Community Broadband & Digital Equity Awards

SUBMIT AN AWARD NOMINATION
Nominations deadline: April 19, 2024

Throughout the United States, numerous exceptional leaders in government, business and the community are serving as champions of local interests and needs in broadband and technology. NATOA's Community Broadband & Digital Equity (CBDE) Awards annually recognize these efforts and achievements.

The Community Broadband Awards are announced at NATOA's annual conference and the recipients are highlighted on NATOA's website.

Awards will be presented in the following categories:

  • Community Broadband Project of the Year: A municipal project/initiative that supports reliable, scalable internet infrastructure and (as applicable) its affordability for end-users.
  • Digital Equity Project of the Year: A project/initiative that supports confident and safe adoption and use of the internet
  • NEW FOR 2024! Public-Private Partnership (P3) of the Year: A broadband and/or digital equity project/initiative that reflects an innovative and/or replicable public-private partnership.

   

2023 AWARD WINNERS

Community Broadband Projects of the Year

The City of Fort Collins, CO Connexion Initiative, a municipal broadband utility created by and for the community to improve the life of all 80,000 residential and commercial properties of Fort Collins through better, more affordable internet. Connexion offers the fastest internet speeds available at affordable prices as well as competitive phone and TV services. Connexion has its own Digital Inclusion Program, which includes 1 GB symmetrical speeds for $20/month to income qualified residents. Fort Collins has established strong relationships with regional partners such as Larimer County and other Northern Colorado municipal ISPs.

The City of Pharr, TX TeamPharr.net Initiative, is a completely owned and operated municipal fiber network with over 700 miles of fiber, live in 2 of 3 geographical areas of the City. This network, once completed, will serve over 24,000 residential households and business accounts, not only small business but also produce and manufacturing companies due to our international bridge. Their recent partnership with their largest local school district in the region with a student population of approximately 30,000 students will fund 1 GB service to every student household in their district. 

 

Digital Equity Project of the Year

The City of Austin, TX Community Broadband, Technology & Digital Equity Initiative, aiming to close the digital divide in Austin through a commitment to digital inclusion and equity; managing the Digital Empowerment Community of Austin, a collective of community organizations and businesses; administering the $400,000 annual Grants for Technology Opportunity Program; managing the bilingual digital literacy and computer labs; refurbishing city of Austin retired devices and distributing them to residents via local nonprofit; and overseeing the management of three Austin Public Access TV Channels through a partnership with the Austin Film Society.

   

Who are the past recipients?

Community Broadband Project of the Year: The City of Wilson, NC Greenlight Initiative

Digital Equity Project of the Year: The City of McAllen, TX WiFi Initiative
  • Community Broadband Project of the Year: City of Anacortes, WA -- Leverage of Water/Wastewater Utility "Pipe-in-Pipe" Fiber Program to Develop Municipal ISP
  • Digital Equity Project of the Year: City of Boston, MA -- Digital Equity & Inclusion Programs
  • COVID-19 Response Digital Equity Project of the Year - Seniors Support: Community Tech Network (CTN), Home Connect and Train-the-Trainer Program
  • COVID-19 Response Digital Equity Project of the Year - Distance Learning: Thompson School District Expansion of Pulse Municipal FTTP Network
  • Community Broadband Project of the Year: Guadalupe Valley Electric Coop
  • Digital Equity Project of the Year: Digital Charlotte
  • Community Broadband and Digital Equity Innovative Partnership: City of Huntington Beach, American Tower & Phillips Lighting – Smart Fusion Poles
    • Community Broadband Hero of the Year: Jordana Barton, Senior Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, TX
    • Community Broadband Project of the Year: Prince George County, VA Rural Fiber Broadband Public/Private Partnership
    • Digital Equity Project of the Year: Los Angeles, CA “Our Cycle LA Program”
    • Community Broadband and Digital Equity Innovative Partnership: Arlington County, VA Digital Inclusion Initiative

    This year’s awards program was generously sponsored by Mobilitie.
      • Community Broadband Hero of the Year: Danna MacKenzie, State of MN Office of Broadband Development
      • Community Broadband Project of the Year: Longmont Power & Communications, Longmont, CO
      • Community Broadband Strategic Plan of the Year: Seattle, WA “Strategic Plan for Facilitating Equitable Access to Wireless Broadband”
      • Digital Equity Project of the Year: Seattle, WA “Technology Matching Fund”
      • Community Broadband Innovative Partnership of the Year: Garrett County, MD & Declaration Networks Group, Inc.
      • Community Broadband Hero of the Year – FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel
      • Community Broadband Project of the Year – City of Ammon, Idaho
      • Community Broadband Strategic Plan of the Year – Portland, Oregon Digital Equity Action Plan (DEAP)
      • Digital Equity Project of the Year – City and County of San Francisco’s SF Connected Program
      • Community Broadband Innovative Partnership Award – Minnesota’s RS Fiber Cooperative
      • Community Broadband Visionary – Mary Beth Henry
      • Community Broadband Heroes of the Year: Jeremy Pietzold and Joe Knapp
      • Community Broadband Project of the Year: City of Ellensburg, WA
      • Community Broadband Strategic Plan of the Year: LinkNYC
      • Digital Equity Project of the Year: Digital Dojo Coding Team in Eugene, OR
      • Community Broadband Innovative Partnership of the Year: City of Westminster, MD and TING
      • Community Broadband Visionary: Charles Benton
      • Community Broadband Heroes of the Year: Senator Matt Schmit and Representative Erik Simonson
      • Community Broadband Project of the Year: Martin County, FL and Oconee FOCUS
      • Community Broadband Organization of the Year: Older Adults Technology Services (OATS)
      • Community Broadband Fiber Network of the Year: The Hartford Metro Area Network (HMAN)
      • Community Broadband Wireless Network of the Year: City of Wilmington, NC and New Hanover County
      • Community Broadband Visionary: FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler
      • Community Broadband Hero of the Year: Deb Socia, City of Boston
      • Community Broadband Project of the Year: NC Next Generation Network (NCNGN)
      • Community Broadband Organization of the Year: Network Startup Resource Center, OR
      • Community Broadband Fiber Network of the Year: Longmont, CO
      • Community Broadband Wireless Network of the Year: Terra, Alaska
      • Community Broadband Visionary: Alberto Carvalho
      • Community Broadband Hero of the Year: John Windhausen
      • Community Broadband Project of the Year: Urbana-Champaign Big Broadband (UC2B)
      • Community Broadband Organizations of the Year: Institute for Local Self Reliance and Massachusetts Broadband Institute
      • Community Broadband Fiber Projects of the Year: City of Wilson, NC and Clackamas County, OR
      • Community Broadband Wireless Network of the Year: Port Angeles, WA
      • Community Broadband Visionary: Blair Levin
      • Community Broadband Visionary of the Year: Chris Vein, CIO, City and County of San Francisco 
      • Community Broadband Hero of the Year: John L. Byrd, Harris County (TX) Sheriff’s office 
      • Community Broadband Organization of the Year: City of Monticello, MN 
      • Community Broadband Project of the Year: MI Connection 
      • Community Broadband Wireless Network of the Year: Digital Redwoods, Digital Rio Dell, and Access Humboldt 
      • Community Broadband Fiber Network of the Year: Bristol Virginia Utilities