Aureon Q1-2022 ITC Newsletter

C O N N E C T I N G & I M PA C T I N G I OWA N S MARCH 2022

AUREON CONNECTIONS A Message from Our CEO Forward-Focused Our organization is ardently moving forward with this year’s priorities, which include infrastructure enhancements, network monitoring improvements, continued commitment to delivering excellent Client and Partner experiences, and the tools and processes to deliver those experiences. The unique thread that binds these priorities

“By being forward-focused, we can continue to effectively position our organizations as trusted leaders and important contributors in the Iowa technology landscape.”

together is direction.

Direction, literally and figuratively, is an incredibly important component to our industry.

Where will the recent Empower Rural Iowa broadband grant recipients decide to trench to expand their network? Which communities within your exchanges would benefit from more of your reliable and much-coveted fiber optic services? What philanthropic organizations deserve the monetary gifts and support that you are able to provide this year? The answers to all of these questions reflect a direction. The direction of our goals, our organizations, and our vision.

At Aureon, our direction is forward – whole-heartedly investing in continuous improvement and growth to deliver exceptional connectivity and network reliability.

This can be seen with the exciting opening of our new 616 Data Center, our efforts to modernize our processes and technologies, and our commitment to purposeful and meaningful collaboration with our Partners.

By being forward-focused, we can continue to effectively position our organizations as trusted leaders and important contributors in the Iowa technology landscape. And by leveraging the collective strength of all our Partners, I am confident in the direction that we are moving together.

SCOTT BEHN, CEO

Connect with AUREON. Connect with SOLUTIONS.

AU R E O N . CO M

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PA R T N E R S P O T L I G H T

Connect with GRM Networks, formerly known as Grand River Mutual Telephone Corporation, began in 1951 when two Mercer County Missouri residents, J.R. Lowry and Harley Leasenby, had difficulty conducting a business conversation over the telephone due to the poor quality of their connection. The men set into motion a plan to provide quality phone service and improve the rural telephone system in north central Missouri and south central Iowa.

GRM Networks, headquartered in Princeton, Missouri, has grown to include offices in Bethany, Missouri, and Leon, Iowa. The company provides communication services to customers located within a 4,500 square mile area that now covers 44 exchanges. This also includes subsidiaries LTC Networks and SCC Networks, which add an additional four exchanges. In 2017, GRM Networks founded Mi-Fiber, an internet provider serving Waukee, Bondurant, and Polk City, Iowa, and other areas in the greater Des Moines metro. Mi-Fiber specializes in delivering reliable fiber optic connections to residential, commercial, and multi-family developments.

Most recently, GRM Networks was awarded $41.6 million in grants/loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) ReConnect Program to help the organization fulfill its commitment to bring fiber optic connectivity to northern Missouri and southern Iowa. This award enables GRM Networks to provide connectivity and innovative technological services while improving the quality of life to 2,288 locations including homes, farms, and businesses.

In addition to its expansion and rich history of providing high-quality service, GRM Networks also plays a vital role in supporting the communities it serves. Since 1999, GRM Networks has awarded 311 grants to deserving community organizations in its territory including fire stations, food pantries, community organizations, libraries, youth organizations, American Legions, county fairs, and churches. Numerous donations have also been made in support of FFA organizations, school events, fundraisers, local parades, toy and food drives, summer reading programs, and more. Additionally, their community involvement extends beyond monetary donations as many of their employees leverage their talents as youth coaches, school volunteers, Sunday School teachers, members of school boards, and other community betterment organizations.

“It is important to invest in our future,” said Mitchell Bailey, Chief Executive Officer.

“We place great importance on the opportunity for higher education for rural youth and since 2016, the GRM Networks Scholarship Program has annually awarded six scholarships totaling $5,500 to high school seniors whose parents are active customers. We also partner with the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS), the philanthropic arm of NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, to provide the opportunity for numerous additional scholarships. Through our partnership with Aureon, our youth in Iowa are eligible to apply for scholarship opportunities available through the Aureon Scholarship Program.”

Learn more about GRM Networks by visiting their website.

2 | AUREON CONNECTIONS

Q&A with

Mitchell Bailey, CEO How long have you been with GRM Networks and what was your journey to this role?

I have been with GRM Networks since April 2014, where I began as the Accounting Supervisor.

Since that time, I have held positions of Assistant Controller and Controller, overseeing accounting and regulatory activities for the company. I began my role as CEO of GRM Networks in July 2021.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering a career in telecom?

Embrace the opportunity to learn new things.

Telecommunications services are a prerequisite for many business tools and recreational technologies. Learning how to incorporate our solutions and seeing the dependencies on our ability to provide reliable service is an exciting and rewarding experience.

What excites you about your role at GRM Networks?

Our whole organization has a common belief in what we do – providing our customers, our friends and neighbors, with advanced technology and exceptional service. It is exciting to be part of an organization that is willing to invest so much of themselves to provide our rural communities with these necessary services.

Final thoughts to share with our readers?

Stay customer-focused.

Our industry has everyone’s attention. Keeping service to our customers as the primary focus of the organization allows employees, and the industry as a whole, to be proud of what we’re able to achieve.

C O N N E C T I N G & I M PA C T I N G I OWA N S

D E PA R T M E N T S P O T L I G H T SCOTT JOHNSON Senior Vice President (SVP) of Engineering Operations

Network Operations Center (NOC) Undoubtedly, Aureon’s Network Operations Center (NOC) is the beating heart of all things operations. The NOC acts as the central hub for all services, issues, and maintenance windows that need addressed and repaired – with the team currently monitoring nearly 8,000 devices along with Digital Entertainment Television (DET) and Voice services. This important team is also responsible for managing service outages that may occur by bringing together key technical and managerial resources to engage internal and external communications. Sue Yoder, Manager – Network Operations Center, leads the team in their quest to deliver an excellent experience to our valued Clients and Partners each day.

SUE YODER Manager – Network Operations Center

KALANI YOUNG NOC Technician 1

JOHN BACCAM

NIKKI SLACK

Lead NOC Technician

ALAN GRAVES

NOC Technician 1

NOC Technician 1

MICHAEL GROSS

BEN STEINKAMP

NOC Technician 1

NIC STILES

NOC Technician 1

KYLE HANNA

NOC Technician 1

NOC Technician 1

BRADLEY NELSON

ZACH McFARLING

NOC Technician 1

NOC Technician 1

Learn more about Sue Yoder and her team has she discusses her role at Aureon and the important work of her department.

How long have you been with Aureon and what was your journey to your current role?

Prior to joining Aureon, I worked for Iowa Telecom for over ten years, and prior to that, had a long career in agriculture financing. I will celebrate my 11th anniversary with Aureon in May 2022. I was initially hired at Aureon to manage the Iowa Network Services (INS) Technical Support Team, but transitioned to Alliance Technologies shortly after where I became involved in the IT Managed Service piece of the business.

On a day-to-day level who are the key stakeholders that you interact with and what solutions does your team deploy?

The NOC is in the business of supporting solutions. Our team works with numerous stakeholders as we act as the hub for all trouble and repair issues including IP Packet, Fiber, Transport and Managed Services. Our team also works alongside our business-to-business and wholesale Clients, which allows us to collaborate with major carriers such as Windstream and Lumen.

What do you love most about Aureon?

I am grateful for the teams and colleagues I get to work with at Aureon. Additionally, each day is a learning experience as we work towards providing the highest level of service to our Clients and Partners. It is so rewarding to see our team (NOC) attack issues with a sense of urgency and desire to resolve it quickly and efficiently.

What excites you about coming to work each day?

I love to take care of our Clients and Partners. There is nothing better than a happy Client! I also love to meet our Partners’ expectations with the level of service we provide.

About Aureon’s NOC Team: Describe the impact of your department’s work.

We are always here to help! Aureon’s NOC is available 24/7 for 365 days of the year.

We continuously monitor our network points and responsibly alert our Clients and Partners if we detect any service issues. We take pride in the fact that we provide a watchful eye over network components so our Clients don’t have to.

The NOC is trained at Tier 1 level in virtually every product Aureon offers. This ranges all the way from Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) to Voice and everything in between. We execute efficiently to bring teams together that can collaborate to resolve service issues quickly.

What are some goals that your department is focusing on?

We are continuing to grow our efforts of working with a sense of urgency all the time. Aureon will also be installing new network monitoring systems in the coming months so our team will be busy with testing, training, and migration efforts. This will allow us to be prepared and knowledgeable on new systems so we can ensure a superior experience for our Clients and Partners.

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C O N N E C T I N G & I M PA C T I N G I OWA N S

Partner Shout Outs Showcasing the wins, celebrations, updates and great news of our Partners. https://www.iamotelephone.com!!

View more Partner highlights here.

Aureon Charity Grants Through the Aureon Charity grant program, non-profit agencies from participating ITC communities can apply for grants for community-based projects that will create a positive impact. Read more about the organizations that are Quarter 4 Aureon Charity Grant recipients on Aureon Core.

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C O N N E C T I N G & I M PA C T I N G I OWA N S

Ripple Effect Manson Rallies to Reopen Grocery Store In 2019, three grocery stores closed in Calhoun and Webster counties.

With the nearest grocery stores on average 30 minutes away, there were concerns for this rural Iowa area with a significant elderly population and limited mobility. Manson, population less than 2,000, was one of the communities to lose their grocery store. The community rallied, and within a few months, they raised $180,000 to create a non-profit model to reopen as a community grocery store. This community engagement enabled the grocery store to reopen in November 2020. Improvements have continued into 2021.

Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association (WCCTA) secured a $5,000 Ripple Effect grant through Aureon and contributed an additional $5,000 to grant a total of $10,000 to support the Manson grocery store.

They realize that the local grocery store is an important asset, bringing people from surrounding small communities into Manson. It is a competitive draw for home buyers and homeowners, and is critical to the local food pantry, elderly community residents, and supports local businesses and restaurants.

Kalona Cooperative Secures USDA REDG Funding for Assisted Living Facility Expansion Pleasantview, an assisted living facility in Kalona, Iowa, was established in 1956. Today, it consists of 68 Independent Living Units, a Residential Car Facility, long-term care, and a skilled nursing facility. The organization is licensed for 80 beds, but only had the capacity for 57.

This March, Pleasantview was awarded USDA funding for facility expansion.

Kalona Cooperative Technology Company (KCTC) sponsored an application for a USDA Rural Economic Development Grant to assist Pleasantview with the expansion. The project included a $300,000 USDA award, $30,000 KCTC match, and a $30,000 Ripple Effect Aureon matching grant, plus additional local and federal funds. With the help from the USDA, Aureon, KCTC, and the local community, Pleasantview will be able to renovate their facility, adding additional living space, expanding their services, and adding new jobs to the local economy.

Ethan Pitt Joins Iowa Area Development Group (IADG) as the new Ripple Effect Program Director We are pleased to announce that Ethan Pitt joined the Aureon/IADG team in February as the Vice President of Community Initiatives and Ripple Effect Program Director.

He is excited about the opportunity to manage the Ripple Effect program and support the economic development efforts of Iowa’s ITCs. Ethan’s priority is getting to know the ITC members, learning about operations and economic development priorities, and identifying opportunities to assist our valued Partners.

Ethan has lived most of his life in rural Iowa. He is excited to offer his talents and passion for supporting and growing the many vibrant businesses and communities across the state. Ethan is excited to connect with you.

Contact him by phone or email to schedule a visit or get a project or local priority underway.

641.442.5275 epitt@iadg.com

Many Aureon Partners Awarded Broadband Grants On Tuesday, January 4, Governor Reynolds and the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) announced the latest recipients of the Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant Program. More than $210 million has been awarded to 160 applicants as part of its latest investment in expanding broadband across Iowa.

View the full list of recipients.

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S O L U T I O N H I G H L I G H T S & U P D AT E S TESTIMONIES FROM WIRELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS:

Aureon Network Continuously committed to the improvement and enhancement of each Partner’s network experience.

Over the past year, Aureon’s continued network improvements and initiatives have positively positioned the organization within the region.

“We will be shifting more business from our other carriers to Aureon in 2022-2023.”

Below is a snapshot of those positive impacts from 2021.

2021: BY THE NUMBERS

127,000

UPTIME MINUTE INCREASE from January 2021 to December 2021

99.99%+ Average UPTIME

2.1 Billion

Aureon’s oversight covered 2.1 billion MINUTES OF TOTAL UPTIME

411%

NETWORK OVERSIGHT IMPROVEMENT via granular monitoring and reporting

Implemented multiple strategies to REDUCE SLA LIABILITY for our Partners

Hosted Switching Aureon’s Hosted Switching platform provides ITCs with a simple, efficient, and cost-effective way to enable quick call connectivity. This scalable service delivers a modernized hosted switching experience via Aureon Switching resources – benefiting your organization and the communities you serve. Even better, with Hosted Switching, Aureon manages all the maintenance and upgrades – allowing your team to focus on your business and customers.

Learn more about Hosted Switching.

“Due to our network reliability, we have ranked #1 across all markets nationally in June 2021.”

“I appreciate the partnership we have with Aureon across our Iowa/Nebraska market.”

“We will be using Aureon as an example to our other providers.”

Data Center Colocation Leveraging exceptional connectivity via the Aureon Fiber Optic Network, Aureon delivers robust primary and backup hosting environments to keep organizations operating efficiently – all at a competitive price. Learn more about our Downtown Des Moines, Minneapolis, Omaha, and Chicago data centers and colocation services.

Learn more about Colocation.

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C O N N E C T I N G & I M PA C T I N G I OWA N S

Legislative Update

By Ray Warner, Manager - Industry Affairs This year’s legislative session is well underway, with over 1,000 bills having already been introduced and approximately 350 of those surviving the first funnel deadline. However, as we know all too well, a bill isn’t officially off the table until the Legislature formally concludes for the year. Let’s take a closer look at what has – and has not – had success so far this year.

One bill that would provide a grant program for satellite internet providers, which Aureon opposes, has not made it past the first funnel. This would have allowed satellite internet providers to seek state broadband grant funds. Additionally, a bill that would lift the ITTC spending limits along with removing current provisions that limit the spending authority of the ICN without legislative oversight has not made it past the first funnel.

Unfortunately, one bill that Aureon opposes did make it through the first funnel process. This bill would direct the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) and the IEDA offices to jointly conduct a feasibility study relating to Internet Exchange Points (IXP)s. It’s anticipated that the study alone would cost over $300,000. Aureon and our Partners believe there is already enough IXPs operating in the private sector – and this has been emphasized to our legislators.

We are also closely monitoring the Access to Rights of Way bill that would require cities to provide nondiscriminatory access to conduits and would prohibit cities from forcing utilities to utilize city conduit. Aureon supported the initial crafting of this bill; however, cities such as Des Moines have recently positioned themselves against this bill, so a new amendment has been proposed that would apply only to empty conduit and deletes the references to public road right of way.

View other legislative updates at the federal level by viewing Aureon Core.

Network Updates

Scott Johnson Senior VIce President – Engineering Operations

There are many exciting updates to share regarding Aureon’s 5-year network plan along with projects that are already in motion. From fiber builds, our new PoP site (616 Data Center) in downtown Des Moines, and the new Ribbon switch. Catch up with Scott Johnson, Senior Vice President – Engineering Operations, as he discusses the important initiatives and other important updates for your organization.

Aureon Hosted State of the Industry Roundtable Discussions Regarding 5-Year Network Plan

Aureon was pleased to host a series of roundtable discussions that took place on March 7 – 11. These discussions were facilitated

by Aureon’s Scott Johnson, Senior Vice President of Engineering Operations; Tim Gunderson, Director – Network Operations; Todd Van Epps, Director – Client Operations; and Blair Beck, Manager – Network Planning/Engineering. The Aureon team provided updates regarding the progress of the 616 Data Center, timetable to migrate Merchants to the new 616 location, transition plans related to TDM Switch, and DET-ABR services.

We’d like to extend a special thank you to generous ITC Partners who hosted these engaging conversations. We are grateful for your hospitality and partnership.

Read Scott’s Update

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NEWS

Aureon Transitions Billing Platform to Equinox Previously communicated on March 1, 2022.

Long-Distance International Rate Adjustments Previously communicated on February 4, 2022.

Aureon is committed to delivering the highest level of service for our valued Partners and is always looking for ways to better serve your organization and communities. Therefore, Aureon adjusted longdistance international rates, which took effect on February 26, 2022.

As a reminder, a list of international long-distance rates is available on Aureon Core. If a long-distance rate is not listed for a country/location you are looking for, please contact your dedicated Account Manager or Aureon Customer Care at Tech.CustomerCare@Aureon.com or 877-777-7128.

Aureon is pleased to share that the transition to our new mediation platform, Equinox, was successfully completed on Saturday, February 26. As a reminder, this transition means there will be changes to billing cut dates, billing usage reports, files provided to your billing vendor, and to the IP address used to distribute End User Billing (EUB) files. Additionally, Call Detail Records (CDR)s will be processed daily going forward. This means EMI files will be created daily for your organization, which you have access to at any time. EMI files will not be broken out by type of call. Questions regarding this information can be directed to your dedicated Account Manager.

RESOURCES

5 Dangerous Myths About Cybersecurity

5 Reasons to Outsource Your Firewall Security

Underestimating the vulnerability within your IT environment and the willingness of malicious hackers to exploit those vulnerabilities is one of the most expensive, even catastrophic, mistakes you can make. It’s important to sort fact from fiction when it comes to protecting your business from unexpected downtime and threat vectors who are intent on harming it.

Read more

A robust firewall requires expert management and consistent monitoring. Purchasing and installing a firewall appliance is just one step in an ongoing process to protect your most sensitive data and systems. Are you prepared? Is your IT team? Learn more about the benefits of a managed services provider (MSP) and how it effectively protects your business.

Read more

8 | AUREON CONNECTIONS

2021 Was Quite a Year Join Shirley Bloomfield, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, for a look back at some of the most impactful and important stories and events from 2021. From infrastructure legislation to events, conferences, and critical policy – Shirley covers it in this 2021 review.

Read more STAY UP TO DATE WITH NEWS AND RESOURCES FROM AUREON!

C O N N E C T I N G & I M PA C T I N G I OWA N S

EVENTS

ICA Annual Meeting & Expo MARCH 28-30, 2022

DES MOINES, IA | Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center Aureon is a proud to be a Diamond All-Star Sponsor of ICA’s Annual Meeting and Expo. Attendees will hear from industry leaders and engage in discussions about broadband and technology. Additionally, Aureon’s Jessica Schlesselman, Product Manager, will be presenting on the benefits of Hosted Switching.

TAI Technology Summit APRIL 11-12, 2022

DES MOINES, IA | Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center The Tech Summit brings together Iowa’s technology leaders for informative discussions, idea-sharing, and forward-thinking engagement. Additionally, Aureon’s David Cotton, Chief Information Officer, will be hosting a panel discussion on how to navigate today’s cyber minefield.

Channel Partners Conference & Expo APRIL 11-14, 2022 LAS VEGAS, NV | The Venetian Resort & Expo

Explore why today’s channel is poised for greatness with unprecedented opportunities for growth by attending the Channel Partners Conference & Expo. Technology suppliers and partners can connect to advance their business and harness knowledge heading into 2022.

Iowa Rural Development Summit APRIL 12-13, 2022 AMES, IA | Gateway Hotel

Join the Iowa Communications Alliance (ICA) for its 6th annual Iowa Rural Development Summit. This event includes keynote addresses and a focus on making our rural communities stronger.

NTCA Legislative + Policy Conference APRIL 24-26, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. | Hyatt Regency Washington on

Capitol Hill

This premier advocacy event brings communitybased providers together to hear the latest on federal telecom policy issues and to unite and advocate for their communities and the rural broadband industry.

NTCA Marketing + Sales Conference MAY 1-3, 2022 FT. LAUDERDALE, FL | Westin Fort Lauderdale

Beach Resort

Join the NTCA for the Marketing + Sales Conference, which brings together rural broadband marketing and sales professionals to share inspiration and innovation among peers.

International Telecoms Week MAY 9-12, 2022

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD (NEAR D.C.) | Gaylord

National Resort & Convention Center

International Telecoms Week is the world’s largest gathering of global executives from across the telecom and ICT Infrastructure ecosystem. This event includes the opportunity to network and celebrate the telecom industry.

ICA CyberCon VII MAY 18-19, 2022

DES MOINES, IA | Sheraton Hotel

Aureon is proud to sponsor ICA’s CyberCon VII event, which discusses the latest cybersecurity trends and how they impact your telecommunications business.

This event also includes an opportunity to network and engage with industry peers, and discuss the importance of protecting your network and infrastructure.

NTCA: Smart Rural Community (SRC) Live!

JUNE 8-10, 2022 LAS VEGAS, NV | Tropicana Las Vegas

Hear from leaders in a wide range of sectors who share insights on ways rural broadband providers can partner with them to develop and deploy technology solutions for projects and programs that will benefit their communities.

Fiber Connect JUNE 12-15, 2022

NASHVILLE, TN | Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center One of the largest conventions in the industry, this event includes exhibitors, special events, networking, receptions, and more – along with key discussion around business and market development, technology demonstration, and peer-group interaction.

ANNUAL

SHAREHOLDER MEETING APRIL 7, 2022

Des Moines Golf & Country Club Aureon’s Annual Shareholder Meeting will take place on Thursday, April 7, at the Des Moines Golf & Country Club. Optional 616 Data Center tours will be available at the conclusion of the Shareholder meeting.

Shareholders may register here by April 1.

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Stay Connected Please notify your dedicated Account Manager with any changes to your organization’s contact information.

KENT ATHA

Senior Account Manager 515-830-0378 Kent.Atha@Aureon.com

J.D. SIEBERT

Senior Account Manager 515-830-0446 JD.Siebert@Aureon.com

ERIC BENSON

Account Manager 515-245-7744 Eric.Benson@Aureon.com

TODD VAN EPPS

Director - Client Operations 515-830-0080 Todd.VanEpps@Aureon.com

BOB CHRISTOPHER

Chief Experience Officer Bob.Christopher@Aureon.com

CUSTOMER SUPPORT 800-469-4000 | Tech.CustomerCare@Aureon.com VIEW PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS View previous ITC newsletters from 2020 and 2021 on Aureon Core.

Connect with AUREON. Connect with SOLUTIONS.

AU R E O N . CO M