Newsletter Topics

Five Questions With New Loretto General Manager Jason Shelton

November 15, 2018 by Andy Johns

It’s been a year of transition at Loretto Telecom. But after hiring Jason Shelton as general manager Oct. 1, the telco is primed to thrive.

Previously, Shelton served as general manager at GTel Teleconnections in Germantown, New York.

At Loretto, Shelton will direct the overall operations while positioning the company both strategically and tactically for growth. In addition to developing an annual budget and work plan, he will manage personnel and communicate with external stakeholders. He will work closely with SkyBest CEO Kim Shepherd.

“I am thrilled to announce the addition of Jason to the Loretto team,” Shepherd said. “He brings many years of experience and a desire to see the community grow and prosper. I am also excited about beginning the fiber overbuild for Loretto Telecom customers. A fiber network will bring a solid foundation that will embrace the future of technology and strengthen the economic base to make life better for all who live in the communities we serve.”

On April 30, SkyBest Holding Company LLC of West Jefferson, North Carolina, purchased Loretto, fiber upgrades became the focus. In September, construction crews began building out fiber in the downtown Loretto area.

That’s a great situation for Shelton, who has a passion for building broadband networks capable of bridging the digital divide.

Shelton and his wife, Tonya, have two sons: William and Jase. They are originally from rural east Texas. Jason joined the United States Marine Corps after high school. He has more than 20 years in the telecom industry in various positions, starting with his military service, and continuing with both wireless and wireline networks. He also studied at Columbia College in Missouri, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration.

As Shelton and his family settle into life in Middle Tennessee, he agreed to a short Q&A for the TTA newsletter.

TTA: You’ve spent time in Upstate New York, east Texas, Colorado, Montana and now Tennessee. What are you finding to be similar and different about those areas?

Jason Shelton: I will break it down into three similarities, with the first being the desire for better access, the second similarity being quality of life, and the third similarity being the beauty of that access, though tough to build and justify the financial feasibility of it. It doesn’t matter what state you live in, the internet is an integral part of our lives, and having access to it will become ever more critical.

It’s just not being able to watch videos and play video games with another friend from school. Health care, teleworkers and transactions, to name a few examples, are all affected by access, or the lack of. A lack of access diminishes economic viability, which can affect the overall quality of life. For example, from the standpoint of raising a family, if access to jobs prohibits families from sticking around each other, that negatively affects the quality of life. Access to the internet can positively affect people’s lives, and rural America is no different.

Finally, you’re also talking about some of the most beautiful areas in our country. But, there is a reason that proper services do not exist or have not been upgraded in a very long time. And without support, it will continue to be a challenge — but it should also not diminish how important the need is.

TTA: Coming into Loretto, what would you say is its biggest strength or strongest asset?

JS: Opportunity. And not just in Loretto but also in Lawrence County and the surrounding areas. We are positioned in an advantageous position that could produce some tremendously positive economic benefits for many years to come.

Frankly, Tennessee, in general, is in an advantageous position. In my short time here, I have seen several examples of where Lawrence County is producing and being aggressive in increasing economic diversity, which is a good sign.

However, a key component to long-term success is access to broadband, and Loretto Telecom has an opportunity to play a critical role in those successes. The employees at Loretto Tel are unlike any group of people I have worked with in the past. They are some of the most genuine, nicest people you will ever meet. There is a tremendous desire to grow and “win” again, and I am very humbled to be able to lead them in doing so.

And for all of us to be at the beginning stages of building a network that will positively benefit the lives and well-being of those around us for many decades to come is a phenomenal opportunity and responsibility that we do not take lightly.

TTA: What is the biggest area of need where you and the staff will be focusing?

JS: When I first arrived, there had been a small FTTP project already kicked off. In fact, within the first 30 days of being here, we have already installed several customers (the first for LT) on the new network. However, the two biggest needs we have are continuing to build and creating a price structure for existing customers that is sustainable, and the value is realized while waiting on fiber to be built in their areas. We will also be focusing on our internal components of the business as well. There are several that need to be brought up to date and allow us to be capable to maximize our efficiencies and allocating expenses properly.

TTA: You’re new to Tennessee, but you’re no stranger to rural broadband. What do you think are some of the keys to delivering high-speed connections to rural America?

JS: In my past life, I had the opportunity to work through a state-driven grant program as well as having visibility in the decision-making process from federal programs. There are several reasons why this needs to continue across our country and our state.

Building out those beautiful, but remote, areas is not going to happen unless there is help to do so. You also need partnerships. These two components are largely significant but traditionally challenged to find the common ground needed to work together.

However, if they could be worked out, it would be a large step forward in bridging the digital divide that faces rural America. Having the commitment to fix the divide, and also doing it the right way the first time will allow for this problem to be dealt with for a very long time.

Often, I hear of solutions that are only band-aids. Thus, we really need to define a standard that will enable us to build for the future rather than temporarily solving a problem based on outdated speed standards. This is a problem that will continue to plague us until it is done properly and with the right technology. There is really only one way that I know to “future proof” this issue. Case in point, 5G will do a lot of good, but it still needs fiber.

TTA: In addition to your arrival, Loretto is transitioning from a family-owned business to being owned by SkyBest. What do you think that change means for customers?

JS: I’ll answer this question with a familiar response: opportunity. From a customer’s standpoint, they want to understand what this means to them. From discussions with customers, businesses, former customers and others, there is a desire for more opportunity — whether that is better speeds or reduced pricing. I understand that, as I have been a part of companies merging as an employee and as a consumer. That is the way that I look at things — from a consumers mindset. How can I get what I want at the fairest price possible?

A Chance For First Impressions With New Legislators

November 14, 2018 by Levoy Knowles

Every relationship we have, whether personal or professional, had to start somewhere. Whether it started on a first date, on the first day of a new job or right after moving to a new town, there was a point at which even our closest friends were new to us.

With about 30 new legislators heading to Nashville for the session in January, we find ourselves in that position with many lawmakers as we make our way into 2019.

TTA is well-known by many of our representatives and likely by many of the people who will be tapped for the new administration Gov. Bill Lee is building. However, we have plenty of work to do in making sure the new cabinet members and lawmakers understand TTA’s expertise in broadband and the investment our members have made in their service areas.

We’ve worked hard over the last six years to make sure that policymakers and elected officials are aware of the challenges of bringing broadband to rural Tennesseans. We’ve positioned TTA as the go-to authority on telecommunications for many members of the general assembly.

But with so many new faces taking office, many of them will not know TTA or our members. Our legislative team will work hard to make introductions and to educate the new lawmakers on our positions.

I encourage all TTA member companies to make an effort to reach out to any new legislators in your area. I’ll be happy to talk with you about setting initial meetings. We know the statehouse is primed for a busy session of new committee assignments and offices moving around the building. It would certainly be beneficial if TTA members can create opportunities to meet their new legislators in their home territories, before the organized chaos of the legislative session.

As with any relationship, it’s important to make a good first impression. The only way we can create that impression is to make sure these new officials know what TTA members mean for Tennessee.

New Faces Are Coming To The Statehouse And Executive Branch

November 13, 2018 by Andy Johns

TTA members will need to get to know not only a first-term governor but also four new state senators and almost 30 new members in the house.

“It’s a new day for state government,” said Kim Adkins, who represents TTA in lobbying efforts with The Capitol Strategy Group. “With so many new faces and familiar ones in new roles, the next few months are going to be all about building new relationships and building upon the strong relationships we already have in order to continue our role as a trusted resource on rural broadband.”

Despite what he described as a “shuffling of the deck” in the statehouse, TTA Executive Director Levoy Knowles believes TTA is well-positioned to build on past success in making the concerns of TTA members known to legislators and policymakers.

“We’ve worked so hard and have been to Nashville and the home offices of these lawmakers so often that they recognize TTA as Tennessee’s broadband experts,” Knowles explained. “In many instances, those relationships will continue to be an asset as our friends in the statehouse are moving into leadership roles both statewide and federally.”

Governor

Not only will Tennessee have a new governor in businessman and cattle farmer Bill Lee, but also many cabinet positions and department heads are expected to change with the administration. Lee, who is from Franklin, is the president of Lee Company, a family business that employs more than 1,200 people. Known as a political outsider, Lee spent a lot of time during the election focusing on rural issues.

While some officials may stay in place from the Haslam administration, Lee is expected to appoint new department heads in key positions, including the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. The agency plays a crucial role in administering the state’s Broadband Accessibility Grants. The preservation or expansion of that grant program will be one of TTA’s top priorities with the new administration.

“TTA will work to understand the governor’s policy initiatives, and we already know rural broadband is on his radar,” said Steve Buttry, another TTA representative at The Capitol Strategy Group. “In many cases, however, making sure the new cabinet staff and department heads understand TTA’s positions are equally as important.”

Congress

The race that captured most of the headlines — the most expensive race in Tennessee history — saw Marsha Blackburn win the seat in the U.S. Senate vacated by retiring Bob Corker.
Blackburn, a 16-year veteran of the U.S. House, is well-known by TTA members. She spoke at the TTA Annual Convention in 2017.

“Marsha Blackburn has shown a good understanding of what TTA members mean for their areas, and we believe she and her staff will continue a sound dialogue with TTA on topics related to broadband development,” Adkins said.

In the house, TTA members will find more familiar faces. Six of the nine congressional districts in the state saw incumbents return to their posts. The three new congressmen elected are all Republicans with state government experience.

Tim Burchett, R-Knoxville, a former state legislator and Knox County Mayor, won the District 2 seat. He takes over for retiring Rep. John Duncan Jr.

In middle and west Tennessee, State Sen. Mark Green, R-Clarksville, won the District 7 seat formerly held by Blackburn.

John Rose, R-Cookeville, the former agriculture commissioner, won the District 6 seat, which was held by Diane Black before she ran for governor. District 6 encompasses the mostly rural northern part of the state. Rose is acutely aware of rural issues and through his home and business is served by two TTA members, Twin Lakes and DTC.

“Not only do all three new congressmen understand state government well, but they also know our TTA members, and they understand the needs of rural Tennesseans,” Knowles said.

State Legislature

In addition to Lee’s administration, there are plenty of new faces in the state legislature. Despite only one incumbent state legislator being unseated, there will be 28 new state representatives and four new senators in seats left open by either retirements or primary defeats.

The senate saw four new senators, three of which had been serving as state representatives: Brenda Gilmore, D-Nashville; Dawn White, R-Murfreesboro; and Ramuesh Akbari, D-Memphis. Katrina Robinson, D-Memphis, was also elected after defeating incumbent Reggie Tate in the primary.

With Mark Green winning a congressional seat and Mark Norris’ appointment to the federal court, there will be two open seats to be filled in a special election.

New house members come from across the state: Memphis to Morristown. They include both Republicans and Democrats. The new representatives come from a wide range of backgrounds, including academia, law enforcement, banking, construction, city government and one former NBA player.

In both the senate and house, Republicans maintained their super-majority, but with Speaker of the House Beth Harwell not seeking re-election after a gubernatorial run, state house Republicans will need to elect a speaker and other leadership positions at a Nov. 20 caucus. The new speaker is expected to reshuffle some of the committees in the house.

For TTA members, the most important committee is usually the Business and Utilities Committee, which was already set to see four new members due to retirement — even beyond any changes the new speaker makes.

“Any way you look at it, TTA members have a significant number of new representatives and officials we need to meet and educate about our companies’ and customers’ issues,” said Knowles. “In the last six years, our members have done an excellent job reaching out to legislators both at home and in Nashville, and I look forward to helping spread TTA’s message to those who have been recently elected.”

Keep up with issues and calls to action that affect the TTA.