Connections for rural areas
About Us
Cutting-edge technology delivered with neighborly customer service
NCKCN, headquartered in Beloit, KS, is a non-profit public/private partnership with the North Central Regional Planning Commission. It currently serves 11 rural communities within North Central Kansas by providing high-speed Fixed Wireless Internet — the technology needed to keep households and businesses connected.
- Belleville
- Beloit
- Clyde
- Concordia
- Jewell
- Kackley
- Lovewell
- Mankato
- Norway
- Scandia
- Talmo
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How is NCKCN organized?
NCKCN was organized in November 1995 as a non-profit organization in the state of Kansas and is registered as such with the Secretary of State. It is managed by a Board of Directors.
What is the difference between a non-profit and a for-profit corporation?
The difference between a non-profit and a for-profit corporation lies not in the realization of a profit, but rather in how the profit generated is distributed.
The for-profit corporation is owned by an individual or a partnership and is operated with the expectation of a personal monetary return on investment. The net profit realized after expenses are deducted from gross receipts/sales and can be distributed to the owner or the partnership in any manner or amount chosen.
The non-profit corporation is generally organized to address a specific range of community needs and is owned by no specific individual. A Board of Directors, whose members are not compensated for their time and effort, governs such corporations. The net profit realized after expenses are deducted from gross receipts/sales and is retained by the corporation to further its activities or is distributed to other non-profit companies selected by the Board of Directors.
How is NCKCN structured to deliver service?
NCKCN is first and foremost a Wide Area Network (WAN) of computers joining together participating North Central Kansas communities and educational institutions as one regional community. As such, the original partnership of North Central Regional Planning Commission and The Information Age established the central computer hub of the WAN in Beloit for the approximate cost of $35,000. NCKCN links this hub to other NCK locations by locating associated equipment in those communities desiring service and by leasing either a 128K ISDN, Frame Relay or 56/64K telephone line from the specific community’s telephone service provider. This line provides the direct tie that joins the local equipment with the hub. Once attached, communication is possible with all other sites also on the regional WAN.
NCKCN now interconnects much of the region with high-speed wireless backbones and, working with Cunningham Fiber – also known as CTC Fiber, with high-speed fiber lines. This ties the regional WAN to the Internet and thus the world of information technology with the fastest most reliable service in the area.
What are the costs to the individual or business user?
The costs are given on the NCKCN internet page. However, there are generally two classes of residential users and several classes of business users.
Residential and Business members pay a monthly low-cost fee to become members of NCKCN, and we extend that service to all Cunningham Fiber customers as well.
Schools, libraries, governmental offices and other public access points receive a free subscription and one free email account. Faculty and students are given free individual email accounts that can be used while on school property.
Non-profit institutions are delivered most services directly from NCKCN at no charge.
Our Staff
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Chelsea Smith
Administrative Manager
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Brett Beck
Managing Technician
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Pepper Roberg
Director of Operations and Personnel
Board of Directors
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Jenny Russell - President
Works for JenRus Freelance as the Owner/Founder. -
Robert McCreight - Board Member
Works for the North Central Kansas Technical College (NCKTC) as the Network Administrator.