On November 11, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Radiocommunication Sector Working Party 5A approved and published a report on “Utility radiocommunication operating in the land-mobile service.” This report describes the different radiocommunication systems and applications used by electric, gas, and water utilities. The report also highlights how utilities can use these systems and applications to support the safe, secure, reliable, and efficient delivery of critical services to their customers. Lastly, this report includes information contributions from different international countries – including Brazil, China, Ireland, South Korea, and the United Kingdom – about how utilities in these countries use wireless spectrum to support their mission-critical communications. Read the entire report HERE

As UTC Chair, I am soliciting nominations for the UTC Board of Directors Secretary/Treasurer position. The open position is an elected UTC Board Officer role. The Secretary/Treasurer is a member of UTC’s Executive Committee and confirmed by a majority vote of the UTC voting membership.

UTC Secretary/Treasurer – Role and Responsibilities

The Secretary/Treasurer is the official recording officer of UTC, responsible for ensuring that minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and the Voting Members are taken, records are kept and authenticated, and notices are sent.

The Secretary/Treasurer is also the financial officer, responsible for oversight of revenues and expenditures, and for reporting on UTC’s financial affairs to the Board of Directors and the Membership.

Abbreviated List of UTC Officer Criteria

UTC Officers should have the following qualities:

Be in a current position within their organizations that affords some experience in dealing with and being at ease with senior management and government officials.

Have budget responsibilities within their organizations.

Have supervisory experience with a staff similar in size to the UTC staff.

Have the full support of their senior management to enable them to take the necessary time, including travel and expenses as a UTC officer.

Be a consensus builder able to make decisions after hearing all sides and perspectives.

Be able to bring along dissenters with strong leadership.

Have leadership experience working/serving in and knowledge of UTC divisions and/or committees.

Should have at least 4-8 years as a volunteer with UTC, including holding positions within UTC of increasing responsibility.

Be willing to operate transparently, ethically, and with integrity.

The UTC Secretary/Treasurer position is a four-year engagement that provides the candidate the opportunity to progress to Vice-Chair, Chair, and Immediate-Past Chair positions.

Nominations are requested to be submitted by January 31, 2025. All nominations should be sent directly to UTC at utcgovernance@utc.org. UTC’s Nominating Committee will conduct interviews and recommend the final candidate for the UTC Secretary/Treasurer position.

Respectfully,

Gary Vondrasek
UTC Chair Board of Directors

Arlington, VA—November 13, 2023—

The following statement can be attributed to the Utilities Technology Council:

“The Utilities Technology Council (UTC) supports the National Spectrum Strategy and looks forward to collaborating with NTIA, the FCC, and all stakeholders on the Implementation Plan. The goal is to establish a collaborative framework for an open, inclusive, and transparent process. This approach ensures that all stakeholders' perspectives, including the needs of utilities and other critical infrastructure industries, are considered. This is essential for providing access to spectrum to support the safe, reliable, and secure delivery of essential electric, gas, water, and other critical services. These services underpin our everyday way of life and contribute to our nation's economic growth and national security.

“UTC Interim President & CEO Ron Beck stated, ‘We appreciate NTIA's initiative in producing the National Spectrum Strategy, and this is an important first step toward providing utilities and other critical infrastructure industries with the spectrum needed to keep the lights on and the water and gas flowing. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with NTIA.'”

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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/

Utilities Technology Council Thanks Brett Kilbourne for His Service as Senior Vice President, Policy and General Counsel

Washington, DC—November 1, 2023—

The Utilities Technology Council (UTC) expresses its appreciation for outgoing Senior Vice President, Policy and General Counsel Brett Kilbourne, who left the organization on October 20 after 25 years. One of UTC’s longest-serving staff members, Kilbourne joined the association in 1998. Since then he has advocated for the association and its members at the federal and state levels as well as ensuring UTC’s overall legal and regulatory compliance and adherence to association governing bylaws and principles.

UTC is a global trade association representing electric, gas, and water utilities in their mission-critical information and communications technologies. UTC will work to fill Kilbourne’s position and build on his success and continue the association’s momentum as it continues to work on behalf of its members and the communities they serve.

“On behalf of UTC and its members, I want to thank Brett and express our appreciation for his more than two decades of service, advocacy, and guidance as we represent our members in their mission-critical technologies by driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and influencing public policy,” said UTC Interim President and CEO Ron Beck. “Brett and I have known each other and worked together longer than either of us want to admit, and I especially thank him for the invaluable support he’s given me over the past months as I transitioned into my role as Interim President and CEO,” Beck continued.

During his career at UTC, Kilbourne developed and led a number of key initiatives. From 1998-2000 he supported utilities offering wholesale and retail telecom services, and he advocated against state and local restrictions on these “utelcos”.  Beginning in 2002, he supported the development of broadband over powerline, which enabled the use of existing powerlines for Internet services and enhanced utility applications, and he helped to create the UTC United Powerline Council to support it.  During this time, he also advocated for access to spectrum and additional funding to support utility grid modernization (aka “smart grid”), which contributed towards provisions for utilities in the FCC’s National Broadband Plan in 2010 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2008.

Beginning in 2012, he advocated for policies to promote broadband deployment by utilities to unserved and underserved communities, including advocacy for funding for utility broadband from Congress, the FCC, the USDA Rural Utilities Service, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the U.S. Treasury Department and from numerous states across the country.   Kilbourne helped to create the UTC Utilities Broadband Council to support utility broadband deployment; the UTC UtiliSite Council to address issues for utilities related to pole attachments, wireless collocation, and fiber leasing; and the UTC Smart Networks Council to address issues for utility grid modernization.  Internationally, he has advocated for access to spectrum for utilities as part of the Inter‑American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) Permanent Consultative Committee II and as an Associate Member of the International Telecommunications Union ITU-R Study Group SG-5, Working Party 5A.

Kilbourne is also the author of key UTC white papers and reports addressing business, technical, and policy issues at the national and international level. He has also served as an association expert for national and trade media and industry events and at events around the world.

Kilbourne joins Stevens & Lee as Of Counsel in its Energy and Utility Group, providing strategic regulatory and business counsel to public and private companies in the energy and utility sector. Not unlike his work at UTC, he will continue to provide counsel regarding opportunities to leverage existing utility infrastructure, expand into emerging markets, and advance project development and implementation plans that comply with federal and state agency and utility commission requirements.

Stevens & Lee is a full-service law firm with 190 lawyers in 16 U.S. offices.

The UTC staff wishes Brett and his family the very best as he begins the next chapter of his professional and personal story.

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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/

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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/   

Arlington, VA—September 8, 2023— 

The Utilities Technology Council (UTC) expresses its appreciation and gratitude for outgoing Chief of Staff Teesa Banks, who leaves the organization today after nearly two years. 

Banks joined UTC in 2021, where she was an integral part of the association’s leadership as it steered UTC and its members and staff through the continuing repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Working closely with the President and CEO, she was responsible for overseeing UTC’s daily operations and individual departments. She also led the association’s Human Resources department, including hiring and managing staff and coordinating UTC’s employee benefits program. 

UTC is a global trade association representing electric, gas, and water utilities in their mission-critical information and communications technologies.  

“On behalf of UTC, I want to thank Teesa for her steady guidance as UTC navigated its way out of the pandemic, including the transition back to in-person staffing and implementing a slate of new initiatives designed to ensure that the association’s service to its members and staff remains its top priority,” UTC President and CEO Ron Beck said. “I also want to personally thank Teesa for the invaluable assistance and support she has given me over the past months as I transitioned into my role as Interim President and CEO,” he continued. 

The UTC staff wishes Teesa and her family the very best in the next chapter of her professional and personal story. 

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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/   

Arlington, VA – September 7, 2023 – Utilities Technology Council (UTC) Interim President & CEO Ron Beck issued the following statement today after the United States Senate confirmed the nomination of Anna Gomez to serve as the fifth Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission.

“On behalf of UTC and its members, I congratulate Anna Gomez on her confirmation to serve as FCC Commissioner. Her extensive and deep public service record at the FCC, NTIA, Congress, the White House, and, most recently, at the State Department’s Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy ensures that the U.S. stays on the cutting edge of communications. Ms. Gomez and her deep policy expertise will bring a unique and valuable perspective to the Commission. I also want to congratulate Commissioners Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks on their confirmations to serve additional five-year terms as FCC Commissioners.

“UTC’s member electric, gas and water utilities are empowering communications to support the safe, reliable, and secure delivery of energy and water services. We look forward to working with Ms. Gomez and the entire Commission to ensure the reliability of mission-critical communications that underpin the utility industry and that depend on access to interference-free spectrum. We also look forward to working with Ms. Gomez and the Commission to promote funding for last-mile and middle-mile broadband networks that utilities are deploying in unserved and underserved areas.”.

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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/

Utilities Technology Council Announces Kristi Middlebrooks to Become Director, Exhibits and Sponsorships

 Middlebrooks Provides Organizations with a Depth of Event and Sales Experience

Arlington, Va.—September 5, 2023–Utilities Technology Council (UTC) Interim President and CEO Ron Beck today announced that beginning September 5, 2023, Kristi Middlebrooks joined UTC as the organization’s Director, Exhibits and Sponsorships. Middlebrooks comes from AHI Services, where she managed and executed sales for UTC’s annual Telecom & Technology conference as a contractor. She will continue to have that responsibility, as well as manage exhibition and trade show execution. Beck said that Middlebrooks’ depth of event-planning, sales, and association knowledge will strengthen event and sponsorship experiences for UTC’s members and partners.

“I’m excited and proud to announce that Kristi is coming “in-house” to UTC in this exciting and important new role.  Her deep experience and knowledge of meeting planning and sales, along with her established relationships with UTC members and associates, is a winning combination that will help UTC even more effectively service its members and give them the premier event experience they’ve come to expect,” Beck said.  “We are looking forward to Kristi building out this new role.”

Middlebrooks brings more than 28 years of hotel convention management and sales, as well as a strong focus on meeting strategic and execution goals and partnership management.

Middlebrooks received her Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communications from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL.

UTC staff bios are available on the UTC website: https://2026.utc.org/utc-staff/.

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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/

Arlington, Va.—June 7, 2023 – The Utilities Technology Council (UTC) has recognized utilities and their personnel who demonstrated initiative, perseverance, and innovative thinking throughout the past year. The awards were presented on June 7th at the association’s 2023 Telecom & Technology Conference in Fort Lauderdale, FL, during the General Session.

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 support the reliability, resilience, and safety of the nation’s electric systems. From storm response to day-to-day reliability, ICT networks also provide opportunities for communities to enhance economic prosperity, provide innovative new services, and support health, education, and access to critical services.

“Congratulations to all of our winners this year,” said UTC Board Chair Dewey Day, PG&E. “They all exemplify what is best about UTC and about our industry and its workforce. Over the past year, that workforce has answered the call during unprecedented challenges here at home, such as Hurricane Ian, and uncertainty abroad, and provided their communities with essential, and in many cases lifesaving services under uncharted and sometimes dangerous circumstances. These awards show what makes UTC so special—the people, the utilities, and the technology partners who make up our membership. Every day our members work hard to support reliable, resilient, and affordable services to people and businesses. It is an honor to recognize a select few for their service.”

The 2023 UTC Award Winners are:

• APEX Award – Recognizes individual accomplishment and organizational commitment for outstanding projects undertaken by utility telecom workers.
  • WINNER: Salt River Project

• Dondanville Award – Established in 1989, named in honor of UTC’s first President and CEO, Russell V. Dondanville. The Dondanville Award recognizes an individual’s extraordinary service and dedication to UTC over the years through active participation in numerous association activities.
  • WINNER:  Doug W. Barton, Southern Company

• Meehan Award – Established in 1998, the Meehan Award is named in honor of UTC’s first Exec. Director Charles M. (Mike) Meehan. It recognizes an individual for their extraordinary leadership in projects during the past year that greatly furthered the interests and objectives of UTC.
  • WINNER:  Shaun Skidmore, Idaho Power

• Connie Durcsak Unsung Hero Award – Recognizes an individual or utility that exemplifies the selfless, admirable, necessary, never-ending work that our utility workers do every day in extenuating circumstances. They perform heroic tasks daily and there is often no press, fanfare, or acknowledgment of the lifesaving efforts performed by our utility workers.
  • WINNERS:  Sheldon Semper and Jeremy Chargois, CenterPoint Energy

• UTC’s Emerging Leaders Award – This award acknowledges “rising stars” within UTC’s member utilities, who are dedicated to the critical work of telecom, infrastructure, IT/OT, security, technology innovation, policy, and other key utility disciplines.
  • WINNERS:
    • Kyle Cormier, Salt River Project
    • Shawna Kiesbuy, Avista Corp.
    • Travis Blalack, Southern California Edison

•  Chair’s Award – These awards are given in appreciation for service to UTC during the past calendar year.
  • WINNERS:
    • Matt Schnell; Nebraska Public Power District
    • Sheila Wells
    • Travis Phifer; Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.
    • Eric Wagner; UTC
    • Kevin Lynch; UTC

• IMPACT Award – Building on the legacy of UTC awards, the IMPACT award honors the UTC Associate Member Organizations making a great impact on our industry through an innovative and proven solution.
  • WINNER: Osmose Utilities Services, Inc.

• Pinnacle Award – In 2022 UTC introduced the Pinnacle Award. The award recognizes UTC staff person(s) or associate for making an extraordinary impact on their colleagues, the members and/or the association. The Pinnacle Award recognizes the employee(s) who exemplifies UTC’s team norms of respect, decision-making, communication, accountability, and prioritization.
  • WINNER: Joann Howell, Vice President, Spectrum Services

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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/

Arlington, Va.—June 7, 2023 – Utility industry representatives from across the U.S. elected Kirt Mayson of Northwestern Energy as the new Chair of the Utilities Technology Council’s Board of Directors, effective through May 2024. Mayson was elected at UTC’s 2023 Telecom & Technology Conference on June 7, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Utility representatives approved Chair Mayson as well as Gary Vondrasek of JEA as Vice Chair, and Anthony Suppa of Public Service Electric and Gas as Secretary/Treasurer. Each will serve in these capacities until the membership elects new officers during UTC’s 2024 Telecom & Technology Conference in Mobile, AL, scheduled for May 20-24, 2024.

UTC is the global association at the nexus of the energy, utility, and telecommunications industries. Representing members of all sizes and ownership structures, UTC advocates for access to the information and communications technologies (ICT) needed for the safe and reliable delivery of mission-critical services.

“I would first like to thank our outgoing Chair Dewey Day for his steadfast leadership of UTC over the last year,” Acting Chair Mayson said. “Thank you, Dewey, for your unwavering commitment to UTC, our members, and our industry.”

“I also thank the UTC Board for this honor. Despite a year of challenges ranging from Hurricane Ian to the continuing situation in Ukraine, our industry has responded with resilience, effectiveness, and commitment to the communities we serve. With challenges come opportunities, and I look forward to working with my fellow colleagues and the UTC team to collaborate, take advantage of those opportunities, and build upon our successes. My congratulations to Vice Chair Vondrasek and Secretary/Treasurer Suppa”

Chair Mayson serves as Senior Engineer-Business Technology, Network Engineering, and Operations for Northwestern Energy, where he has been for 24 years. He has extensive experience in utility communications technologies, in the areas of fiber optic and microwave systems, as well as automation solutions for communications site monitoring systems, substation remote telemetry units, and hydro-electric generation plant control systems. At UTC, Chair Mayson served in officer positions for UTC’s Region 9, as well as Chair of UTC’s Regional Division. Chair Mayson has a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from Montana Tech (now Montana Technological University).

“Congratulations to Chair Mayson, Vice Chair Vondrasek, and Secretary/Treasurer Suppa,” said UTC Interim President and CEO Ron Beck. “Once again, the UTC Membership has elected a slate of proven leaders who will continue to push us forward. Chair Mayson and his team are UTC veterans, and I am excited to get working with them. I also want to offer my profound and humble thanks and salute to Immediate Past Chair Day. I am so thankful for his leadership and support! We all owe Day a huge debt.”

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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/