Opinion: Why 30 Years is Too Long for the CVTC Board

As members of the Copper Valley Telephone Cooperative (CVTC), we are currently facing a decision that will shape the governance of our utility for decades. The Board has proposed a bylaw amendment to double current term limits from 15 to 30 years. After careful review, I am urging my fellow members to vote “No” on this change.

The Board’s primary argument is that the industry is too complex for new members to learn quickly. However, our current 15-year limit already allows for five 3-year terms. If a director cannot master the "learning curve" or prepare the next generation of leadership after a decade of service, giving them another 15 years is not the solution. We need fresh expertise to navigate a modern, rapidly shifting tech landscape, not "careerism" on a local board.

Stability is important, but it is already built into our system. With eight members serving staggered terms, our "institutional knowledge" is never lost all at once. Seasoned directors should be mentoring new ones, ensuring the Board stays capable as individuals rotate. Long-tenured members often become anchored to the past; it is the new members who walk in and ask, "Is there a more efficient way to do this?"

Furthermore, extending terms to three decades creates a massive barrier to entry. It discourages qualified younger residents from applying because they feel they cannot compete with a 15-year incumbent. If recruitment is a struggle, the answer is better transparency and outreach—not making current seats "appointments for life."

Finally, the lack of transparency surrounding this proposal is troubling. This amendment was first discussed in a closed-door executive session. Under Alaska Statute 10.25.175, bylaw changes are not secret legal matters—they belong to the membership.

Does a 30-year term benefit you, the member, or does it only benefit the Directors? Fifteen years is more than enough time to contribute and then move out of the way for new leadership. Please mark "No" on your ballot and mail it by April 14th.