QLife Network wins three awards at telecommunications conference

WASCO COUNTY — QLife Network, a broadband service provider in Wasco County, was recognized with three awards at the 29th annual Oregon Telecommunications Connections Conference in Hood River last week, according to a press release from the organization.

QLife received the Excellence in Telecommunications Partnerships Award for its collaborative model uniting the services of Wasco County, the City of The Dalles, and Northern

Wasco County People’s Utility District (PUD) to expand broadband access in the Columbia River Gorge.

Executive Director Dr. Liz Lance was named Emerging Telecommunications Leader, recognizing her early and substantial impact in securing more than $10 million in federal

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding to expand fiber broadband service to nearly 1,000 addresses in Wasco County, a development previously reported by Columbia Gorge News.

And, QLife Board president Lee Weinstein received the Outstanding Telecommunications Advocate Award for his leadership in revitalizing QLife.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by our industry peers,” Lance said. “These awards recognize not just QLife, but the community partners who believed in our vision to bridge the digital divide. The real win goes to the families and businesses in the Mid-Columbia region, who will have access to broadband service thanks to our recent funding award.”

“QLife has become a model for how local governments and public utilities can work together to deliver reliable, affordable broadband in areas often overlooked by large providers,” said Jim Teece, Board President of the Oregon Connections Telecommunications Conference.