JUNE 2022
DCN SELECTED AS ETHERNET PROVIDER FOR STATE
The partnership between DCN and the State of North Dakota has been recognized nationally as a model public-private relationship.
Since 2000, DCN and the State of North Dakota have had a highly successful partnership, and that partnership will officially continue. DCN was recently awarded the latest contract for STAGEnet Ethernet transport services. “The State of North Dakota has been long been recognized as providing some of the best broadband capabilities for government and education across the State,” said Duane Schell, chief technology officer at North Dakota Information Technology. “We would not be able to provide these critical capabilities if not for the strong partnerships we have with our broadband providers and are extremely grateful for all that DCN has done for the citizens of the State.” This public-private partnership has received national recognition as an example of how states can leverage an organization like DCN to provide state agencies, K-12 schools, higher education entities, and the public safety sector with reliable, scalable, secure technology services. In fact, in August 2019, this partnership enabled North Dakota to become the first in the nation to provide onegigabit service to all public K-12 schools and higher education institutions statewide. This was crucial when the COVID-19 continued on pg. 3
CHANGE TO DCN'S OWNERSHIP GROUP In the early 1990s, North Dakota’s independent broadband companies (back then, they were rural telephone companies), had an idea. They were going to work together to create a company that could tie all of them together to offer customers statewide service of the emerging technology called internet. That concept came to fruition in 1996 with the formation of DCN. There have been some changes along the way in this group of Owners, most recently when RTC Networks acquired Midstate Communications. Midstate was owned by the Wilhelmi family since 1958 and, you may recall, Ryan Wilhelmi, Midstate president/ general manager, was Left: Shane Hart, CEO/General Manager, recently recognized for his RTC Networks service as the chairman of Right: Ryan Wilhelmi, President/General Manager, DCN’s Board of Governors. Midstate Communications RTC will continue to provide Midstate customers with phone, internet, and video in Stanley, Portal, Medora, Beach, Golva, and the surrounding communities. Wilhelmi said, “RTC Networks and Midstate Companies have both provided excellent service to their respective customers since they started doing business. We are confident that RTC Networks will continue their tradition of providing excellent, cutting-edge services as they bring our existing customers into their network.” RTC Networks is a cooperative that was formed in 1951. Headquartered in Parshall, RTC Networks serves New Town, Watford City, Garrison, Max, Kenmare, New Town, Watford City, and Alexander with fiber-based internet, phone, video, business phone systems, and surveillance cameras. While this change doesn’t directly affect DCN customers, we are excited to see how the acquisition will make a positive impact on customers in the Midstate territory.