NTCA members know better than nearly anyone else in the broadband business how powerful it can be when community leaders from government, economic development entities, hospitals, libraries, schools and agriculture convene for critical collaborations. I hope you plan to join me at SRC Live!, June 8-10 in Las Vegas, for an interactive summit full of conversations about the future-forward opportunities that arise when rural community leaders leverage broadband-enabled applications together. Given the next steps for the BEAD broadband funding and the new emphasis on states and community relationships, I can’t think of a better time to gather!
A number of NTCA members have asked me what SRC Live! is really all about, and I have shared that this will be a summit for rural fiber broadband providers and local government, community and industry leaders to identify best practices aimed at leveraging broadband to improve rural viability and prosperity. This breakthrough event will include case-study presentations, technology expositions and facilitated discussions. Breakout sessions will offer opportunities for focused conversations whose outcomes will be presented for additional discussions and reflection. This convening of broadband, industrial, local government and community leaders along with historic public funding for broadband deployment, makes this event the place to be.
With the opportunities that lie ahead for the rural broadband industry, this is the perfect time to hear and learn from others on how to ensure your community is maximizing the potential that broadband connectivity creates. Hear from leaders in a wide range of sectors across the country share insights on the ways rural broadband providers can partner with them to develop and deploy technology solutions for projects and programs that will benefit their communities. Make sure you are registered and plan to join us before early-bird rates end May 2.
And on a separate but very related note, we are doubling down on our efforts to turn our Smart Rural Community program into a robust brand, with more tools, communications and ways to celebrate your networks with your stakeholders and communities. There has never been a more critical time to differentiate your services from other providers, particularly as additional broadband funding becomes available. As SRT Communications CEO Cassidy Hjelmstad has shared, the SRC brand is powerful as:
- An advocacy voice;
- An economic development catalyst;
- And service level commitment for companies that are truly doing it right by building the networks of the future.
Smart Rural Community providers will also qualify for an exciting new benefit with our partners at FiberHomes.com, which will highlight fiber-connected communities served by community-based providers and the stories of Smart Rural Communities and Smart Connected Communities. Yet another reason to come join us and find out more about how to amplify the great work that you and your teams are already doing building robust broadband in rural America.
If you are already an SRC, come kickstart your program and efforts and hear more about our new tools and branding opportunities. If you’re thinking about becoming a Smart Rural Community program participant, stop thinking about it and come join us! The more we have under our SRC umbrella, the more powerful the SRC brand can be.