LightStream Wins Smart Rural Community Showcase Award
Arlington, Va., (February 23, 2021)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield today announced LightStream as a winner of the 2020 Smart Rural CommunitySM (SRC) Showcase Award.
LightStream is a member of NTCA, the premier association representing nearly 850 independent, community-based telecommunications companies in rural communities across America. NTCA’s SRC program is a network of communities supported by providers who are committed to creating opportunities in their communities through high-quality broadband service. Showcase Awards are given to those SRC members that best exemplify the program’s goal of driving growth in rural communities.
“As we all grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic last year, our SRC members led the charge to ensure that their communities stayed connected during this crucial time,” said Bloomfield. “The 2020 Showcase Award Winners are truly the best of the best who went above and beyond to serve their communities. I want to congratulate LightStream for winning the 2020 Showcase Award, and also thank them for the work they have done to keep small-town America connected.”
“Our initiative started in 2010 by constructing fiber optic lines to our local hospitals,” says Brent Gillum, President and CEO of LightStream. “IU Health White Memorial Hospital in Monticello and Pulaski Memorial Hospital in Winamac have the fastest and most reliable connection available to take advantage of electronic health records, increased security, more efficient diagnostic imaging, telemedicine options, and future growth. Since then, we have installed more than 600 miles of fiber in Pulaski and White Counties to develop a network that delivers endless opportunities. Rural broadband has never been more popular, and we take great pride in bringing economic development to our area.”
“The city of Monticello salutes LightStream for its hard work to enable our residents to fully participate in today’s connected society,” said Mayor Cathy Gross. “Because of access to gigabit speed internet, Monticello provides its residents with educational and economic opportunities on par with those in the most connected regions of America.”
To learn more about the SRC program, click here. The 2020 Showcase Award Winners were announced at the 2021 RTIME Online conference. Watch the announcement video: click here.
Contact: Lauren Gaydos, 703-351-2015, lgaydos@ntca.org
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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 innovative change in smart rural communities across America. In an era of transformative technological developments, regulatory challenges and marketplace competition, NTCA members are advancing efforts to close the digital divide by delivering robust and high-quality services over future-proof networks. Their commitment to building sustainable networks makes rural communities 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.
About LightStream
Headquartered in Buffalo, IN, Pulaski White Rural Telephone Cooperative (d/b/a LightStream) has been providing telecommunications services in the greater Buffalo, Pulaski and Star City areas since 1954. Now serving the areas of Monticello and Winamac, LightStream provides high-speed Internet and phone services to approximately 2,300 customers. LightStream is building a connected community with the most reliable fiber technology that delivers the best entertainment options to your home and the most dependable network to your business. Visit us at www.lightstreamin.com.
About Monticello
Nestled between Lakes Shafer and Freeman, the City of Monticello proudly sits on the banks of the Tippecanoe River. These lakes provide endless activities for both residents and visitors including public beaches boating, fishing, cruises, and Indiana Beach, a major amusement park which brings approximately 750,000 visitors annually to the city.
Our parks are numerous and diverse, boasting 7 parks with a population of only 5,300, our residents and guests are provided uncommon access and opportunities for healthy living and wellness.
A local hospital, first class public education, our location 30 minutes north of world re-nowned Purdue University, and halfway between Chicago IL and Indianapolis IN, with access to arts and culture a short drive away, all combine to make this the perfect community in which to raise a family.
A thriving local economy supported by internet access and technology, makes Monticello unique among other rural communities of our size and demographics. Celebrated for local government cooperation between multi-government entities, our residents understand and benefit from collaborative endeavors. But, most of all, the people of Monticello are what make us great, our employees with hearts to serve, our residents, and our guests, all work together to make Monticello a great place to live, work, and play!
Come Visit Us Soon!