DRN ReadiTech: Keeping Broadband Home In America’s Heartland
By Kent Schimke
CEO/General Manager
DRN ReadiTech
2020 marked the 70th Anniversary of Dickey Rural Telephone Cooperative or DRN ReadiTech. DRN ReadiTech is the oldest telecommunications cooperative in the state of North Dakota and delivers telecom services to 7,900 members in 5,644 square miles and 32 exchanges with over 4,500 miles of buried fiber optic cable. DRN ReadiTech is and has been 100% fiber connected since 2012 and was amongst the first in the state and nation to be 100% fiber connected.
DRN ReadiTech utilized the Alternative Connect America Fund 2 (ACAM 2.0) as a support mechanism that enables and affords the cooperative to continue to build, upgrade, and maintain the fiber optic network that provides reliable, cost effective, and the most robust telecom services to its members. The continued investment in the 100% fiber network was instrumental in the successful navigation of what 2020 had in store for all industries, that being the global COVID-19 pandemic.
DRN ReadiTech’s relationship with Netceed over the past decade has been beneficial in achieving the cooperative’s vision and goals. Netceed is DRN ReadiTech’s top vendor. The team of Dan Neitge, Brian Johnson, and Philesa Rutledge ensure the quality and trust we expect and realize from our top supplier. That team aided in a successful implementation of our 100GbE network architecture consisting of 26 Juniper MX480’s and one MX960. The 100 GbE architecture enables DRN ReadiTech the ability to provide all its 100% fiber connected members gigabit circuit/connectivity and most recently the ability to roll out 10 GE PON. As social distancing and remote work/school became a necessity during COVID-19 DRN ReadiTech’s network was unscathed because of its robust design and capacity.
At the onset of the pandemic there were over 100 students in 13 school districts in the DRN ReadiTech service territory that did not subscribe to a broadband service. DRN ReadiTech was able to connect all 100+ to our network within a two-week period to meet the deadline so that all students could participate in remote learning. DRN ReadiTech participated in the FCC’s Keep America Connected Pledge to not disconnect phone or broadband services, and to waive any fees associated with non-payment during the time to any residential and small business members. DRN ReadiTech’s membership is rural, and its main economic source is agriculture, during the pandemic that industry was heavily weakened. DRN ReadiTech offered one month of free service to all members in effort to relieve some of the financial burden that the pandemic and weakened farm economy posed.
To date DRN ReadiTech’s pandemic response includes office closures and by appointment only, remote work force, mandatory masks and social distancing. This pandemic has not stopped the DRN ReadiTech team from growing, expanding, and diversifying. DRN ReadiTech owns ReadiTech IT Solutions, which is a managed IT services business with locations in Bismarck ND, Grand Forks ND, and Fargo ND. ReadiTech Engineering is the newest addition and will be providing telecom OSP engineering services to clients around the nation. ReadiTech Fiber is a CLEC operation that began in 2020 and consists of the cities of Casselton, ND and Mapleton, ND. In the spring of 2021, an overbuild construction of Horace, ND will begin. These operations will extend our robust network and bring gigabit broadband home to the communities in need of reliable and cost-effective telecommunications/broadband.
With 2020 behind us and with many uncertainties relative to what the pandemic will bring, I hope everyone will push forward, grow, expand, and provide the best possible telecommunications/broadband services to any and all in need.
I would like to thank the Netceed team for their assistance and being a part of helping make DRN ReadiTech’s endeavors a success.
“This pandemic has not stopped the DRN ReadiTech team from growing, expanding, and diversifying.”
About DRN ReadiTech
Founded in November 1950, Dickey Rural Telephone Cooperative was created to bring telephone service to rural southeastern North Dakota. Now, doing business as DRN (Dickey Rural Networks), it continues to offer state of the art telecommunications, advanced technologies and improve the quality of life for our residential and business customers.
Our goal is to keep customers connected to an ever-increasing global community. DRN provides gigabit broadband Internet, local and long distance phone and television on its 100% fiber-optic network, along with custom calling features, voice mail, small and large business phone systems, special circuits, Internet security services, wired and wireless network consulting, web hosting and other vital connections.
Today, DRN’s cooperative network serves 32 communities. DRN was named a Smart Rural Community Showcase Award winner in 2013 for its achievements in bringing broadband for education and other vital public functions to a rural area. In 2015, DRN received the NTCA Gig-Capable Certification for its 100% gigabit-capable network.
About ReadiTech, a DRN company
As the use of technology became more common and SMB owners reached out to DRN with networking, hardware, and software requests, DRN stepped up to meet the growing need for knowledgeable and friendly IT assistance and formed the subsidiary ReadiTech in 2011.
Originally created to provide technology solutions to businesses, ReadiTech is headquartered in Ellendale with regional offices in Fargo, Grand Forks, and Aberdeen, SD. ReadiTech is now expanding to offer high-speed and phone service to the City of Casselton, ND through fiber and will be expanding ReadiTech Fiber to Mapleton and Horace, ND in 2021.
