Lynxx Networks CEO Elected to NTCA – the Rural Broadband Association Board of Trustees

12/8/2021 12:00:00 AM

Camp Douglas, Wisconsin – Wisconsin’s rural broadband needs have a new advocate at the national level.  

Jim Costello, CEO of Lynxx Networks, the Camp Douglas-based technology solutions company offering fiber internet, voice, and IT services, was elected this fall to the board of directors of the NTCA-the Rural Broadband Association.  

Costello was elected to serve the commercial companies like Lynxx Networks in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NTCA’s board is made up of representatives from the organization’s rural commercial and cooperative members and works to advocate for the needs of its nearly 850 member companies from across the nation, all of which are dedicated to providing customer-focused, state-of-the-art broadband services as local, community-based providers.  

Costello brings 40 years of experience in the telecommunications industry with him to his new role with the NTCA. For the last 19 of those years, he’s been at the helm of Lynxx Networks, overseeing the growth and expansion of the company, including the acquisition of the 3RT Networks, the IT arm for Lynxx Networks, located in West Salem, WI.  

On his election to the board, Costello said he’s proud to be a director representing rural companies within NTCA.  

“NTCA members and staff are continually engaged with Congress and the White House in advocating on behalf of our rural communities and the need to have those entities represented on a national level,” he said, adding, “larger cities get a lot of attention because of their population size, so we are constantly working to keep the focus on rural needs; after all, NTCA is the Rural Broadband Association.”  

Currently, the NTCA board and staff are keeping close tabs on the implications of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into law in November by President Biden. The bill allocates 65 million dollars for broadband, much of which Costello said will be going to the states for distribution. 

The covid-19 pandemic only highlighted the need for better internet connectivity in rural America, with high-speed connections needed more than ever for remote work, virtual school, and tele-health options, among other things. Lynxx Networks, like other community-based telecommunications companies, is working to meet the need, but Costello understands that local companies can’t accomplish the build-out of fiber networks by themselves; funding in the form of state grants and federal dollars is crucial.  

“We (the NTCA board) hope to be a major player in the build-out of rural broadband to underserved and unserved communities across the country,” Costello said in the wake of the passage of the act, adding, “we will work diligently to help advocate to get this money to where it is needed to all NTCA members, helping to send a message that NTCA member companies are the best equipped with proven track records to build out successful rural broadband networks.” 

NTCA Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield said with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act becoming law, NTCA members are uniquely positioned to use this historic investment to expand services and connect more customers.  

“NTCA members are at the forefront of innovation and delivering the best possible broadband services to rural America,” said Bloomfield, adding, “I look forward to working with all of our board members on continuing this tremendous work.”  

 

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Lemonweir Valley Telephone Company and LVT Corp dba LYNXX NetworksSM has its headquarters located at 127 US Highway 12 & 16, Camp Douglas, Wisconsin, and offers fiber- based business local telephone service, long distance service, broadband internet, digital television, cloud-based voice service and cloud data center co-location to west-central Wisconsin / Monroe, Juneau and La Crosse counties.  To learn more about LYNXX NetworksSM visit www.getlynxx.com

To learn more about 3RT Networks, LLC or inquire about service offerings, please visit www.3rtnetworks.com or call 608.779.1323.