadband mapping on agricultural lands. The connectivity demand working group has 15 members who are leaders at influential organizations across the country including Microsoft, SpaceX, John Deere, and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. INDATEL is a nationwide fiber optic network, comprised of 31 members that are statewide networks like DCN, dedicated to providing bestin-class connectivity to communities in rural and metro areas. INDATEL members partner to deliver connectivity services to businesses and government entities that have a broad footprint. For example, if an organization in another state needs connectivity in North Dakota, INDATEL works with DCN to deliver services to the customer’s specific location(s). Arndorfer was first elected to the seven-member INDATEL board in 2018. The board establishes the network’s strategic direction by assessing the connectivity needs of communities it serves and creating opportunities to bring fiber to under- and un-served populations. This partnership not only enhances DCN’s visibility on a national scale, it also helps DCN offer industry-leading products and user experiences for North Dakota businesses and government entities. With more than two decades of experience in the broadband industry and being raised on a North Dakota fourth-generation farm, Arndorfer brings a valuable perspective to both these organizations that will benefit everyone living in rural parts of the country.
DCN EMPLOYEES EARN ETHERNET CERTIFICATION
STATE CONTRACT, con't from pg. 1
Eleven DCN employees recently earned MEF Carrier Ethernet Certified Professional (CECP) certification following a week of intensive training and successful exam completion. CECP is a vendor neutral, technical certification recognizing carrier Ethernet expertise in professionals from a cross section of job functions. The certification is valid for three years and is recognized industry wide as the highest standard for carrier Ethernet professionals. The following DCN team members were certified or recertified (* indicates recertification): • * Mark Aslakson, wholesale sales manager • * Sheldon Dacar, Ethernet/IP technician I • * Todd Domres, manager of Owners and government relations • * Jennifer Guthmiller, commercial sales manager • * David Malsam, Ethernet/IP technician II • * Tim Paulson, Ethernet/IP engineer • Barb Pfeifer, Ethernet/IP technician I • Branden Rasmussen, cloud services specialist • * Jody Sommer, Ethernet/IP technician II • * Aparna Subramanian, information systems manager • * Tara Taylor, application analyst “Employee education and training are vital, especially in the ever-changing technology field,” says DCN CEO Seth Arndorfer. “CECP certification is crucial when working with carrier Ethernet and this shows that our team has the expertise to develop and deliver dynamic services to DCN’s customers. We are proud to have this many subject matter experts on our team who are dedicated to providing customers with services tailored to their specific needs.”
Mark Aslakson
Front row, L to R: Aparna Subramanian, Tara Taylor, Barb Pfeifer Back row, L to R: Jennifer Guthmiller, Todd Domres, Jody Sommer, Tim Paulson, David Malsam, Branden Rasmussen
Sheldon Dacar
When the pandemic struck, DCN and its Owners connected 99.8 percent of students in approximately three weeks.
pandemic struck and made it clear that technology in education had changed drastically. Educators and students alike need fast, reliable upload and download capabilities, and DCN’s fiber optic network provides that, regardless of whether they are in a rural or metro area. In the past 20 years, the State’s technology needs have changed in many other areas. Public safety has continually added levels of redundancy to increase the resiliency of its network so that a single point of failure, such as a fiber cut, can’t take down their entire service. In the 2010s, the State began the Statewide Interoperability Radio Network, or SIRN, to allow public safety to operate across jurisdictions and communities. The most recent addition is the Vantis drone network that North Dakotans are discovering can aid in critical situations such as safely locating power poles downed from severe storms. “The partnership between DCN and the State has taken paths that would have been hard to imagine in 2000,” says DCN CEO Seth Arndorfer. “Fortunately, experience brings insight which allows us to help the State serve its citizens even better. This partnership has also allowed DCN to grow in ways that benefit all of our customers, which ultimately is good for business in North Dakota, and we intend to stay on the cutting edge of innovation.”
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DCN HIRES BARTLETT Jordan Bartlett has been hired as systems administrator at DCN. In this role, Bartlett supports the technical needs of the DCN team. This includes installing, configuring, and maintaining computer hardware, software, networks, printers, and scanners; diagnosing and solving technical issues; and scheduling and performing IT maintenance and upgrades. He is based at DCN’s Bismarck facility. Bartlett earned an Associate of Applied Science in cybersecurity and computer networks from Bismarck State College. He previously served as technology assistant at Jamestown Public Schools. A native of Steele, he is active in the community including volunteering at the local Amvets.
REMEMBERING DAVID CROTHERS
A friend and strong advocate for rural broadband On April 22, DCN, our Owner companies, and broadband in the United States lost a great advocate with the passing of David Crothers. Starting in 1988, Crothers served as CEO of the Broadband Association of North Dakota (BAND), formerly North Dakota Association of Telecommunications Cooperatives. He spent his BAND career representing the interests of independent telephone companies before the U.S. Congress, the North Dakota legislature, the executive branch, regulatory bodies, state and federal regulatory commissions, and the media. A fourth generation North Dakotan, Crothers understood and was able to articulate the importance of every North Dakotan having access to reliable, affordable broadband. A graduate of the University of North Dakota School of Law, his early career included an appointment in the U.S. Department of Agriculture and serving in the office of then-Senator Mark Andrews. There was no stronger advocate for rural broadband and Crothers made a difference in North Dakota and beyond. Most importantly, he was a good person who truly cared about others.
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