FRED is pleased to announce the kick off of the 2009 program year. An estimated $160,000 will be available to OPASTCO members throughout the four FRED programs. Brochures were mailed in Mid-September and can now be downloaded at our web site by clicking on the hyperlinks below.

• Leadership Through Learning
• Ethyl Grants
• Technology Grants for Rural Schools
• Scholarships

Don't miss this opportunity to provide your rural communities with resources that will make a difference.

2008 Telergee Survey is Now Available! CoBank and FRED are pleased to offer the 2008 TELERGEE Benchmark Survey, which includes 2007 year-end financial data from over 200 rural Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs) nationwide. All participants in the study are clients of TELERGEE member CPA firms. Each TELERGEE firm supplies the financial statements that go into producing the benchmarks presented in the study. The study presents four classifications of ILECs:
- Cooperatives on cost study
- Cooperatives on average schedule
- Corporations on cost study
- Corporations on average schedule

The study is available only in PDF format this year.

With so much going on in Washington these days, students are becoming more engaged in politics. There is no better way to study civics than to visit Washington. FRED and the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) are providing an opportunity for students from rural communities to travel to Washington D.C., for a week long program to learn more about the government, civic affairs, and telecommunications regulations. This year, the program runs from April 19-24, 2009. Students will have the chance to tour historic landmarks, attend seminars, and meet members of Congress, journalists and other Washington insiders. The program is open to high school juniors and seniors who live or attend a high school in an area that is served by a nominating OPASTCO Telephone Company Member. Brochures with the application and additional information are available online at FRED's Leadership Through Learning page.

This year's Leadership Through Learning Program application deadline is December 8, 2008. Participation is free to the telco and student.

If your company nominated a project for a Technology Grant or an Ethyl Grant, please note that the applications are currently being reviewed by the committees. Details on each grant process follows:

Tech Grants: FRED received 96 Tech Grant applications, which is up from last year's 54. Nominated schools will receive a postcard early next week notifying them of the receipt of their application. Winners will be announced the week of October 20th.

Ethyl Grants: Five Ethyl grant projects are being considered for funding during this round. Winners will be notified the week of October 14th.

December 8, 2008 - Leadership Through Learning Program deadline
January 17-21, 2009 - OPASTCO Winter Convention in Kauai
January 19, 2009 - FRED's Traditional Hawaiian Luau