The Story of Gila River Telecommunications, Inc. (“GRTI”)2014 Rural Policy Forum – Globe, AZ

August 8, 2014

Mr. Derek E. White

General Manager

Gila River Telecommunications, Inc.

The Beginning – Before GRTI

Telephone service provided by Mountain Bell/US West

Telephone service was expensive, poor quality, and typically shared (party lines)

Less than 10% of the Community Members residence had phone service

To establish new phone service Community member were quoted to pay as much as $30,000

Reaching emergency services support was difficult and time consuming

The Beginning – Establishing GRTI

GRTI was first established in 1988 – 25 years agoGRTI was first established in 1988 – 25 years ago

Controversial decision due to type of service, experience, and costControversial decision due to type of service, experience, and cost

GRTI partnered with the National Telecommunications Companies (NATELCO) to begin the build out of telephone plant and offices. (51% / 49%)

GRTI partnered with the National Telecommunications Companies (NATELCO) to begin the build out of telephone plant and offices. (51% / 49%)

Telephone service increased to 40%, then 60% and is now at 80% and can go to 100% of all residences & businesses located in the GRIC.

Jobs! – telephone service brought jobs/careers to the GRIC. 65 employees today of which 65% are GRIC Community Members, 5% are Native American non-GRIC.

GRTI first began as a not for profit, co-operative service organization.

The Results

GRTI – The Developing Years

A Telephone exchange for each district. (7) Dialing changes. Introduction of calling plansA Telephone exchange for each district. (7) Dialing changes. Introduction of calling plans

USDA-RD loan resource to support growth, redundancy, and technology changesUSDA-RD loan resource to support growth, redundancy, and technology changes

Build and replace plant to homes, schools, government and businesses.Build and replace plant to homes, schools, government and businesses.

Lifeline and E-Rate services used by financially challenged residents of the CommunityLifeline and E-Rate services used by financially challenged residents of the Community

GRTI – The Growing Years

GRTI establishes GRAM as a traditional holding company – vehicle fleet, office

building, deregulated equipment (VM, DSL, etc.)

GRTI establishes GRAM as a traditional holding company – vehicle fleet, office

building, deregulated equipment (VM, DSL, etc.)

GRTI established Alluvion Communications, a traditional CLEC to provide service off the

Community.

GRTI established Alluvion Communications, a traditional CLEC to provide service off the

Community.

Gila River Asset Management –A GRTI Holding Company

GRTI establishes Native Technology Solutions, a subsidiary company, from now deregulated GRTI

Enhanced Services.

Native Technology Solutions

Wholly owned subsidiary of Gila River Telecommunications, Inc. (owned by the Gila River Indian Community)Wholly owned subsidiary of Gila River Telecommunications, Inc. (owned by the Gila River Indian Community)

Registered with AZ Corporation Commission Registered with AZ Corporation Commission

Knowledge and expertise in the latest technology Knowledge and expertise in the latest technology

Partner with leading manufacturers and service providers Partner with leading manufacturers and service providers

Utilize and train local resources, offering employmentUtilize and train local resources, offering employment

Native Technology Solutions

Blue=Telco

Red=NTS

Green=NTS

Demarcation

Telephone SystemsTelephone Systems•ShoreTel•Nortel

NetworkNetwork•Extreme•Cisco

Video SurveillanceVideo Surveillance•Vicon•Bosh•I3 International

Access ControlAccess Control•Keri Systems

Enterprise Services

•Same or next business day

Onsite computer/printer repair Onsite computer/printer repair

•Toner •Maintenance kits •MICR toner •Staples •Thermal print heads •Ink

High quality consumables High quality consumables

•If an NTS toner cartridge fails, it will be replaced AND if the toner has damaged the printer in any way, the printer will be repaired or replaced

100% guarantee 100% guarantee

Printer Service and Supplies

Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO)

Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO)

Build a pool of part time / on-call employees

Build a pool of part time / on-call employees

Ability to ramp up for larger projects

Ability to ramp up for larger projects

Offer great training resourceOffer great training resource

Vechij Himdag MashchamakuD (VHM) student work program

Vechij Himdag MashchamakuD (VHM) student work program

Provide hands on exposure to structured cabling environmentProvide hands on exposure to

structured cabling environment

Allow access to online education programs

Allow access to online education programs

Offer education credit for hours worked

Offer education credit for hours worked

Training programs

Gila Local Exchange Carrier dba Alluvion Communications

Alluvion Communications

Offers telecommunication and broadband services to the general public located throughout the state of Arizona, and eventually in other states.

Offers telecommunication and broadband services to the general public located throughout the state of Arizona, and eventually in other states.

Is regulated by the State of Arizona, Corporations Commission, Utility Division, as a foreign corporation.

Is regulated by the State of Arizona, Corporations Commission, Utility Division, as a foreign corporation.

Is a traditional Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (“CLEC”) and competes for voice/data business within Metro Phoenix

Is a traditional Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (“CLEC”) and competes for voice/data business within Metro Phoenix

Wholly owned subsidiary of Gila River Telecommunications, Inc. (owned by the Gila River Indian Community)

Wholly owned subsidiary of Gila River Telecommunications, Inc. (owned by the Gila River Indian Community)

Alluvion Communications

Offers Hosted PBX voice and fax services using the

public internet for network access.

Offers Hosted PBX voice and fax services using the

public internet for network access.

Offers Metro-Ethernet service as an inexpensive, high-speed data service.

Offers Metro-Ethernet service as an inexpensive, high-speed data service.

Offers foreign exchange service so a business can

have a 602/623/480 telephone number in the

520 area code.

Offers foreign exchange service so a business can

have a 602/623/480 telephone number in the

520 area code.

Offers data and voice services to business and other telecom carriers

including wireless/cellular service providers and

resale/wholesale providers

Offers data and voice services to business and other telecom carriers

including wireless/cellular service providers and

resale/wholesale providers

Offers equipment collocation and network interconnection via the GRTI collocation room.

Offers equipment collocation and network interconnection via the GRTI collocation room.

Offers traditional non-regulated and/or de-

regulated voice/data services to the general public.

Offers traditional non-regulated and/or de-

regulated voice/data services to the general public.

Alluvion Communications

Has an anchor tenant relationship with Orbitel/Schurz Communications in Maricopa, Sun Lakes, Robson Ranch, Saddlebrook and Saddlebrook Ranch (Tucson)

Has an anchor tenant relationship with Orbitel/Schurz Communications in Maricopa, Sun Lakes, Robson Ranch, Saddlebrook and Saddlebrook Ranch (Tucson)

Has an anchor tenant relationship with Verizon Wireless.Has an anchor tenant relationship with Verizon Wireless.

Has an anchor tenant relationship with Pinal County Schools.Has an anchor tenant relationship with Pinal County Schools.

Has an anchor tenant relationship with the Gila River Indian Community (long distance and FX services).Has an anchor tenant relationship with the Gila River Indian Community (long distance and FX services).

Gila River General Cellular Partnership

GRTI is the official licensee for the Rural Serving Area 5, (RSA5)

In partnership with Verizon Wireless

Maintains numerous cell towers (and growing) in Pinal and Gila County

GRTI Consulting

GRTI Consulting

GRTI Consulting

Available to Tribes that wish to enter the telecommunications

industry.

Available to Tribes that wish to enter the telecommunications

industry.

GRTI Consulting is available to assist Tribes with Tribal Engagement,

obtaining Eligible Telecommunications Carriers

(“ETC”) status from the FCC and understanding the basics of

telecommunications.

GRTI Consulting is available to assist Tribes with Tribal Engagement,

obtaining Eligible Telecommunications Carriers

(“ETC”) status from the FCC and understanding the basics of

telecommunications.

GRTI Consulting is available to assist Tribes with establishing a Tribal

telecom company; technical recommendations, financial

recommendations, corporate structure and potential partnerships.

GRTI Consulting is available to assist Tribes with establishing a Tribal

telecom company; technical recommendations, financial

recommendations, corporate structure and potential partnerships.

GRTI Consulting

GRTI Consulting is available to assist Tribes

with establishing Broadcast (AM/FM and TV) services.

GRTI Consulting is available to assist Tribes

with establishing Broadcast (AM/FM and TV) services.

GRTI Consulting is available to assist Tribes

with wireless applications and business ventures.

GRTI Consulting is available to assist Tribes

with wireless applications and business ventures.

GRTI Consulting is available to assist Tribes

with establishing a combination of telecom

wireline/wireless and broadcast services.

GRTI Consulting is available to assist Tribes

with establishing a combination of telecom

wireline/wireless and broadcast services.

GRTI Consulting is culturally sensitive to the Tribes culture and local

customs.

GRTI Consulting is culturally sensitive to the Tribes culture and local

customs.

Gila River Broadcast

Construction, (on air) deadline is Dec. 14, 2014Construction, (on air) deadline is Dec. 14, 2014

GRTI has identified 3 initial central office sites, for signal transmissionGRTI has identified 3 initial central office sites, for signal transmission

LPTV utilizes unused frequencies within a given band to allow concentrated, non-interfering channels to cover a smaller geographic area

LPTV utilizes unused frequencies within a given band to allow concentrated, non-interfering channels to cover a smaller geographic area

GRTI received construction permits7 Low Power TV frequencies (LPTV)GRTI received construction permits7 Low Power TV frequencies (LPTV)

Gila River Broadcast (GRB)

•Educational•Cultural•Health and Wellness•Public Safety•Public Announcements

GRB will work with Community to develop scheduled contentGRB will work with Community to develop scheduled content

•Making commercials•Professional production content•News and Entertainment

GRB may also establish a production studioGRB may also establish a production studio

Thank you!

Questions?

Contact Information

-Gila River Telecommunications – www.gilarivertel.com

-Native Technology Solutions – www.native-tech.net

-Alluvion Communications – www.alluvion.us.com