2023 Award Winners
Category #2: Excellence in Telecom Projects & Regional/Local Strategies
Individual, organization or company that has developed innovative projects or strategies to provide better access, reliability and/or affordability to telecommunications services for communities or promotes and accelerates adoption and utilization.
Awardee: Beacon Broadband
Coos and Curry Counties truly represent the disparity of the digital divide. Our population is largely pushed against the coastline with small population centers about 30 miles from each other along the scenic Highway 101 corridor. These communities have historically been served by big broadband service providers, having access to cable and DSL service. Fiber service has become available in our towns only within the past two years. However, the reach of incumbent networks is limited.
One home may have a choice of providers and service up to 2 Gbps and their next-door neighbor will have nothing – no wired service because the incumbents’ networks do not reach them; no wireless service because there are no fixed wireless providers; no cellular or satellite service because hills or trees block the signal path.
The area was truly in need of a regional solution that would eliminate the boundaries set by the incumbent providers and close the egregious broadband divide on the south coast. Thankfully, Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative recognized that better access to broadband for all its members would enhance its members’ lives. The cooperative decided to act, and it created Beacon Broadband. The electric cooperative gave its wholly owned broadband subsidiary the challenge of making fiber connectivity available to every member address and to about 6,000 nearby unserved and underserved addresses. Beacon Broadband fiber will serve all of Curry County and most of unincorporated Coos County and represents a truly regional solution. Beacon Broadband’s mission is to bring the high-speed fiber experience where no one else will go – up the wild rivers of the south coast as well as in the towns and cities. The Beacon Broadband project is truly making a difference in the lives of south coast residents
Category #3: Excellence in Telecommunications Partnerships
Individual, organization or company that has developed an innovative telecommunications partnership for the purpose of providing improved access, reliability and/or affordability for communities or promotes and accelerates adoption and utilization.
Awardee: City of Portland/Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)"
The City of Portland and OHSU have partnered on several builds in the last few years, the most recently completed is the Marquam Hill Build. The conversations about available City assets started in 2019, and they just put the final touches on a significant campus build that will prepare OHSU for future growth and expansion that will last generations.
The majority of physical assets were available for use, very little materials were needed, and the construction was minimal considering the 2.5 mile length of the project.
This allowed the City of Portland to cost effectively and efficiently provide connectivity for OHSU. This build helps connect locations together in the South Water Front area of downtown Portland. The geography to construct in the area is complicated and costly, but this partnership allowed them to leverage existing assets and add vaults in strategic locations, positioning both the City of Portland and OHSU for future growth.
Category #5: Outstanding Telecommunications Advocate
Individual that has made a significant contribution or gone beyond the call of duty to advocate for improved access, reliability and affordability, or promotes and accelerates adoption and utilization of telecommunications.
Awardee: Kathryn Greiner, City Administrator, City of Condon
We are all impressed with Kathy’s tenacity to improve broadband for her city, her county and beyond. She was instrumental in getting a middle mile fiber link between Condon and Arlington, which opened up opportunities for competition and carrier neutral access. She advocates for her small city of 700 people because she believes that everyone should have access to affordable, reliable and fast internet service, no matter where they live. She continues to advocate, encouraging providers to up their game and challenging providers who claim to provide service but do not (the FCC mapping challenge process). Not only do I feel that she deserves this award, but I also think that this recognition will help her keep the faith and motivation to continue her great broadband work into the future as there is still much more work to be done. Accepting the award for Kathy was Cindy Gammell from Windwave.
Previous Awards Winners
Category #1: Excellence in Telecommunications Applications
Individual, organization or company that has developed and/or successfully implemented an innovative telecommunications application that demonstrates standard communications capabilities, scalable solutions to accommodate growth in demand, and/or adaptability to new applications and opportunities.
2022 Recipient: Oregon Hazards Lab (OHAZ), University of Oregon
2021 Recipient: Ashland Fiber Network
2017 Recipient: Shawn Irvine, City of Independence
2015 Recipient: Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. (GOBHI)
2012 Recipient: Oregon Health and Science University
2011 Recipient: LS Networks
2011 Recipient: Bend Broadband Vault
2009 Recipient: Don Westlight of Oregon Health & Science University and the
Oregon Health Network
2007 Recipient: Oregon Association of Hospital and Health Systems Research and
Education Foundation
2006 Recipient: Central Oregon Independent Practice Association
2005 Recipient: One-Economy Corporation
2004 Recipient: Telehealth Alliance of Oregon
2003 Recipient: Frank Miller, Oregon Trail Internet
2002 Recipient: Pioneer Library System (La Grande), Patricia Cutright
2001 Recipient: Tom Cook, Oregon Public Education Network
Category #2: Excellence in Telecommunications Projects and Regional/Local Strategies
Individual, organization or company that has developed innovative projects or strategies to provide better access, reliability and/or affordability to telecommunications services for underserved and rural regions.
2023 Recipient: Beacon Broadband
2021 Recipient: Ziply Fiber
2021 Recipient: Jeff Rhoden
2021 Recipient: Oregon Internet Response
2021 Recipient: Blue Mountain Networks
2021 Recipient: Zayo
2019 Recipient: BendTel
2018 Recipient: Mid-Columbia Economic Development District
2018 Recipient: Dan Bubb, Gorge Networks
2018 Recipient: Eastern Oregon Net, Inc.
2016 Recipient: City of Eugene, EWEB, TAO, and LCOG
2016 Recipient: Innovate Oregon, Dayton School District, and Online NW
2015 Recipient: Sherman County
2014 Recipient: Hunter Communications
2014 Recipient: Lane County Area Public Agency Network
2014 Recipient: Chris Burns, Charter Communications
2013 Recipient: NetCity, Inc.
2013 Recipient: Steve Noel, SWIC, State of Oregon
2012 Recipient: David Crowe, Network for Education and Research in Oregon (NERO)
2012 Recipient: SandyNet, City of Sandy
2011 Recipient: Keith Grunberg, Charter Communications
2011 Recipient: John Irwin, J Irwin Community Informatics Consulting
2011 Recipient: Oregon Health Network
2010 Recipient: Oregon Municipal Audit Review Committee
2009 Recipient: Hunter Communications, Central Point, Oregon
2008 Recipients: City of Lebanon, Phillip Barker of Curry County, and Verizon
2007 Recipients: Keith Grunberg and Bradley Kuhnert, both of Charter Communications
2006 Recipient: John Stadter, ComSpanUSA
2005 Recipient: City of The Dalles/Q-Life Project
2004 Recipient: Century Tel
2003 Recipient: Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs
2002 Recipient: Ben Doty, NoaNet Oregon
2001 Recipient: Dave Sabala, Douglas Electric Cooperative
Category #3: Excellence in Telecommunications Partnerships
Individual, organization or company that has developed an innovative telecommunications partnership for the purpose of providing improved access, reliability and/or affordability for underserved and rural communities.
2023 Recipient: City of Portland/Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)
2022 Recipient: Tillamook County Creamery Association
2021 Recipient: Keith Grunberg
2021 Recipient: Douglas Fast Net and Hunter Communications
2021 Recipient: Link Oregon
2019 Recipient: Windwave
2018 Recipient: Digital Inclusion Network
2018 Recipient: Q-Life, City of Maupin, and LS Networks
2016 Recipient: Duke Dexter
2014 Recipient: MINET
2012 Recipient: Derek Abrams of Oregon State University and Sean McSpaden of State of Oregon
2012 Recipient: Warm Springs Telecom
2011 Recipient: Tamer Kirac
2010 Recipient: Rio Networks
2009 Recipient: Marsha Spellman and Adam Haas of Converge Communications
2008 Recipient: Michael Weidman of LS Networks
2006 Recipient: Greg Palser, CoastCom
2005 Recipient: Agnes Box, Oregon Institute of Technology; and Bob Hensley, Cal-Ore Telephone
Company for the Klamath Falls/OIT Open Access Hut project.
2004 Recipient: Rich Ryan, Hunter Communications
2003 Recipient: Ed Parker, ORTCC and CoastNet
Category #4: Excellence in Telecommunications Legislation or Policy
Individual or organization that has participated in writing and advocating for legislation that will have a significant impact on rural telecommunications. Legislator or elected representative that has effectively introduced or advocated for innovation in legislation or policy that has positively impacted access, reliability, and/or affordability of rural telecommunications services.
2022 Recipient: Oregon State Representative Nancy Nathanson
2021 Recipient: Ted Case
2019 Recipient: Oregon State Representative Pam Marsh
2017 Recipient: Governor Kate Brown
2015 Recipient: Senate Bill 144 Work Group
2013 Recipient: Oregon State Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward
2011 Recipient: Oregon State Representative Phil Barnhart
2007 Recipient: Telehealth Alliance of Oregon
2006 Recipient: Mary Beth Henry, City of Portland/Mt. Hood Regulatory Commission
2005 Recipient: Rob Myers, Tri-County Communications and the Oregon Telecommunications
Coordinating Council
2003 Recipient: Representative Laurie Monnes-Anderson, Gresham; and Alice Nelson, Pendleton
2001 Recipient: Senator David Nelson, Pendleton
Category #5: Outstanding Telecommunications Advocate
Individual that has made a significant contribution or gone beyond the call of duty to advocate for improved access, reliability and affordability of telecommunications.
2023 Recipient: Kathryn Greiner, City Administrator, City of Condon
2022 Recipient: Rachael Maddock-Hughes
2022 Recipient: Krystal Stone
2021 Recipient: InterMountain Education Service District Technology Services
2019 Recipient: John Huffman, State Director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture RUS
2017 Recipient: Matt Hiefield, Beaverton School District
2017 Recipient: Commissioner Ken Kestner, Lake County
2016 Recipient: Eric Rosenberry
2015 Recipient: Jeremy Pietzold, City of Sandy Council President
2013 Recipient: Eric Schmidt, Association of Oregon Counties
2012 Recipient: Rich Bader, EasyStreet Online Services
2011 Recipient: Bob Jenks, Citizens’ Utility Board of Oregon
2010 Recipient: Shay Dakan, Oregon State University
2010 Recipient: Milo Mecham, Lane Council of Governments
2009 Recipient: Ray Baum of the Public Utility Commission of Oregon
2008 Recipient: Pam Berrian of the City of Eugene
2007 Recipient: Jack Crider, President of Tillamook Lightwave
2006 Recipient: Onno Husing, Oregon Coast Zone Management Association
2005 Recipients: Link Shadley, ANKI Solutions and Chris Tamarin, Oregon Economic and
Community Development Department.
2004 Recipient: Shayne Maxwell, Southern Oregon EAS Region
2003 Recipients: John Irwin, ORTCC and SOTTC; and Ron Trullinger, Qwest
2002 Recipient: Cathy Britain, RodeoNet
2001 Recipient: Cindy Weeldreyer, Lane County Commissioner/ Fiber South Consortium Chair
Category #6: Edwin B. Parker Enduring Achievement Award
This award is presented to individuals whose contributions in telecommunications have been rendered with the greatest civility, who serve as a role model and mentor to many, and who have provided a lasting legacy influencing for years to come the course and future of telecommunications in Oregon.
2022 Recipient: Adam Haas
2021 Recipient: Brant Wolf
2019 Recipient: Don Patten
2018 Recipient: Joseph Franell
2018 Recipient: Todd Way
2017 Recipient: Jim Teece
2016 Recipient: Greg Palser
2016 Recipient: Richard Ryan
2015 Recipient: Milo Mecham
2015 Recipient: Chris Tamarin
2014 Recipient: Pam Berrian
2014 Recipient: John Irwin
2014 Recipient: Dave Sabala
2013 Recipient: Cathy Britain
2011 Recipient: Ray Baum
2011 Recipient: Keith A. Mobley
2010 Recipient: Amy Tykeson
2009 Recipient: Curt Pederson
2009 Recipient: Ginny Lang
2009 Recipient: State Senator David Nelson
Other Award Recipients:
2021 Lifetime Achievement Award: Christopher Tamarin
2015 20th Anniversary All-Stars Award: Mike Dewey
2015 20th Anniversary All-Stars Award: Steve Eldrige
2015 20th Anniversary All-Stars Award: David Olson
2009 Economic Development through Telecommunications: Chris Tamarin of the Oregon Business Development Department
2008 Lifetime Achievement Award: Agnes Box, Oregon Institute of Technology
2005 Enduring Achievement Award: Ben Doty, Telecommunications Advocate; Q-Life, CoastNet
2004 Enduring Achievement Award: Ed Parker, Parker Telecommunications and
Oregon Telecommunications Coordinating Council
2004 Enduring Achievement Award: Mike Johnson, Deschutes National Forest, COTel Chair and Founder
2004 Legislative Champion Award: Bill Penhollow, Association of Oregon Counties
2003 Lifetime Achievement Award: PUC Chair Joan Smith
2003 Lifetime Achievement Award: Terry Edvalson, Edvalson and Associates
2001 Excellence in Telecommunications Opportunities and Initiatives: Eric Alexander, Connecting
Oregon Communities Board/ St. Charles Medical Center (Bend)