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.
One of the eight 2025 winners was Rainbow Communications from Everest, Kansas. After seeing a growing interest in esports in Kansas schools, Rainbow went all-in on helping its schools get involved, educating students about career opportunities and working with school leaders to remove barriers to participation. Rainbow partnered with Highland Community College to support its esports programs and introduced the Rainbow Esports Scholarship, a $1,000 award presented each year to one student in Rainbow’s service territory who joins the HCC esports team.
By championing esports and creating new pathways for students to explore tech-driven futures, Rainbow Communications shows that when broadband providers invest in both innovation and opportunity, they help students dream bigger and go further.
Click here for the full list of 2025 recipients.