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.
United Communications out of Franklin, Tennessee, is laser-focused on how economic development can transform rural communities into competitive hubs for business growth, innovation and opportunity.
Through its Project UNITE, United has secured more than $110 million in federal and state grants for broadband expansion. United worked hand-in-hand with the Maury County Chamber to align its broadband expansion with the region’s broader economic development strategy. And since 2020, Maury County has generated more than $4.3 billion in new business investments, supported in part by expanded broadband coverage.
By aligning broadband expansion with bold economic goals, United Communications is showing how Smart Rural Communities can become smart business hubs too.
Click here for the full list of 2025 recipients.