Joseph Franell

President
Blue Mountain Networks & Eastern Oregon Telecom

Joseph Franell is the President of Blue Mountain Networks, a rural competitive Internet service provider and telephone company which includes Eastern Oregon Telecom and Gorge Networks. Blue Mountain Networks (BMN) serves residents and businesses in Northeastern Oregon, Southeastern Washington, and the Mid-Columbia River region of the Pacific Northwest. The Oregon Business Magazine called Joe, “The Rural Connector” because of his effective leadership in bringing broadband to rural markets in the region.

Joe is a member of the Oregon Broadband Advisory Council (OBAC) representing rural interests in the State. His initial appointment by the Governor to the OBAC was in 2009. He has served as the chairman of the Council since 2010.

Prior to coming to work at BMN, Franell was the Director of Information Technology for the city of Ashland, Oregon, where he was responsible for the Ashland Fiber Network, a municipally owned and operated broadband telecommunications company. During his tenure there, Ashland was selected as one of the Intelligent Communities Forum’s Smart 21 Communities for 2007 and 2008, because of its innovative and visionary use of broadband technologies.

Joseph has been active as a speaker, writer, and guest on local and national radio shows. He also serves as the Master of Ceremonies for the Oregon Connections Telecommunications Conference. Franell is a ten-year veteran of the US Army, is happily married, and has one daughter.