At the 2025 NTCA Fall Conference, NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield announced the winners of the 2025 Smart Rural Community Showcase Awards, presented annually to rural broadband providers who not only provide high-quality, reliable connectivity, but who also have led the way on collaborative and innovative projects that advance the communities they serve.
The Smart Rural Community program is a network of more than 290 communities across a wide swath of rural America supported by NTCA member providers who are committed to driving growth through robust broadband service. The Showcase Awards are presented to providers in recognition of their extraordinary achievements in promoting rural broadband networks and innovative applications that create opportunities for the educators, health care providers, farmers, small business owners, public safety professionals and others who help their communities thrive.
Truvista from Chester, South Carolina, was one of eight Showcase winners in 2025. Truvista partnered with local schools, teachers and administrators to establish a digital literacy and internet safety program for students. The goal of this initiative was to teach age-appropriate lessons on cybersecurity, digital citizenship, privacy awareness, and responsible technology use, ensuring students have the tools to thrive in an increasingly online learning environment.
In Fairfield County, South Carolina, Truvista also played a key role in the development of the Teacher Village, a housing initiative designed to recruit and retain educators in a rural district. Truvista helped establish a technology center within the village that supports virtual learning, lesson planning and professional development.
From helping students navigate the digital world to supporting teachers, Truvista is putting the Smart Rural Community spirit into action. The company’s work shows that when broadband providers invest in education and opportunity, they help rural communities grow stronger both online and offline.
Click here for the full list of 2025 recipients.