NTCA Member Companies Earn 2015 Smart Rural Community Showcase Awards

BOSTON, Sept. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, the premier national association representing nearly 900 independent, community-based telecommunications companies, today recognized 12 communities in rural areas of the United States that have earned Smart Rural Community Showcase awards as part of the association's initiative to highlight efforts that make rural communities vibrant places in which to live and do business.

The goal of the NTCA Smart Rural Community initiative is to foster the development of smart communities throughout rural America and Canada by encouraging innovative implementation of broadband solutions and access to next-generation applications for distance learning, telehealth services, public safety and security. Smart Rural Community provides educational programming, matching grant resources and an award program to recognize top-performing communities. Today, NTCA recognized member companies that embody Smart Rural Community principles.

The following broadband providers received national recognition:

• Arvig (Perham, Minn.)
• Big Bend Telephone Co. (Alpine, Texas)
• Citizens Mutual Telephone Cooperative (Bloomfield, Iowa)
• Endeavor Communications (Cloverdale, Ind.)
• Lakeland Communications Group (Milltown, Wis.)
• Madison Telephone Co. (Staunton, Ill.)
• NineStar Connect (Greenfield, Ind.)
• Paul Bunyan Communications (Bemidji, Minn.)
• Polar Communications Mutual Aid Corp. (Park River, N.D.)
• Rainbow Telecommunications Association (Everest, Kan.)
• South Slope Cooperative Communications (North Liberty, Iowa)
• Tri-County Telephone Association (Council Grove, Kan.)

NTCA Smart Rural Community award recipients were recognized at a gathering of more than 1,500 rural telecom leaders in Boston. In addition to receiving national and local recognition for their extraordinary efforts, the selected Smart Rural Community award recipients will join recipients of prior year awards to formulate best practices and assist other rural communities in the implementation of innovative broadband-enabled solutions to drive economic and community strength in rural areas throughout the nation.

For more information about the initiative, visit www.ntca.org/smart.

NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is the premier association representing nearly 900 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.

Contact:      
Hillary Crowder
(703) 351-2086
[email protected]

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SOURCE NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association

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