INDATEL Welcomes Accord, Expanding National Collaboration Among Rural Network Providers

INDATEL Welcomes Accord, Expanding National Collaboration Among Rural Network Providers

Overland Park, KS – INDATEL Services is proud to announce that Accord, a collaborative middle-mile fiber consortium based in Indiana, has joined the INDATEL member family. This partnership is another milestone in INDATEL’s continued nationwide growth and mission to empower rural and regional providers through collaboration, scale, and shared opportunities.  

Founded by a coalition of electric cooperatives and rural telephone companies, Accord was created to unify independently owned fiber networks into a single, statewide middle-mile platform. With the governing support of its nine-member board, and under the leadership of James Tanneberger, CEO, and Jerry Haver, VP of Operations & Business Development, co-founders of Accord, the organization has rapidly grown into a nationally recognized model for how small, local providers can work together to compete at scale. 

Today, Accord represents 32 member organizations, including electric cooperatives and rural telephone companies, with a backbone network of approximately 3,000 miles of middle-mile fiber. Through its members, Accord provides access to more than 70,000 miles of distribution fiber, passing nearly 700,000 homes across Indiana and into surrounding states. 

“What Accord has built is truly special,” said Justin Forte, CEO of INDATEL Services. “They are a testament to what’s possible when local providers come together with trust, shared purpose, and a commitment to something bigger than themselves. This is the kind of relationship INDATEL was created to elevate. We’re proud to welcome Accord into our member family and excited to grow alongside a team that so clearly believes in the power of collaboration.” 

Accord’s business model is rooted in partnership. Rather than purchasing access to member fiber, Accord converted those assets into shared equity, allowing members to invest directly in the network’s success. As a result, Accord operates debt-free with a long-term focus on sustainability, reliability, and service excellence. 

Initially focused on wholesale services such as cell tower backhaul, Accord has quickly established itself as a trusted provider, securing dozens of tower connections even before its network was fully operational. As the organization continues to mature, it is expanding into enterprise opportunities while maintaining its strong wholesale foundation. 

“Our goal has always been to help rural providers present larger than they are individually,” said Tanneberger. “INDATEL shares the same philosophy. By joining INDATEL, we gain national reach, credibility, and opportunities we simply wouldn’t have on our own – while staying true to our local roots and cooperative values.” 

Beyond Indiana, Accord’s impact is extending nationally through the sharing of its consortium and equity-based model. The organization is actively advising similar efforts in more than a dozen states, helping rural electric cooperatives and telephone companies work together more effectively, often for the first time. 

Accord’s leadership believes this cultural shift is critical to the future of rural connectivity, and its alignment with INDATEL strengthens that mission even further. 

About INDATEL Services 

INDATEL Services is a leading nationwide network that provides high-capacity bandwidth solutions for carriers, enterprises, and government entities. With a focus on collaborative growth and network expansion, INDATEL connects rural and urban communities across the United States. In addition, INDATEL serves its customers through its national aggregation PoP’s reaching over 900 independent providers currently operating in 47 states. 

About Accord 

Accord is owned by 32 service providers who provide critical and life-enhancing services to their communities. Accord and its owners maintain tens of thousands of miles of fiber, providing middle and last-mile services to telecom providers and robust services to business customers. Visit www.accordtelcom.com, email jerryh@accordtelcom.com, or call (765) 343-3910 for additional information.