NRTC Agrees to Acquire Pulse Broadband to Expand Communications Solutions for Members

HERNDON, Va.--()--NRTC and Pulse Broadband today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for NRTC to acquire 100 percent of Pulse Broadband LLC. The acquisition will enable NRTC to accelerate its efforts to provide a full range of technology solutions to its electric and telephone members in the areas of broadband and communications services.

“It takes multiple technologies to overcome the broadband and communications connectivity challenges in the more rural areas served by our members,” said Tim Bryan, NRTC’s CEO. “Adding fiber to our portfolio of infrastructure services, including wireless and satellite, allows us to meet the broadest set of member needs. Working with Pulse over the past year, we have come to appreciate their deep knowledge, talent, and customer focus.”

Pulse’s entire team, led by Eric Freesmeier, will remain and continue to deliver a wide range of fiber services, including financial feasibility modeling, design and engineering, construction management. The Pulse team will be supported by strong sales, member relations and administrative support from NRTC, much like the support provided to NRTC’s other subsidiaries, NeoNova and Telispire.

In addition, NRTC, directly and through NeoNova, will offer members its full range of telecom services, including managed network services, ISP support, video solutions and marketing.

“This is a great day for all of us at Pulse,” Freesmeier said. “We all have a deep commitment to expanding broadband access through fiber, and we have developed a strong affinity for the rural utilities who are members of NRTC. We look forward to working even more closely with them as we work to advance NRTC’s mission.”

NRTC is focused on helping electric and telephone members address operational needs through fiber connectivity, including connectivity for anchor institutions, smart grid applications, wide-area and last mile wireless networks, communications, IoT, backhaul and redundancy. In addition, NRTC remains committed to expanding and enhancing consumer and enterprise broadband access through technology implementation and the delivery of its telecom services.

“Many areas of this country still lack sufficient broadband, and we believe our electric and telephone members are best suited to deliver that vital connectivity,” stated Greg Santoro, NRTC’s Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer. “We want to help our existing broadband providers enhance their offering, through services like next-generation video, and we want to enable new fiber investments, especially those forged through electric-telco member partnerships, to reach into areas currently under-served.”

The transaction is expected to close and be finalized over the next few weeks.

About NRTC

We are Member Driven and Technology Focused. NRTC provides solutions that help our 1,500 electric and telephone members bring all of the advantages of today’s evolving technology to rural America.

NRTC’s products and services are developed specifically to meet the needs of rural utilities and their customers, and include integrated smart grid and utility solutions, advanced energy, broadband infrastructure and managed network services, wireless technologies and programming distribution capabilities for video providers. NRTC helps ensure our members' success by aggregating their individual buying power, negotiating national contracts, and helping members integrate technology solutions with existing infrastructure.

About Pulse Broadband

Pulse Broadband was formed with the sole purpose of partnering with rural America to bring fiber technology to underserved areas. Since our formation in 2008, we have partnered with cooperatives, municipal entities, and private groups to implement successful FTTH projects.

In addition to our fiber design and construction management expertise, we offer a full suite of telecom services, from feasibility studies of a new network to back office support services for existing companies, to meet our customer’s needs.

This 360° view of the industry, along with our years of hands-on experience, give Pulse the distinction of being one of the true leaders in the rural Fiber-to-the-Home industry. Pulse Broadband has planned networks, designed and built networks, launched services and managed these networks for our clients.

Simply put, our real-world experience is unsurpassed in the FTTH industry.

Contacts

NRTC
Chris Martin
703-787-7288
cmartin@nrtc.coop

Contacts

NRTC
Chris Martin
703-787-7288
cmartin@nrtc.coop