The Invisible Tech Behind Rural America | Ep. 17 with Doug Remboldt

If you live in a small town, you probably know the name of your local electric co-op or broadband provider. Very few people know who keeps the technology behind them running. Doug Remboldt, President & CEO of NISC (National Information Solutions Cooperative), has spent 36 years at the member-owned technology cooperative behind the billing, operations, and customer tools used by about 1,250 rural utility and broadband providers. Doug shares why he planned to stay two years and never left, what it takes to serve places with fewer than one meter per mile, and why he says 87 cents of every NISC dollar goes to people. He also explains how NISC is using AI with a human in the loop to capture decades of hard-earned knowledge before it walks out the door with retiring employees. 0:00 - Welcome from Fargo & meet Doug Remboldt 5:07 - What NISC does and why the co-op model matters 8:12 - Planning to stay two years and staying 36 10:31 - Four major technology shifts in one career 13:06 - The NISC and Meridian merger and the "why" behind it 17:47 - Serving rural America at less than one meter per mile 20:55 - 87 cents of every dollar and a culture built by employees 24:41 - The payday printer and what servant leadership really looks like 28:33 - AI with a human in the loop 35:07 - For fun: random questions 🗨️ Mentioned in this episode:  → Meridian Cooperative — The technology cooperative that merged with NISC on August 1, 2026 → Vern Dosch — Former NISC President & CEO and Doug's servant leadership mentor → Scott Klososky — Technology speaker, author, and founding partner of Future Point of View → Tellwell Studios — The Fargo agency/studio where this episode was recorded 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. 📲 Follow us: LinkedIn, Facebook, & Instagram: @highpointnetworks Connect with Doug:   / doug-remboldt-4115b3b   _____ #GetToThePoint #ITLeadership #HighPointNetworks Get to the Point is produced by High Point Networks for informational purposes only. Guests include High Point Networks professionals as well as subject matter experts from across the industry, each speaking from their own experience and expertise. Content shared is intended as general information and should be evaluated within the context of your specific organization and circumstances. Views expressed by outside guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of High Point Networks or its affiliates. High Point Networks assumes no liability for decisions or actions taken based on content discussed in this podcast.