OPASTCO, NTCA In Merger Discussion, Groups Tell Members
OPASTCO and NTCA are considering a merger, the rural associations told their members. “Our dialogue began in the spirit of cooperation and collaboration to strengthen the rural telecommunications industry and give our memberships the best opportunities, tools and resources for the future,” OPASTCO and NTCA said in a joint email. “We have found consensus in several areas and will continue to work through issues and concerns."
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"At this point, we are seeking to identify synergies between our organizations and how we might leverage them to create a unified voice for the rural telecommunications industry,” the announcement said. “We know that our industry, today and in the future, will benefit from a cohesive, powerful voice."
The document is signed by NTCA President Sandy Vandevender and OPASTCO Chairman Ronald Laudner. According to the email, the groups have set up their own URL for member questions, ruraltelecom.org and have appointed an eight-member panel to lead the discussions. The panelists include: Rhonda Armstrong, Sebastian Corp. and OPASTCO board second vice chair; Loren Duerksen, Diller Telephone Company and NTCA Board Commercial Company Adviser-Western; Terry Force, Blue Valley Tele-Communications and NTCA board vice president; Donald Miller, Northwest Telephone Cooperative and NTCA board secretary-treasurer; Catherine Moyer, Pioneer Communications and OPASTCO board immediate past chair; Mike Osborne, Ace Communications and OPASTCO board first vice chair; John Rose, OPASTCO president; and Shirley Bloomfield, NTCA CEO.
OPASTCO spokeswoman Martha Silver said the groups were in the “very earliest stages of dialogue” but declined further comment on the talks. “As we know more, we will be sending our respective members updates,” Silver said. Asked why OPASTCO would go public with such an embryonic development, Silver said: “We communicate with our members because we are a member-run association. It’s what we do; it’s how associations work."
NTCA spokeswoman Wendy Mann declined to comment, but the joint email said NTCA will hold sessions with members in the days ahead: “These sessions will give you the opportunity to voice your thoughts, concerns and suggestions.” OPASTCO will hold its winter meetings in Florida next week, its website said.
Rose, OPASTCO’s leader, will retire at year’s end, three telecom officials told us. Rumors of his retirement have circulated for years -- as have talks of a merger with another rural group, two telecom officials said. In recent years, the group has been shedding members, two telecom officials told us. But Silver said “OPASTCO is in great shape."
OPASTCO joined forces with NTCA and the Western Telecommunications Alliance in the intense lobbying leading up to last fall’s high-cost universal service reforms (CD Oct 28 p1). But some in industry thought NTCA was the de facto leader of the rural lobbying, two telecom officials said. Last month, OPASTCO, the Western Alliance and the National Exchange Carrier Association filed a joint petition to reconsider the universal service order. NTCA filed a federal lawsuit of its own.
OPASTCO will wrap up its yearlong membership drive at the end of the month, having offered 20 percent discounts to new members. Member companies that refer prospective members were offered “a $25 gift card, and you'll have a chance to win an Apple iPad 2!” the group’s website said.