NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield today announced the winners of the 2023 Smart Rural Community Showcase Awards. The Showcase Awards are presented to rural broadband providers who not only provide high-quality, reliable connectivity, but who also have led the way on collaborative and innovative projects to advance the communities they serve.
The following providers were recognized for their commitment to their communities:
- Cass Communications (Virginia, Ill.) – CASSCOMM partnered with the Reimagine Mason City Foundation to start a youth association and student center.
- Mosaic Technologies (Cameron, Wis.) – Mosaic’s broadband allowed the Barron County Fair Board to livestream its annual livestock auction and Pro Rodeo nationwide.
- North Central Telephone Cooperative, Inc. (Lafayette, Tenn.) – NCTC partnered with the Warren Rural Electric Cooperative Corp. to connect more than 17,000 unserved residents in five Kentucky counties.
- Panhandle Telephone Cooperative, Inc. (Guymon, Okla.) – PTCI worked with the Oklahoma Scholastic Esports League to host an esports scrimmage, which led to PTCI’s inaugural Gigaverse esports tournament.
- RiverStreet Networks (Wilkesboro, N.C.) – RiverStreet built an all-fiber network in King and Queen County, Virginia, which helped connect members of the Rappahannock Tribe.
- STE Communications (Steelville, Mo.) – STE partnered with a local contractor to build a network in Norwood, Missouri, more than 100 miles from its central office.
The Smart Rural Community program is a network of communities supported by NTCA member providers who are committed to driving growth and creating opportunities through robust broadband service. The Showcase Awards are presented annually to providers to recognize their extraordinary achievements in promoting rural broadband networks and their broadband-enabled applications in rural communities. Rural broadband providers are awarded based on their ability to demonstrate the use of these technologies to enable innovative solutions to improve economic development, education, health care and other vital services.
“After ten years of presenting the Showcase Awards, I am still amazed by the exciting ways our Smart Rural Community providers continue to innovate and support their communities,” said NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield. “This year’s winners continue to show what is possible when trusted, proven providers work with local partners to better the lives of residents in the communities they serve. Congratulations to CASSCOMM, Mosaic, NCTC, PTCI, RiverStreet and STE on this accomplishment!”
The 2023 Showcase Award winners were announced at the 2023 Fall Conference. Watch the announcement video here.
