NTCA- The Rural Broadband Association has an initiative — known as Smart Rural Community — that promotes rural broadband networks and related applications. The program encourages rural areas to use broadband to foster economic development, commerce, education, health care, government services, public safety and security, and efficient energy use. The program is based on the understanding that communities across the U.S. must be able to compete in a global marketplace, and that rural communities are often at a disadvantage in that they typically have less access to the tools and technologies that make it possible.
Broadband Enabled. Locally Driven. Globally Connected.
SMART RURAL COMMUNITY
Madison is a Smart Rural Community committed to providing quality communication and entertainment services to rural customers at a level which is unsurpassed in the rural communities today.
What is the NTCA's Smart Rural Community Program?
Madison Communications Receives National Recognition
Senior Vice President, Kim Harber (middle), is pictured accepting the award in Boston, MA, amongst Scott Leitzel of Twin Valley Telephone, former SRC recipient and Shirley Bloomfield, President of NTCA.
In 2015, Madison Communications was one of 12 rural communications firms in North America to be honored with the Smart Rural Community Award by NTCA —The Rural Broadband Association, which cited Madison Communications’ advanced communications services and collaboration with local leaders, businesses, and civic engagement as keys to its success. At a gathering of more than 1,000 leaders of rural telecommunications providers hosted by NTCA in Boston, MA, Madison Communications was honored with an award for deploying advanced technologies and leveraging those technologies to enable innovation in the areas of economic development and commerce, civic engagement, education, enhanced health care, public safety and security.
Madison Communications’ civic engagement was specifically spotlighted for partnerships with state agencies, chamber executives and economic development professionals, to provide forums for utilizing broadband to extend market outreach, advertising, cost-efficient inventory and financial transaction applications and public safety. The company’s headquarters training room serves as a community computer lab where company personnel offer basic courses as well as new technology workshops to encourage adoption and use.
Madison Communications’ efforts were judged against those of dozens of other communities nationwide by a panel of experts from the fields of telecommunications, software and technology services, education, health care and economic development. “We’re honored to receive such an award, and look forward to continuing to help our communities grow in multiple areas of economic development, healthcare and education,” said Mary Schwartz Westerhold, Vice President.
To learn more about the NTCA’s Smart Rural Community visit https://www.ntca.org/smart-rural-community.
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