Utc News

UTC Awards Recognize Importance of ICT Networks to Grid Reliability, Resilience

Palm Springs, Calif., May 10, 2018 – The Utilities Technology Council (UTC) marked the launch of its annual Telecom & Technology conference by distributing numerous awards to utilities and personnel who demonstrated initiative, perseverance, and innovative thinking throughout the past year. UTC’s awards recognize the importance of utility Information and Communications Technology (ICT) systems and the employees who build, operate, and maintain these systems to the reliability, resilience, and safety of the nation’s electric systems. From storm response to day-to-day reliability, ICT networks provide opportunities for communities to enhance economic prosperity, provide innovative new services, and support health, education and access to critical services. UTC distributes these awards every year during a reception and dinner at the Telecom & Technology conference. This year’s conference is...

UTC Foundation Grant to UCLA Will Examine How 5G Telecommunications Services Can Benefit Grid Modernization

Palm Springs, Calif. – May 10, 2018 – The UTC Foundation—the charitable arm of the Utilities Technology Council (UTC)—awarded a $7,500 grant to the UCLA Smart Grid Energy Research Center (SMERC) to help fund research into how new communications technologies could benefit the energy sector. The Foundation announced the grant at the annual UTC Telecom & Technology meeting in Palm Springs, Calif. Electric utilities use Information and Communications Technology (ICT) networks to underpin the transmission and distribution infrastructure responsible for safely delivering reliable electricity across the country. These ICT networks are essential for day-to-day reliability, situational awareness, storm response, cyber and physical security, and grid modernization. The UCLA SMERC project seeks to examine whether new 5G wireless communications systems and services can assist utilities in...

Ditto Congratulates Clyburn Upon Departure from FCC

Washington, April 17, 2018 – Utilities Technology Council President and CEO Joy Ditto issue the following statement after Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Mignon Clyburn announced her intention to step down from the Commission: “On behalf of the Utilities Technology Council, I commend Commissioner Mignon Clyburn for her successful and path-breaking tenure at the Federal Communications Commission. She has been a strong proponent of the need for energy and water providers to have access to interference-free spectrum. She understands the interdependencies between the energy and telecommunications industries, particularly as rural utilities provide critical, economy boosting broadband services to areas unserved and underserved by traditional telecommunications companies. I congratulate her for a race well run and wish her the best in her future endeavors.” --Joy Ditto,...

FCC 4.9 GHz Sharing Proposal ‘A Positive Development,’ UTC’s Ditto Says

Washington, March 22, 2018 –Utilities Technology Council President and CEO Joy Ditto issued the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission formally proposed to expand access to the 4.9 GHz spectrum band: “UTC applauds the Federal Communications Commission for adopting its Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the 4.9 GHz band, and it supports expanding eligibility to include 'critical infrastructure industry' (CII) entities, such as utilities to hold primary 4.9 GHz licenses.  The 4.9 GHz band is lightly used and expanding eligibility to include utilities to hold primary licenses will help to make more effective use of the spectrum. UTC has worked with the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council to put forward a band plan that would include utilities as eligible to hold licenses in the...

Looking for Energy & Telecom Convergence? Attend UTC’s Annual Meeting in Palm Springs!

Washington, Feb. 6, 2018 –Hundreds of utility executives, engineers, vendors, and top federal and state officials are gathering this May at the Utilities Technology Council’s Telecom & Technology Conference in Palm Springs, Calif. Confirmed speakers include Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Member Neil Chatterjee, who will provide keynote remarks on Thursday, May 10. Other speakers include UTC Chairwoman of the Board Kathy Nelson from Great River Energy, UTC President and CEO Joy Ditto, and other industry and technology leaders. The conference is being held from May 7-11 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. A complete agenda and program information is available here: www.utctelecom.org. The UTC Telecom & Technology Conference is the premier event focused on the convergence between the energy and telecommunications sectors. Attendees will learn...

RUS Appointee ‘Perfectly Suited’ to Lead Agency: UTC’s Ditto

WASHINGTON–Utilities Technology Council President and CEO Joy Ditto issued the following statement in support of President Trump’s nomination of Kenneth Johnson to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service: “Kenneth Johnson is an outstanding person to lead the Rural Utilities Service. His background is perfectly suited for this position, as he understands the needs of utilities in rural America. As CEO of Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, he led the utility’s deployment of a fiber-to-the-home broadband network in rural Missouri that provides robust, affordable and reliable broadband services to 15,000 homes and businesses. Mr. Johnson has extensive roots in rural America, serving at both consumer- and publicly owned utilities in the Midwest. On behalf of UTC and our members, I congratulate Mr. Johnson and look…

UTC Applauds Approval of Connect America Fund Auction Procedures

WASHINGTON–Utilities Technology Council President and CEO Joy Ditto issued the following statement applauding the Federal Communications Commission’s approval of procedures for the Connect America Fund Phase II auction: “The Federal Communications Commission took a significant step today in expanding broadband into unserved and underserved communities. While we are still analyzing this morning’s action, we applaud the FCC for moving forward on this important matter. Electric utilities are key facilitators of broadband services. Several UTC member electric utilities are providing broadband to their constituents and beyond in areas that are not well served, if served at all, by private telecommunications providers. The upcoming Connect America Fund II auction could support electric utility access to this funding and go a long way in expanding broadband throughout the…

UTC Supports Utility Petition Seeking Supreme Court Review of Pole Attachment Case

WASHINGTON– A federal court gave the Federal Communications Commission too much deference by upholding an order on pole attachments that exceeds the agency’s authority and harms electric utility consumers, the Utilities Technology Council said. In a friend of the court brief to the U.S. Supreme Court, UTC said the Commission’s decision to adopt so-called “cost allocators” for pole attachments subsidizes telecommunications service providers by preventing utilities from recovering the cost of pole attachments, as provided under Section 224(e) of the Communications Act of 1934. Although the FCC claims this policy will expand broadband throughout the country, in practice this has not been the case. “[T]his policy rationale is not supported by the record or in practice; and in any event, detrimentally impacts utilities and electric ratepayers…,” UTC…

Ditto Applauds BPC Report Calling for Utility Access to Spectrum

WASHINGTON—Utilities Technology Council President and CEO Joy Ditto issue the following statement in response to a report on “Digitizing the Grid: Next Steps on Policy” by the Bipartisan Policy Center: “Although we are still analyzing the conclusions in the report, we applaud the Bipartisan Policy Center for highlighting utilities’ need for spectrum access. Spectrum is a critical component of our nation’s digital future, yet it is also vitally important now to manage the reliability of our electricity grid. UTC appreciates the report’s recommendations on spectrum and joins in its call for increased coordination between the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Although these agencies have distinct missions, the energy and telecommunications sectors are converging rapidly due to grid modernization. These interdependencies will…

Utilities Technology Council Congratulates Redl upon Senate Confirmation for NTIA Slot

WASHINGTON – Utilities Technology Council President and CEO Joy Ditto issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of David Redl to lead the National Telecommunications and Information Administration: “Congratulations to David Redl upon his confirmation to lead the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Energy and water utilities across the country require spectrum to deliver their critical services reliably and safely. On behalf of the Utilities Technology Council and our members, I look forward to working with Administrator Redl on issues related to spectrum sharing and broadband expansion.”