Don’t let the lingering snow fool you: spring has arrived in western North Dakota.
For me, this time of year always represents growth and new beginnings–and we have plenty of new beginnings to celebrate here at RTC Networks. I will highlight some of these new beginnings in this letter.
In order to accommodate the significant growth we’ve experienced in recent years and best serve our entire community, RTC Networks has added a new role: Construction Manager - West. Our teammate Dave Uhlich has been promoted to this new management role and will be responsible for the following exchanges: Watford City, Keene, Arnegard, Alexander, the Gap, Beach, and Medora. Dave will also oversee the areas around Wibaux, MT and Fairview, MT, after the planned fiber construction for those areas has been completed In his 19 years as a Technician and Coordinator at RTC Networks, Dave has demonstrated the dedication and leadership required for this new role. Congratulations on this wonderful achievement, Dave!
Shane Hart GENERAL MANAGER
Another new beginning to celebrate is our expanded service territory. Federal grant programs have allowed us to bring fiber to under-served areas, to the west, like Cartwright, ND. Reliable broadband internet, phone service, and security cameras from RTC Networks
allow businesses and entrepreneurs to flourish. One such entrepreneur is Will Berry. Will and his family operate Yellowstone Station and connect their tiny town to the world through RTC Networks services. Read more about this exciting new beginning on page 3.
Finally, students across the region are preparing for their own new beginnings as we approach graduation season. RTC Networks is proud to be awarding 34 scholarships to deserving students
RTC
Networks is proud to be awarding 34 scholarships to deserving students in our area, totalling $40,000.
in our area, totalling $40,000. We are excited to celebrate these students on graduation day and look forward to watching them take their next steps toward their educational goals.
I wish you a happy spring from all of us at RTC Networks, and as the snow (finally) melts, remember to call before you dig!
Shane Hart, CEO/GM
RTC NETWORKS SPOTLIGHT
YELLOWSTONE STATION
With support from RTC Networks, two brothers are putting Cartwright, ND on the map.
Five minutes from North Dakota’s western border, just off of Highway 200, there is a gas station... and a post office... and a conference center... and a liquor store... and a tactical shop.
And they all live under one roof.
Locally owned and family-operated, Yellowstone Station is a one-stop-shop for travelers and locals alike. It’s the brainchild of brothers Will and Luke Berry, who sought to revitalize their hometown of Cartwright, ND.
“There was nothing here. Our post office closed three years ago,” Will said. “Our population is 12, if you count the neighbor’s dog.”
His head count may be a slight underestimate–Cartwright’s population actually hovers a bit higher (around 30), but Will’s description of the community is otherwise accurate. Before Yellowstone Station, residents had to travel nearly 30 minutes in any direction–to Williston, Watford City, or Sidney–to mail a letter or grab a bite to eat.
“Since we built this, I’ve actually gotten to see more of my neighbors because there is somewhere for everyone to go,”
Will said. “We may be a small town, but now we have a little bit of everything.”
While Yellowstone Station may have a bit of everything now, they started in 2011 as just a fuel station for trucks passing through to the oil fields. After securing a contract with the United States government to reopen a post office in Cartwright, the Berry brothers put their entrepreneurial brains together to determine what else the community could use–and on April 1, 2022, Yellowstone Station opened its doors.
From that very first day, Yellowstone Station has been a true family affair. Will and Luke oversee operations; their mother, Mavis, is in charge of accounting; their father, Ron, helps out in the store; and Will’s wife, Emily, is in charge of ordering inventory and maintaining the business’s online presence.
“Before RTC Networks came to Cartwright, I used to have better luck at an internet cafe in Bolivia than I did in my own hometown,” he said.
Now, with fiber from RTC Networks, Yellowstone Station has reliable connectivity at every corner of their property. The credit card reader at each fuel pump connects to the till in the store, and transactions are authorized in seconds. A monitor with a static IP address on each tank allows Will to monitor fuel levels remotely and automatically sends a notification to providers when they need more fuel.
The internet was flawless enough that there was zero delay from here to Norway.
“Anything that saves me time, they are willing to help with,” Will said.
RTC Networks is proud to be an honorary member of the Yellowstone Station family, providing fiber internet to keep the business up and running. Will understands the importance of a high-speed, reliable internet connection. Before settling back in his hometown, Will spent years traveling the world. Over the course of his travels, he saw the best and the worst that the internet had to offer.
“Everything down to the smoothie machine has to connect to the internet,” Will said.
The internet also allows Yellowstone Station to connect their business to the world, even from Cartwright. The tactical arm of the business, Yellowstone Tactical, has its own online store that automatically syncs with the inventory of the physical store.
The Berry brothers’ next venture, Yellowstone Rifle Company, is set to open this spring. From a separate building on the same property, Yellowstone Rifle will manufacture custom rifles right here in North Dakota, with stock from a provider in Norway.
“I was just on a video call with our stock maker the other day,” Will said. “It’s amazing because the internet was
flawless enough that there was zero delay from here to Norway.”
Will and Luke Berry have built an incredible business out of nothing. With internet from RTC Networks, they ensure that their business is protected from weather, theft, and other threats. All of Yellowstone Station’s security cameras are streamed over the internet, so Will can access the footage from anywhere, at any time–whether it’s at his farm a few miles away or halfway across the world.
“I moonlight as a professional pilot,” he said. “When I do that I take my laptop with me, and I can still monitor all sales and make sure everything is running smoothly from wherever I am. I can see if there is anything fishy going on.”
A t-shirt that can be purchased from Yellowstone Station’s online shop poses a question that Will has been asked his entire life: “Where the hell is Cartwright?” It’s a question he often heard when calling Yellowstone Station’s former telephone provider, a large national company, for support.
Not with RTC Networks.
“It’s a delight to have a local provider,” Will said. “Everybody you talk to is in North Dakota. They actually know where
Cartwright is.”
RTC Networks is proud to support local businesses like Yellowstone Station. Learn more about the business and its two subsidiaries, Yellowstone Tactical and Yellowstone Rifle Company, at yellowstonestation.us.
Before RTC Networks came to Cartwright, I used to have better luck at an internet cafe in Bolivia than I did in my own hometown.
STRUGGLING WITH SLOWER-THAN-USUAL INTERNET?
IT MAY BE TIME TO REBOOT YOUR ROUTER.
Just like humans, routers need a little break from time to time in order to keep working at top speeds.
Rebooting is one of the simplest and most effective ways to fix an internet connection that isn’t working properly.
Here’s how to reboot your GigaSpire router from RTC Networks:
First, do NOT use a paperclip or other item to try to press the reset button.
If your router has an on/off button on the lower left side, press that button to power off. Wait 2030 seconds and press the button again to power on the router.
If your router does not have an on/off button, remove the power cable from the lower left side by squeezing in the sides of the cable and pulling out. Wait 20-30 seconds and then reattach the power cable to apply power to the router.
After roughly 3-5 minutes, your router will boot back up. You should be back to streaming and scrolling in no time!
If this process does not solve your connectivity issues, give us a call at 701-862-3115 to speak directly with one of our tech experts.
Do NOT press the reset button!
SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
RTC NETWORKS HAPPENINGS
NEW POSITION
We are excited to announce that Wes Mincer has moved into a new position. Congratulations Wes! Memorial
Wes Mincer Fiber Splicer
2024 CALENDAR CONTEST
Deadline to submit photos:
September 1, 2023
Submit your name, RTC Networks account number, and up to 10 high-def pictures to rtcteam@rtc.email
Winners receive a feature in our 2024 Calendar and a $20 bill credit.
Must be a current RTC Networks customer.
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NEW RTC NETWORKS PHONE LISTINGS
Alexander - 828
Admiral Well Service Corp (701)828-3101
Fast Energy Services (701)828-3181
Beach - 872
Chrudimsky, Marian (701)872-3300
Dobrowski, Louis & Diana (701)872-3313
Jones, LR (701)872-0032
Lindelien, Thomas (701)872-2323
Van Vleet, Leone (701)872-4692
Vine, Brian & Jenna (701)872-5177
Cartwright - 744
Paulson, Carroll (701)744-5137
Douglas - 529
Parisien, Kabryne (701)529-4004
Garrison - 463
Voth, Freda (701)463-2029
Kenmare - 385
Mogren Custom Processing (701)385-4901
Peterson, Sandra (701)385-4428
South Of The Border 2.0 (701)385-3838
Medora - 623
Hammer, D & T (701)623-5946
New Town - 627
52 WEST (701)627-3860
Clifford, Pam (701)627-2414
Maagarishda Nest (701)627-2768
North Segment - Health Hub (701)627-3265
North Segment - Health Hub Fax (701)627-3285
North Segment Quick Lube (701)627-2112
Rum Dums Liquor (701)627-2334
TAT - Beautification Program (701)627-4537
TAT - Beautification Program - Fax (701)627-4559
Telsrow, John & Cody (701)627-1852
Parshall - 862
Graham, Richard (701)862-4110
Plaza - 497
Stammen, Dylan & Jaycey (701)497-3699
Roseglen - 743
Iglehart, John (701)743-4493
Ross - 755
Franson, Francis (701)755-3411
Stanley - 628
Fladeland, Lionie (701)628-5024
Hartsoch, Marcia G (701)628-2818
Kulstad, Donna (701)628-2210
Wilson Park Take Away Cafe (701)628-2253
Watford City - 444
Abelmann, Hildreth (701)444-3522
Beadle (701)444-5148
KO Safety Services (701)444-2098
Kummer, Betty (701)444-2494
Legacy Tool & Rental (701)444-3699
Linde, Dwight & Lana (701)444-3270
The Shed (701)444-4654
Watford City - 842
Almquist Tanker Services (701)842-2859
Binny Bean Espresso (701)842-2008
Headquarters Hair Studio (701)842-3557
Homestead Physical Therapy(701)842-4424
Homestead Physical Therapy - Fax (701)842-4255
Homestead Physical Therapy - Line 2 (701)842-4448
TTK Enterprises (701)842-4623
TTK Enterprises (701)842-4625
Wibaux, MT - (406) 795
Domek, Austin & Jenny (406)795-3037
Domek, Duane & Jill (406)795-2618
Domek, Seth & Sarah (406)795-9940
Franz, David (406)795-8219
Gartner-Denowh Angus Ranch (406)795-2248
Helvik, Craig & Nina (406)795-9909
Houck, Russell E (406)795-8118
Hutchinson Ranch (406)795-2696
Obrigewitch, Dey & Jen (406)795-3079
Ree, Scott & Jenny (406)795-9915
Wibaux, MT - (406) 796
Woods, Ted (406)796-2383
DAVE UHLICH PROMOTED TO CONSTRUCTION MANAGER - WEST
Over the past few years, RTC Networks’ footprint has grown substantially. In January 2022, we acquired Midstate Telephone LLC and Midstate Communication, Inc., expanding our service area to serve cities including Stanley, Beach, and Medora.
We’ve also extended our reach to previously under-served areas in western North Dakota and eastern Montana. With this growth comes additional operational duties, which is why on March 13, 2023, RTC Networks added a Construction Manager role in the west.
CALL BEFORE YOU DIG!
Whether you’re building a deck, planting a tree or installing a mailbox, you must call One Call 48 hours prior to digging. Once you call, utility companies will mark the location of their underground lines to help protect you from damaging them. Submit your request online at www.ndonecall.com or www.montana811.org, click on homeowners. You can also call in your request by dialing 811 from your landline or cell phone.
Our teammate Dave Uhlich has been promoted to this new management role and will be responsible for the following exchanges: Watford City, Keene, Arnegard, Alexander, the Gap, Beach, and Medora. Dave will also oversee the areas around Wibaux, MT and Fairview, MT, after the planned fiber construction for those areas has been completed.
Dave started at RTC Networks in 2004 as a Combination Tech. He was later promoted to the position of Combination Tech Lead, and then further to Combination Tech Coordinator.
In his 19 years with RTC Networks, Dave has demonstrated the dedication and leadership required for this new role.
Read the full press release on our website!
MEDORA MUSICAL TICKETS
We are giving away tickets throughout the summer and there are so many ways that you can get entered to win!
Watch for ticket contests on our Facebook page, enter our weekly drawings on our website: myRTCNetworks.com/medora-musical-tickets/, or email us at medoratix@rtc.email for a chance to win!
Dave Uhlich Construction Manager - West
24 Main Street North, PO Box 68, Parshall, ND 58770
Customer Service: 0811 (within RTC exchanges) or 701.862.3115
Repair Service: 0611 (within RTC exchanges) or 800.822.3311
24/7 Help Desk: 0211 (within RTC exchanges) or 800.497.2151
Headquarters: 24 Main St N • Parshall, ND 58770
New Town Office: 202 College Drive • New Town, ND 58763
Stanley Office: 215 S Main St • Stanley, ND 58784
Watford City Office: 701 14th St SW • Watford City, ND 58854
AFFORDABLE SERVICE. NO MATTER THE SITUATION.
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and Lifeline are assistance programs that can help eligible people afford broadband internet and telephone service, providing a discount up to $30 per month toward service and up to $75 per month for qualifying households on qualifying Tribal lands.
LEARN MORE AT myrtcnetworks.com/lifeline
READERS Contest
Congratulations to these Winter 2022 Communicator Readers’ Contest winners. They will receive a $20 credit on their RTC Networks bill.
For your chance to be entered in the drawing to win a $20 credit on your bill, correctly answer the questions at the right and include with your RTC Networks bill. You can also submit your answers on our website at myRTCNetworks.com/ readerscontest or email your answers to RTCteam@restel.com.
