Arlington, VA—February 18, 2026—

The following statement may be attributed to UTC President and CEO Rusty Williams.

“The Utilities Technology Council supports the Federal Communications Commission’s adoption of new rules today that will enable electric, gas and water utilities and other critical infrastructure industries to deploy wireless broadband systems using the full ten megahertz of the 896–901/935–940 MHz spectrum band.  UTC agrees with the Commission that these rules will create additional voluntary market-driven opportunities for robust broadband networks that will promote critical communication systems for utilities while also preserving their ability to operate narrowband systems in the 900 MHz band.  UTC also supports the Commission’s decision to lift the freeze on the acceptance of applications for new or expanded 900 MHz narrowband operations, which will enable utilities and other critical infrastructure industries to increase the coverage or capacity of narrowband voice and data mission critical communications systems.

“UTC looks forward to continuing to work with the Commission to provide utilities with access to additional licensed spectrum and protection from radiofrequency interference to ensure the effective, safe, reliable and secure delivery of essential electric, gas and water utility services.”

###

About UTC

The Utilities Technology Council (UTC) is a global trade association dedicated to serving critical infrastructure providers. Through advocacy, education and collaboration, UTC creates a favorable business, regulatory and technology environment for our members who own or operate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems in support of their core business. For more information: 2026.utc.org/

Dear UTC Annual Conference Attendees,

We are looking forward to welcoming you to Minneapolis this June for our annual Telecom & Technology Conference. We know many of you are following recent developments and national news headlines in the area, and we want to assure you that we are actively monitoring the news as well.

Our team is in constant contact with the Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Bureau, as well as our members and partners who are local to the area. We are closely tracking updates and assessing any potential impacts to ensure the safety, experience, and well-being of all attendees.

We are moving forward as planned and will continue to communicate promptly should there be any changes or important information to share. We appreciate your patience and trust, and we remain committed to providing a safe and successful conference experience.

Should you have any further questions, please contact meetings@utc.org.

-The UTC Conference Planning Team

BEC Technologies Expands MX-220 5G Industrial Router Series for Edge Connectivity

Performance-driven, ultra-compact, fiber-ready, and OT-optimized models 

RICHARDSON, Texas, December 2, 2025: BEC Technologies, a leading developer and manufacturer of 4G/LTE and 5G Wireless WAN connectivity solutions, today announced the MX-220 5G Series, a family of compact 5G industrial routers that deliver secure, always-on connectivity for mission-critical edge applications across utilities, service providers, industrial operations and enterprise customers.

The series includes three models, the MX-220e 5G, MX-220 5G and MX-220-UT 5G, giving organizations a single hardware platform that can be applied across public and private networks for general IoT, fiber-connected sites, and OT control environments.

Key MX-220 Series Models

• MX-220e 5G: Ultra-compact 5G industrial router for general IoT and tight spaces, ideal when you need compact, cost-effective 5G for edge connectivity.
• MX-220 5G: Fiber-ready 5G industrial gateway that terminates SFP fiber and adds 5G/LTE as a resilient failover path, with serial and digital input for legacy OT integration.
• MX-220-UT 5G: Utility-focused 5G industrial router with dual Ethernet plus serial and digital I/O in one compact platform for OT, DA and SCADA environments.

Common MX-220 Series Capabilities

• Multiple WAN connectivity: Delivers high availability, network resilience and automatic failover.
• Spectrum flexibility: Tier 1 carrier certified, including FirstNet, with support for private networks over CBRS, Anterix™ 900 MHz, and 800 MHz bands.
• Dual SIM and eSIM: Supports multi-carrier redundancy and flexible provisioning.
• IP50 rugged enclosure: Industrial-grade design with extended temperature range and flexible input voltage.
• Centralized management: BECentral® CloudEdge delivers real-time visibility, control and performance insights from the cloud or on premises.

“The MX-220 Series is designed to address the industry need for a single, consistent 5G family that can support a wide range of edge scenarios, from confined IoT enclosures and fiber-fed cabinets to complex OT control systems,” said D’Andre Ladson, Vice President of Marketing, BEC Technologies. “It delivers that flexibility by combining compact industrial hardware with a consistent operational model across all deployment scenarios.”

Availability

The MX-220e 5G, MX-220 5G, and MX-220-UT 5G are available through BEC Technologies and authorized channel partners. Customers should contact their BEC representative for pricing, ordering, and deployment support. 

About BEC Technologies

BEC Technologies is a leading entity driving transformation across industries, business models, and experiences through its 4G and 5G Wireless WAN connectivity solutions. Its cutting-edge technology is widely deployed by global organizations, fueling a new era of growth and opportunity. Headquartered in Richardson, TX, BEC Technologies operates as the North American subsidiary of Billion Electric Co. Ltd (TSE #3027: Billion), a 50-year industry pioneer, and leads the Information Communications and Telecommunications (ICT) Division. To learn more about BEC Technologies’ products and services, please visit www.bectechnologies.net.

Press Statement
The Utilities Technology Council (UTC), representing electric, gas, water, and utility telecommunications providers across the U.S. and their technology partners, strongly supports the Protecting America from Cyber Threats Act (S. 2983). Our members depend on trusted, secure information-sharing mechanisms to protect critical infrastructure and maintain the reliability of essential communications and energy systems. Extending these authorities through 2035 ensures ongoing collaboration between government and industry, enhancing the cybersecurity and resilience of the nation’s utility networks.

— Cordell Briggs, Vice President
Utilities Technology Council (UTC)

UTC Celebrates Success of 2025 Telecom & Technology Conference in Long Beach

Arlington, VA – June 26, 2025 — The Utilities Technology Council (UTC) proudly announces the successful conclusion of the 2025 UTC Telecom & Technology Conference, held June 16–19 in Long Beach, California. The four-day event brought together utility professionals, technology partners, and policymakers from across the globe to explore the future of critical infrastructure communications and innovation.

With post-COVID, record-breaking attendance, the 2025 Conference featured more than 75 educational sessions, over 120 exhibitors, and speakers that explored emerging technologies, cybersecurity, broadband expansion, and the evolving regulatory landscape. The Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center provided a perfect backdrop for networking, knowledge-sharing, and collaborative problem-solving.

Key Highlights:

• Announcement of 2025-26 Executive Committee
  • Tony Suppa of Public Service Electric and Gas as Chair of the Board
  • Dr. Steve Liegl of WEC Energy Group as Vice Chair of the Board
  • Mike Unser of Salt River Project as Secretary/Treasurer of the Board
  • Gary Vondrasek of JEA as Immediate Past Chair of the Board
• Presentation of 2025 UTC Awards
  • Apex Award
    • Duke Energy
  • Dondanville Award
    • Andreas Breuer, Westnetz GmbH and Dymitr Wajsman, UTC America Latina
  • Emerging Leaders
    • Khai Tran, SMUD
  • Meehan Award
    • Travis Phifer, Tri-State G&T
  • Impact Award – Service
    • KN Utility Telecom Consulting and CelPlan Technologies, Inc.
  • Impact Award – Hardware
    • L3Harris
  • Impact Award – Software
    • Nokia
  • Chair’s Awards
    • Justin Hardy, Southern Company
    • Sue Hoffman, Southern Company
    • Matt Holthe, Nebraska Public Power District
    • Tim Mackay, Hydro One Networks, inc.
    • Shaun Skidmore, Idaho Power
    • Mike Unser, Salt River Project 
• Motivational and informative Keynote Addresses by CIO of Southern California Edison, Todd L. Inlander, and Former FCC Commissioner, Nathan Simington.
• Launch of New UTC Program, the UTC Academy by Rosenberger.
• Expanded Utility Participation, with representatives from electric, gas, and water utilities across North America and beyond.
• Technology Expo Floor featuring cutting-edge innovations in grid modernization, spectrum management, and resilience.
• Speed Networking between utility and exhibiting technology partners.
• Hot Topic Roundtable Discussions that featured both technical and non-technical topics.

“The best days for UTC are still ahead of us, and I can’t wait to see what is in store,” said UTC President and CEO Rusty Williams in a recent open letter to conference attendees. Attendees praised the conference for its newly introduced strategic networking opportunities, overall engagement among attendees, and general buzz and excitement throughout the convention.

The Utilities Technology Council extends its gratitude to all sponsors, speakers, and attendees who contributed to making the 2025 UTC Telecom & Technology Conference an outstanding success.

Looking Ahead: UTC invites attendees and new participants to join us for the upcoming slate of Fall regional meetings, next year’s Spring regional meetings and the 2026 UTC Telecom & Technology Conference, to be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 1–4, 2026, co-hosted by Great River Energy and Minnesota Power.

For more information about the 2025 or 2026 UTC Telecom & Technology Conference, please visit: www.utctelecom.org

###

About UTC

The Utilities Technology Council (UTC) is a global trade association dedicated to serving critical infrastructure providers. Through advocacy, education and collaboration, UTC creates a favorable business, regulatory and technology environment for our members who own or operate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems in support of their core business. For more information: 2026.utc.org/

To all attendees of the 2025 UTC Telecom & Technology Conference:

I want to thank everyone who participated in the Utilities Technology Council Telecom & Technology conference held June 16 – 19, 2025, in Long Beach, CA.  It was a fabulous venue, and the city was a great host to our event. We had the largest attendance since 2020, and the excitement and buzz around the event were noticeably stronger than in recent years.  Overall, the feedback was very positive, and we got suggestions on how to make next year’s event even stronger.

To the utility representatives who attended, thank you for taking time away from your “real jobs” to participate in this year’s event.  We intended to provide a forum for each attendee to get new information, learn about new technologies, and make new industry contacts.  We hope that you can take what happened last week in Long Beach and help you and your companies be even more successful as we move forward.

To the associate members and suppliers who attended, thank you for being a part of this industry event and for the support that you provided.  Many of you spoke in sessions, exhibited in the expo hall, or sponsored various events during the week.  This conference would not have been as successful without your involvement.  We hope that you were able to meet new people and learn about the industry in a way that will make you and your company more successful.

The UTC staff will be meeting in the coming days to assess the details of the event and look for ways to make it even more valuable to you in the coming years, starting with our 2026 event, June 1 – 4, 2026, in Minneapolis, MN.  However, we wanted to take a few minutes to appreciate last week’s conference and soak in what we experienced.

Now, onward and upward.  The best days for UTC are still ahead of us, and I can’t wait to see what is in store.

Sincerely, 

“The Utilities Technology Council (UTC) congratulates Arielle Roth on her nomination to lead the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Ms. Roth accumulated a wealth of experience working in senior positions on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Federal Communications Commission. UTC looks forward to working with Ms. Roth to ensure sufficient access to spectrum resources for utilities to protect the safe, efficient, and reliable delivery of essential electric, gas, and water services that underpin the nation’s security and prosperity. UTC is also looking forward to streamlining the BEAD program to support opportunities to promote access to robust, reliable, and affordable broadband services to all Americans. I wish Ms. Roth a smooth and speedy confirmation process so she can get to work immediately on the monumental tasks in front of her.”

###

About UTC

UTC’s utility members own, operate, and maintain extensive private internal wireline and wireless systems that they use to communicate with their personnel and remotely monitor and control their critical infrastructure and operations.  UTC’s utility members also promote broadband access by offering broadband services in otherwise unserved and underserved areas and by deploying broadband infrastructure and providing pole attachments for use by third-party broadband service providers.

On behalf of everyone at the Utilities Technology Council, I would like to express our deepest sympathy to all those affected by the devastating wildfires that have impacted southern California. Our thoughts are with the individuals, families, and first responders who are experiencing the loss, hardship, and disruption caused by these tragic events.

Since my initial statement regarding the wildfires, I received the dreadful news that several Southern California Edison (SCE) employees lost their homes to the wildfires.

Over the last year, we have built a close-knit relationship with several of the SCE employees. Especially Marjan Rajabi, who accepted the UTC Apex Award on behalf of SCE at the 2024 annual conference in Mobile. Marjan and her colleagues have become an integral part of the planning and preparation for the 2025 conference in Long Beach, CA as SCE stepped into the host utility role. After getting to know her over the last year we have witnessed her hard work, dedication and loyalty to the industry, and overall positive attitude. All this makes it even more difficult to share that she, Darryl Montes, and Kevin Drowns have lost their homes to the wildfires.

We ask you, our members, to consider donating to your SCE colleagues’ recovery and rebuilding efforts.

Marjan Rajabi
https://www.gofundme.com/f/wildfire-completely-destroyed-home-need-clothes

Darryl Montes
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-christine-darryl-after-fire-loss

Kevin Drowns
https://gofund.me/217e5f52

To ensure this effort remains at the forefront, UTC is working to create more opportunities to support the region, and more details will follow as we get closer to the annual conference. Please visit utctelecom.org and continue to read our emails for updates.

Our members are at the heart of everything we do, and we remain steadfast in our dedication to supporting our colleagues and helping them through this difficult moment.

Lastly, thank you to all the brave men and women who have worked and are continuing to work tirelessly to fight these fires and protect our communities.

Sincerely,

Rusty Williams
President and CEO
UTC

If you are a UTC member who needs financial support in the aftermath of the California wildfires or other recent natural disasters that the country has experienced, please share your donation link with us so we can discuss adding it to this list for awareness.