NRTC to boost fiber deployment via Pulse Broadband acquisition

NRTC, an outgrowth of the National Rural Telecommunications Council that offers technology support to its member rural electric and communications services providers, has agreed to acquire rural fiber-optic broadband services and support company Pulse Broadband. NRTC says the acquisition will expand the range of technology services it can supply to its members. Terms of the deal, which NRTC expects to close in the next few weeks, were not disclosed.

"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 Broadband provides a range of fiber-optic network services, including financial feasibility modeling, design and engineering, and construction management (see, for example, "Pulse Broadband and CommScope drive Lake Region Electric Co-op EPON FTTH trial"). NRTC says it plans to keep Pulse's existing team intact while supplementing them with NRTC's sales, member relations, and administrative support.

"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."

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