For Immediate Release
Contact: Hillary Smith, 703-351-2086, [email protected]
Arlington, Va. (July 20, 2016)—One year after launching the Certified Gig-Capable Provider program to build awareness of community-based broadband providers delivering the Internet’s fastest speeds, NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association has recognized 77 companies as Certified Gig-Capable Providers. The certified companies serve a total of 491 locations in rural areas across 24 states.
The certification program launched in July 2015 was developed to highlight NTCA member companies that are delivering Internet speeds of up to 100 times faster than those currently available in many U.S. households.
This spring, NTCA introduced an interactive map that highlights the companies that have received certification. To achieve certification, companies must show that gigabit technology is currently commercially available within 95% of one or more exchanges, and that such service can be provided without new trenching or stringing new aerial facilities.
“NTCA established this program to highlight the robust gigabit broadband networks in rural America,” said NTCA Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield. “I am proud to recognize a growing number of companies as Certified Gig-Capable Providers. Their accomplishments in building gigabit networks are a great testament to their ongoing ingenuity and commitment to leading their communities to a better future.”
About Certified Gig-Capable Providers:
- The state of Iowa has the largest number of Certified Gig-Capable Providers of any state in the country with 16 certified companies, followed by North Dakota (9), and Kansas (7).
- The NTCA Central region has the largest number of Certified Gig-Capable Providers of any NTCA region with 29 companies certified in all four states of the region: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.
- NineStar Connect (Greenfield, Ind.) is the first company to be designated as a Certified Gig-Capable Provider by NTCA on July 30, 2015. It is one of two Certified Gig-Capable Providers in Indiana and serves three locations in the state. The company is also a Smart Rural Community Showcase Award recipient in 2015.
- In the North Central Region, Consolidated Telecommunications Co. (Brainerd, Minn.) is the only company that has earned not only the NTCA Certified Gig-Capable Provider designation, but also the Smart Rural Community Showcase Award and the Smart Rural Community Collaboration Challenge Grant.
More information about the NTCA Gig-Capable Provider Certification Program is available at www.ntca.org/gigcertified.
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NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is the premier association representing more than 800 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovation in rural and small-town America. NTCA advocates on behalf of its members in the legislative and regulatory arenas, and it provides training and development; publications and industry events; and an array of employee benefit programs. In an era of exploding technology, deregulation and marketplace competition, NTCA’s members are leading the IP evolution for rural consumers, delivering technologies that make rural communities vibrant places in which to live and do business. Because of their efforts, rural America is fertile ground for innovation in economic development and commerce, education, health care, government services, security and smart energy use. Visit us at www.ntca.org.