This year’s Smart Rural Community Live came just days after Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program allocations were announced, with state broadband offices working to prioritize public private partnerships that providers are creating to help move this historic broadband funding effort forward. With this heavy focus on funding and rural communities, the gathering was an ideal opportunity to exchange ideas with others. There were also breakout sessions on telehealth, smart agriculture, economic development, esports and so much more.
Smart Rural Community Live is always a success when our community members can showcase amazing things that can happen when stakeholders work together to leverage broadband-enabled applications in creative and impactful ways.
Here are some conference takeaways from a few of the many conference moderators.
“My absolute favorite part of SRC Live is the collaboration and idea sharing. It's a meeting of the minds, a hidden gem. The conference atmosphere is welcoming and casual, so you can easily meet peers and contemplate and tackle today's obstacles and opportunities. I enjoyed how several sessions became impromptu idea-sharing discussions. When I heard a great idea, I jotted it down and caught up with the person to learn more. Honestly, I learned so much, but this topic lingers in my mind. In 'Broadband for the Things We Do Not Like to Talk About,' Liz Kohler, founder of Nexion Solutions, talked about difficult domestic violence cases and how a smartwatch can assist victims in times of real trouble. Rural broadband improves the quality of life for our community members, but we often focus on the feel-good benefits. Through this presentation, I realized there is a unique opportunity to bridge regional domestic crisis centers with this technology and create meaningful partnerships within the community. I cannot think of a better way to serve and advocate for victims in our area.”
- Elizabeth Brown, PTCI (Guymon, Okla.)
“I learned so much from several of the sessions, starting with the pre- marketing session hosted by Laura Withers, Elizabeth Brown and Brandi Lyles, and the Opening General session with [NTCA CEO] Shirley [Bloomfield] and her illustrious guests! It was interesting to hear of the great things that are happening and the resources that are available. Also, it was rewarding to hear from the places who’d won Smart Rural Community grants in the past and how they have accomplished so much. Lastly, esports was something I was looking forward to and I learned so much. Esports aren't professional sports, they're students playing video games on an organized team where some colleges have scholarships for this! Who knew?”
- Nancy White, Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative (Lafayette, Tenn.)
“[I learned] many ways that others are using fiber broadband technology to help their communities. I am passionate about doing just that in our communities in the Appalachian Mountains of Eastern Kentucky. My favorite part, selfishly, was seeing friends and folks like me and sharing stories with each other. It is like one big family. The people in this industry are so great."
- Keith Gabbard, Peoples Rural Telephone Cooperative (McKee, Ky.)
More information about the Smart Rural Community program, as well as a toolkit and resources for members, is available online.