The Rural Telecommunications Group Inc. (RTG) has joined forces with co-op NextGen Mobile to bolster representation of rural wireless companies.
RTG is a trade association for small, rural wireless carriers. Two-year-old NextGen is owned by rural wireless license owners aiming to cut the operational costs that come with building and running mobile networks. Together, the entities represent more than 100 companies; they combined as of Sept. 1 and are going by the RTG name.
Member companies “understand that working together with one voice is of extreme importance in today’s regulatory and legislative environment," said Mike Higgins Jr., RTG's president and CEO of West Central Wireless, in a prepared statement.
NextGen’s working groups and committees complement RTG’s advocacy efforts, the organizations said, and create a foundation for members to achieve operational efficiencies, encourage favorable market conditions and make sure federal policies don’t hinder wireless efforts in rural America.
“Joining … with RTG is a seamless and logical step for NextGen to nurture the development and survivability of rural wireless providers," said E. Kelly Bond, NextGen's chairman and president of Public Service Communications.
