NTCA-Rural Broadband Association recognizes Smart Rural Community Showcase Award winners

NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association recognized 13 rural communities in the U.S. and Canada as Smart Rural Community Showcase Award winners, "as part of the association's initiative to highlight efforts that make rural hometowns vibrant places in which to live and do business," says the organization.

The organization says its goal "is to foster the development of smart communities throughout rural America and Canada by recognizing innovators, highlighting innovative implementation of broadband solutions and identifying resources to assist other broadband providers and connected industries." Winners were selected for "promoting access to next-generation applications and platforms such as distance learning, telehealth services, public safety and security."

The winning broadband providers were: Copper Valley Telecom, Valdez, Alaska; Consolidated Telecommunications, Brainerd, Minn.; FTC, Kingstree, S.C.; HuronTel, Ripley, Ont.; North Central Telephone Cooperative, Lafayette, Tenn.; Premier Communications, Sioux Center, Iowa; Peoples Rural Telephone Cooperative, McKee, Ky.; Solarus, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.; Triangle Communications, Havre, Mont.; Tri-County Communications Cooperative, Strum, Wis.; Twin Valley Telephone Co., Miltonvale, Kan.;Vernon Telephone Cooperative, Westby, Wis.; Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom, Waitsfield, Vt. (Read more)