Blair, Nebraska, Dec. 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Great Plains Communications, the largest privately-owned telecommunications company in Nebraska is pleased to announce that IT and Network Operations Center Manager, Wyatt Leehy has been appointed to the Federal Communications Commission’s new Disaster Response and Recovery Working Group of the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC). The group has been formed to provide advice and recommendations for improvement of disaster preparation, response, and recovery for broadband infrastructure.
Mr. Leehy joined Great Plains Communications in 2011. Since that time he has held multiple leadership roles in the areas of information technology, project management, network operations, cyber security, and business continuity. He has also implemented several projects to improve disaster response and recovery including data center and workplace redundancy, infrastructure resiliency, and designs for a mobile central office. Prior to joining the company, he served as a Communications Officer in the United States Marine Corps where he supported complex telecommunications networks supporting combat operations. As a first responder with the Blair, Nebraska Volunteer Fire Department, he holds a deep appreciation for the effects of natural and manmade disasters and the impact these can have on people, property, and communications.
Mr. Leehy had this to say. “Proactive disaster response and recovery plans are critical to a resilient telecommunications infrastructure. I look forward to providing the working group with a rural perspective for disaster response and recovery planning to ensure the recommendations we develop are applicable at all levels of the industry.”
The mission of the BDAC is to make recommendations to the Commission on how to accelerate the deployment of high-speed Internet access, or “broadband,” encouraging deployment of broadband to all Americans. In turn, the Disaster Response and Recovery Working Group will be charged with making recommendations for measures to be taken prior to a disaster to improve resiliency of broadband infrastructure, as well as strategies to be implemented during disaster response to minimize network downtime, and actions to be taken to restore broadband infrastructure during the disaster recovery process.
“Great Plains Communications is well aligned with the mission of the BDAC, working alongside them to accelerate broadband deployment,” said Todd Foje, CEO of Great Plains Communications. “Having one of our own on the Disaster Response and Recovery Working Group is a great honor for our company. Wyatt Leehy is an excellent choice for this appointment. He has the background and the insight to make a great difference for the cause of disaster response and recovery on a national level.”
About Great Plains Communications
Great Plains Communications is the largest privately-owned telecommunications provider in Nebraska. The company provides over 90 communities across the state with high-speed Internet, cable television, and voice services. Business solutions range from traditional and cloud-based voice and data products to installation and support of large business networks with scalable Internet and Ethernet solutions.
At the core of their service offering is an extensive 9,500-mile regional fiber network including over 300 fiber miles in the Omaha Metro area. The network extends beyond Nebraska into Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wyoming offering community access rings, last-mile, and middle-mile solutions, all fully supported by their 24x7x365 Network Operations Center. The company is financially strong with over a century of experience providing reliable and innovative solutions. Great Plains Communications is privately owned by Grain Management, LLC: a leading private equity firm focused on investments in the Communications sector. For more information visit www.gpcom.com.