Sep 30, 2026 | AOC Business Partner
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: T-Mobile for Government
It’s 4:45pm, and the only line into your courthouse just went down. No backup carrier, no second provider, nothing. Court records are frozen. The DMV counter can’t process a title transfer. A caseworker two counties away can’t pull up the case file she needs before a home visit. That’s not a hypothetical for a lot of Oregon counties. It happens more often than anyone would like.
County governments in Oregon don’t run out of one office. They run out of courthouses in Baker City, permitting counters in Bend, election sites that pop up for a few weeks and disappear, and field staff who spend more time in a truck than at a desk. For years, county IT planning followed a simple model: run a wire to the building, and connectivity is solved. That model is running out of road.
The gap shows up hardest in rural Oregon, where many communities have exactly one wireline provider serving a courthouse, DMV branch, or health and human services office. When that single connection drops, so does everything riding on it: benefit payments, permit processing, criminal records, court dockets. In a Portland-metro office, an outage is an inconvenience. In a county where the nearest backup provider is ninety minutes away, it’s a full stop.
Field operations face a parallel problem. Caseworkers meeting families in remote parts of a county, road crews clearing a mountain pass, inspectors at a rural job site—all depend on a signal that used to be an afterthought. Temporary operations like election sites or a county fair only compound it: you can’t justify running fiber to a location that’s active for two weeks a year.
This is where the connectivity conversation for county leaders needs to shift from “do we have broadband” to “do we have layered broadband.” Fixed wireless can backstop a courthouse’s single wired connection, automatically picking up traffic if the primary line fails. Mobile 5G extends that same reliable connection to vehicles and field devices, no fiber trench required, and it’s increasingly the more practical option for the remote and low-density areas that make up much of rural Oregon’s geography. Satellite connectivity closes much of the remaining gap, in the stretches of high desert, forest, or coastline where neither cable nor cell towers reach at all. T-Mobile, through its partnership with SpaceX, is now integrating satellite directly into standard mobile service, and is already included in the price for some premier plans; so a device can move from cell coverage to satellite coverage, providing text and select satellite-ready apps on a compatible device in most outdoor areas in the U.S. where you can see the sky—without a county ever standing up separate equipment for it.
None of this requires ripping out what already works. It starts with two questions every county should be asking right now: where in our facilities do we have exactly one path to connectivity, and what happens the day that path fails? And where in the field—from a job site outside Pendleton to a caseworker’s route through the Coast Range—are our employees working with no reliable signal at all? For counties stretching from dense urban cores to some of the most remote terrain in the state, the answers to both determine whether services stay online when it matters most.
Rural coverage isn’t an add-on to a county’s connectivity plan. It’s the baseline. A county that can keep its courthouse online, its field staff connected, and its most remote communities reachable isn’t just avoiding outages; it’s making sure that no resident, whether they live off a highway exit in Portland or forty miles down a gravel road, gets a different standard of government service because of where they happen to live. That’s worth building toward, one connectivity gap at a time.
Sep 30, 2026 | AOC Business Partner
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: Oregon Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, Portland State University Center for Public Service
Cyber threats are constantly evolving and being prepared today can make all the difference tomorrow. How well prepared is your county on each level it takes to respond to these inevitable attacks?
This year at the AOC Annual Conference, the Oregon Cybersecurity Center of Excellence will be hosting a special pre-conference event to help your county prepare for and respond to ever-increasing cyber attacks through Cyber Incident Lifecycle Planning.
In this condensed two-hour session, LBL Cybersecurity (a trusted public sector educational partner with the State of Oregon) will guide participants through the lifecycle of a cyber incident, from initial detection and response through containment, recovery, and post-incident actions.
Through guided discussion, participants will explore the critical decisions organizations may face at each stage and consider how those decisions connect to their Incident Response Plan (IRP).
Whether you’re part of a county’s IT team, leadership, communications, safety staff, or emergency management group, this event offers value through collaborative learning, practical takeaways, and networking with peers across other county leaders and staff in Oregon.
You can register for this pre-conference event through your conference registration process at no extra cost.
Date: November 17, 2026
Time: 10:00am-12:00pm
Location: Graduate Hotel, 66 E 6th Ave – Eugene, OR
Protect Your County From Cyber Threats with FREE Cybersecurity Tools and Dedicated Support–State-Sponsorship Expiring Soon!
Want to take action to protect your county before the conference? The state of Oregon has already secured MS‑ISAC® membership on your behalf, giving your organization access to powerful cybersecurity tools and dedicated support at no cost. Activate your membership today to begin taking full advantage of the benefits and resources available to you.
The Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center® (MS-ISAC®) is the nation’s trusted cybersecurity resource for U.S. State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) government organizations. Backed by the U.S.-based 24x7x365 CIS Security Operations Center, the MS-ISAC provides threat intelligence, monitoring, and expert support to help public sector entities defend against ever evolving cyber threats.
Through statewide sponsorship, your organization receives MS‑ISAC membership at no cost, giving you access to powerful cybersecurity tools and services designed specifically for SLTT needs. An MS‑ISAC membership gives your organization enterprise‑grade cybersecurity capabilities, ensuring every local organization can benefit from shared defense, real‑time insights, and expert guidance.
Learn more and register before the opportunity expires at the end of this year.
Sep 30, 2026 | AOC Business Partner
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: Oregon Corrections Enterprises
Counties across Oregon continue to adjust to new workplace needs as they support hybrid schedules, public service operations, and evolving community expectations. Oregon Corrections Enterprises (OCE) is pleased to highlight two offerings that bring practical function, long-term durability, and updated design to county facilities: the Privacy Pod and the Essentials office furniture line.
Privacy Pod: A Quiet and Secure Space for Focused Work
The OCE Privacy Pod is a self-contained workspace designed for phone calls, virtual meetings, and tasks that require concentration or confidentiality. It is built with steel and aluminum along with sound-deadening materials that support long-term durability and acoustic control. The compact 48 inch by 48-inch footprint and 84-inch height make it a practical fit for offices, campuses, or public areas.
The full glass door is made from 3/8 inch tempered clear laminated glass with a polished edge. Inside, the silver neutral fabric interior and acoustic materials reduce noise by approximately 30 decibels, allowing conversations to remain private. The electric-adjustable work surface raises or lowers with the touch of a button to support an ergonomic setup. Motion activated LED lighting and an automatic ventilation fan maintain a bright, comfortable environment, and red occupancy lights signal clearly when the pod is in use. Built-in charging outlets connect to a standard 120-volt 15-amp power source for easy installation.
Essentials: Durable Office Furniture at an Accessible Price
OCE’s Essentials line offers a practical option for offices seeking dependable furniture at a budget-friendly price. The line is built with thermal fused laminate and optional high-pressure laminate tops. Customers can choose from five standard base colors and five standard top colors. The curated set of configurations provides reliable solutions for essential office needs. Essentials is OCE’s most economical furniture option and maintains the craftsmanship and durability customers expect.
Learn more about OCE’s Privacy Pod, Essentials line, and other workspace solutions at oce.oregon.gov.
Sep 30, 2026 | AOC Business Partner
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: NACo
The NACo AI Leadership Academy is an innovative, completely online 6-week program created to equip frontline county government leaders with the knowledge and tools they need to understand and utilize AI to create higher levels of operational efficiency, organizational effectiveness and value for those they serve.
This robust curriculum, developed by the Professional Development Academy in partnership with NACo, provides lessons and insights from highly effective government leaders, proven industry executives, researchers and professors from top universities and subject matter experts. These professionals, along with an online Leadership Coach, address pressing issues facing county leaders today: understanding the power of AI, mitigating the risk of AI and navigating the complexity of cascading change occurring because of AI.
The leadership coaches facilitating this program will demystify AI with practical, relevant and immediately actionable cases, frameworks and tools for existing and emerging leaders in government. The work of government leaders has never been more challenging. This program addresses the challenge head-on and provides participants with engaging content that will increase confidence to lead with AI for good governance.
The next cohort kicks off November 2nd. To find more information or to enroll, visit naco.org/ai-leadership-academy.
Sep 30, 2026 | AOC Business Partner
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: Amazon Business
Counties across the country are facing an unprecedented range of natural disasters. That’s why Amazon Business has worked with emergency managers to develop purchasing lists that help you prepare better when it matters most—with 2,200+ emergency essentials up to 25% off, with bulk availability.
- 📦Bulk Disaster Reorder List – Water, batteries, tarps, first aid kits, flashlights, and general emergency essentials
- 🌀 Flood Rapid Reorder List – Pumps, sandbags, waterproof gear, generators, and more
- 🔥 Wildfire Rapid Reorder List – Respirators, fire-resistant PPE, air purifiers, and evacuation supplies
- 🌪️ Tornado Rapid Reorder List – Emergency sheltering, debris cleanup, first aid, and communications equipment
- ☀️Heat Mitigation Rapid Reorder List – Cooling towels, hydration supplies, shade structures, and electrolyte replenishment
Enroll in free Business Prime through AOC here, using code V4CPPP.
Oregon counties are saving big with Amazon Business. Counties that have joined the Amazon Business + AOC partnership have saved a combined $109,812 in 2026. That’s roughly $3,660 per county across program discounts, B2B pricing, and free shipping savings. From office supplies to IT equipment, these savings add up fast and go right back into serving your community.
Amazon Free Prime Flyer
Sep 30, 2026 | AOC Business Partner
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: Alternative Claims Management
When your county vehicle is involved in a not-at-fault accident, the immediate priorities are clear: repair the vehicle, return it to service, and minimize disruption to public operations.
Often, once the repair bill has been paid, the claim is considered closed. When that happens, it’s tempting to consider the matter over and done with.
But physical damage is just the beginning of the recovery process. A gap exists in nearly every county that you might not be aware of. Additional recoverable value may have been overlooked, underclaimed, or never pursued – and it could still be sitting in your closed claims.
For county fleets, physical damage is just one piece of a larger recovery picture. Depending on the accident, vehicle, and its use, additional recovery opportunities may include loss of use, administrative expenses, towing and storage, specialty equipment costs, and other eligible losses. An accident may also affect operations or an asset’s value, even after repairs are complete.
Consider a county vehicle that’s unavailable while awaiting repairs. During that time, staff may need to coordinate other transportation, manage more paperwork, or adjust operations.
A specialized vehicle may also require equipment to be inspected, removed, fixed, or reinstalled. Those impacts create costs that aren’t always reflected in the original repair estimate. In most cases, a second look at closed claims is crucial.
A claim’s age doesn’t automatically mean more recovery is impossible. That said, applicable statutes of limitations vary by state and claim type, and documentation is essential. Reviewing claims before deadlines expire can help you recover on potential opportunities.
Do your closed claims still hold value? County fleet and risk-management teams can start by asking:
- Were past claims closed after physical damage was paid?
- Was the vehicle out of commission for an amount of time?
- Did it involve specialized equipment, towing, storage, or additional administrative work?
- Are supporting documents available?
- Has the claim ever been reviewed for recovery beyond the repair bill?
At Alternative Claims Management, we’ve been the not-at-fault claims recovery experts since 1997. Our specialty is helping organizations like yours identify and pursue overlooked recovery opportunities – including those from closed claims.
For counties managing taxpayer-funded vehicles and equipment, reviewing closed claims could provide another way to identify value that was not recovered during the original claims process.
A claim may be closed, but that doesn’t always mean you’ve recovered every dollar you’re owed.
