A Busy Year Ramps Up in February

We’re not far into the new year, and schedules are already filling up with industry events. I hope our members are finding ways to stay warm as they rush between engagements. I know I’ve had my fair share of cold weather already!

February is a busy month with our annual Day on the Hill, a chance for our members to meet face-to-face with legislators. Also this month, NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association hosts its RTIME conference, where rural broadband industry players gather to discuss essential topics for the year. That event promises innovation and leads the way for a bright broadband future with 100-plus exhibitors in Tampa, Florida.

TNBA’s committee is already planning our annual conference, which is set for June 4 through 6 in Franklin. Right now, we’re gathering speaker proposals, so contact me with suggestions!

February also affords us an opportunity to recognize valuable players in our industry — engineers. National Engineers Week is February 18 through 24. The fact that it encompasses Presidents Day on February 19 is appropriate because many consider George Washington the nation’s first engineer.

I’ll be speaking with BTC Fiber’s Matthew Boynton on “Lead Tennessee Radio” this month. In this podcast episode, he’ll talk about how his grandmother encouraged him to choose a technical career and how his path led him to telecom engineering. He also discusses how he hopes to encourage others to choose engineering.

Broadband owes so much to these skilled and talented members of our workforce. From their infrastructure build-outs to their maintenance and security, engineers do so much to help our members keep our powerful network up and running as we continue the work of #ConnectingTN!