Consolidated Advances Fiber Buildout with NCSC Financing

When Minnesota-based Consolidated Telecommunications Company (CTC) looked ahead at its five‑year strategic plan, leadership knew one thing for certain: To reach thousands of new members and meet surging demand for high‑speed broadband, they needed to move faster than ever before. Rising construction costs and escalating demand across CTC’s service territory made access to timely, reliable financing essential.

In June 2025, NCSC approved an $8 million term loan to help make that happen. The loan is financing capital expenditures through 2028—primarily fiber‑to‑the‑premises (FTTP) projects that expand CTC’s competitive local exchange carrier footprint while also supporting critical network maintenance across its system.

“Construction costs were going up faster than the cost of borrowing,” Consolidated CEO Kristi Westbrock said. “Securing this financing allows us to complete our FTTP buildouts faster because we have the cash flow to do it now.”

At the same time, NCSC extended CTC’s $10 million line of credit for another 12 months, ensuring Consolidated has the flexibility and liquidity needed to seize new opportunities as they arise.

Accelerating Fiber Deployment, Building for the Future

The new term loan positions CTC to more rapidly deliver fiber connectivity to underserved and unserved households across central Minnesota. The projects funded by the loan will allow the cooperative to continue closing the digital divide, particularly in communities with older populations who increasingly rely on telemedicine and digital services that require robust broadband.

“This will give them access to the economic highway our country now has with these fiber networks,” Westbrock said. “It keeps people in their homes longer, supports new housing developments and brings enormous economic benefits to the communities we serve.”

In addition to fiber expansion, CTC is also undertaking a major building addition at its headquarters to support its rapidly growing workforce. “We’ve grown so much that we’re completely out of space,” Westbrock said. “This financing helps us move forward with that project as well.”

Fueling a Forward‑Looking Growth Strategy

CTC’s five‑year strategic plan outlines a clear path for broadband growth. The cooperative aims to add 3,500 new subscribers in 2025, up from 3,000 the prior year, and ultimately add between 15,000 and 20,000 new members over the life of the plan.

It is also focused on further improving its already strong Net Promoter Score of 75+, strengthening churn management through close partnerships with realtors and housing developers and making targeted investments in artificial intelligence and operational systems to elevate the customer experience.

“This loan will help us achieve our strategic plan goals and continue to deliver world‑class service,” Westbrock explained.

A Partnership Built on People

Consolidated’s decision to partner with NCSC was driven not just by competitive loan terms, but also by trust. NCSC’s familiarity with the broadband and telecom landscape, combined with a long history of supporting rural providers through periods of growth and uncertainty, made the partnership a natural fit.

“People like working with people,” Westbrock said. “I’ve known Jason [Shelton] for 15 years, and my relationship with him has always been extraordinarily positive. NCSC has a great reputation. It made it easy to do business with them.”

With NCSC’s support, Consolidated is poised to continue strengthening the communities it serves—fueling economic development, improving quality of life and expanding reliable, high-quality broadband throughout its region.

“We know what we want to accomplish over the next five years,” Westbrock said. “This financing helps us get there faster.”