Consolidated
has been honored with the Smart Rural CommunitySM Showcase award by
NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, which cited Consolidated’s advanced
communications services and collaboration with local leaders in agriculture,
health care, public safety and education as keys to its success.

 

At
a gathering of more than 1,300 rural telecommunications industry leaders hosted
by NTCA, Consolidated was honored with an award for deploying advanced
technologies and leveraging those technologies to enable innovation in the
areas of economic development and commerce, education, enhanced health care,
government services, security and energy use.

In addition to Consolidated, 12 other providers and
their communities in Alabama, Colorado, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio,
South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin were also recognized.

“Consolidatedis a prime example of the power
of a broadband connection and a steadfast commitment to growth and prosperity,”
said NTCA Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield. “Not only are the people
of Consolidated charting their own path to a more prosperous future, they are
also creating a road map for many more communities across the country to follow
suit. I commend the people of Consolidated for these extraordinary efforts.”

The
NTCA Smart Rural Community initiative recognizes and celebrates the efforts of
rural telecommunications providers and their communities to deliver
technologies that make rural communities vibrant places in which to live and do
business. The goal of the initiative is to foster the development of Smart
Rural Communities throughout rural America by recognizing trailblazers and
providing resources to assist broadband providers and connected industries.

“We are pleased and excited to accept this award,”
said Rhonda Fitterer, who received the award on behalf of Consolidated. “We
have worked hard with our local leaders to ensure that our citizens have access
to advanced communications and the many benefits those services enable. We look
forward to building on our success for many years to come.”

About
NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association

NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is the premier association
representing nearly 850 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 transformative
technological advancements, regulatory challenges and marketplace competition, NTCA
members are leading the technological evolution for rural consumers, delivering
robust and high-quality services over future-proof networks 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, e-commerce, health care, agriculture and education, and it
contributes billions of dollars to the U.S. economy each year. Visit us at www.ntca.org.