NCSC Welcomes Rural Telecom Leader Jason Shelton to the Team!

Former Tennessee Broadband Association president and rural telecom manager Jason Shelton has joined NCSC as vice president of business development. Shelton has been in the industry for over 25 years, most recently serving as general manager of Loretto Telecom in the Volunteer State.

“We’re thrilled to have Jason join the NCSC telecom team,” NCSC Senior Vice President and Chief Banking Officer Joel Allen said. “His experience at both rural providers and large telecommunications companies will provide extremely relevant insight, expertise and leadership for NCSC telecom members.”

While at the helm of Loretto in mid-southern Tennessee, Shelton oversaw all operations, including a significant fiber-to-the-home network buildout across ILEC and CLEC territories. These efforts encapsulate Shelton’s dedication to bridging the digital divide for rural communities.

“My ultimate goal is to help more rural Americans get connected to networks that will last generations,” Shelton said. “This requires the right types of providers and partners to make it a reality. Having a role in that by joining NCSC is not only very exciting, but also very humbling.”

A native of Brownsboro, Texas, Shelton has spent most of his life living and working in rural communities. This has given him a zeal for technological innovation and community-centric initiatives, a passion that he plans to bring to his work with NCSC members.

“As a rural American myself, as well as previously serving as a manager of two small telcos, I understand the challenges associated with what it takes to make these companies successful,” Shelton said. “If I can be of assistance, I am just a phone call away.”

Shelton first worked in telecommunications as a U.S. Marine. After serving, he joined Nextel and later Qwest in Montana. Following the CenturyLink/Qwest merger, he moved to Colorado Springs, where he helped launch Prism TV for CenturyLink. He returned to the rural telecom space as general manager of Germantown Telephone Company in New York before joining Loretto Telecom. He served as president of the Tennessee Broadband Association from 2022 to 2023.