BROADBAND COMMUNITIES AWARDS SHORTLIST 2026

2026 FULL SHORTLIST*:

Broadband Provider of the Year

Finalists:

Archtop Fiber

Blue Stream Fiber

DigitalC / Canopy, Powered by DigitalC

Erwin Fiber (Erwin Utilities Authority)

Fort Collins Connexion

Midco

Ripple Fiber

UTOPIA Fiber

 

Broadband Project of the Year

Finalists:

Alabama Fiber Network

Bountiful Fiber Powered by UTOPIA Fiber

Broadband Task Force - Bastrop County Cares, Bastrop County, LRCA, Communities Unlimited, County Commissioner Precinct 4: David Glass, Connected Nation, Methodist Health Ministries, St David’s Foundation, Highline

Fidium

MCNC HERO Project

Midco

Meridian Management, Inc, Owner's Representative Project Management and Quality Control on the Akuluraq Fiber Project

 

Broadband Visionary

Finalists:

David Wade, CEO, EPB

Deborah Kish, Vice President of Research and Workforce Development, Fiber Broadband Association

Joshua Edmonds, CEO, DigitalC

Joshua Turiano, Chief Innovation & AI Officer at Blue Stream Fiber

Roger Timmerman, Executive Director, UTOPIA Fiber

 

Community Improvement Award

Finalists:

Blueport

Broadband Task Force - Bastrop County Cares, Bastrop County, LRCA, Communities Unlimited, County Commissioner Precinct 4: David Glass, Connected Nation, Methodist Health Ministries, St David’s Foundation, Highline

EPB - Electric and Fiber Optics Service Provider

Erwin Fiber (Erwin Utilities Authority)

Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology

Pivot Tech Development

 

Construction Partner of the Year Award

Finalists:

CHR Solutions

EPC

Truenet Communications

 

Customer Experience Award

Finalists:

Blue Stream Fiber

DigitalC

Erwin Fiber (Erwin Utilities Authority)

ETC Communications

GFiber

Stratus Networks

UTOPIA Fiber

 

Multifamily Partner of the Year

Finalists:

Aerwave, Inc.

Blueport

Calix SmartMDU

Elauwit Connections

RealtyCom Partners – meet today’s telecom demands and trends

Ruckus Networks - RUCKUS One and RUCKUS Wi-Fi infrastructure

Synergy Fiber - Fiber Enabled IoT Services for Multifamily Properties

 

Property of the Year

Finalists:

Aerwave: Avalon Lake Norman

Aerwave: Gables Riverwalk

Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures

 

Rural Connectivity Award

Finalists:

Alabama Fiber Network

Broadband Task Force - Bastrop County Cares, Bastrop County, LRCA, Communities Unlimited, County Commissioner Precinct 4: David Glass, Connected Nation, Methodist Health Ministries, St David’s Foundation, Highline

City of Monahans

Fidium

Further Reach

United Communications

WOW! Internet, TV & Phone

 

Startup of the Year

To be announced at the event.

 

Network Technology Partner of the Year (Broadband Infrastructure, OSS/BSS & Operator Software)

Finalists:

CHR Solutions - Cybersecurity and Managed IT

CHR Solutions Omnia360

gaiia

GOCare OutageIQ

Preseem (by Aterlo Networks)

Render Networks and ADB Companies

Sonar Software

 

Multifamily Technology Partner of the Year

Finalists:

Aerwave, Inc.

Blueport

Calix SmartMDU

Cambium Networks

Comcast XMS – Multifamily Properties

DIRECTV and DIRECTV STREAM Bulk Service

Scio Services, LLC

 

Tribal Lands Award

Finalists:

Gila River Telecommunications, Inc.

Jemez Pueblo Tribal Network (JNET)

Toptana Technologies

 

Wireless Initiative Award

Finalists:

Belden-PPC / OVP Terminal

Erwin Utilities Authority - SmartTown

 

Workforce Development Award

Finalists:

Blue Stream Fiber's Emerging Leaders Program

Clearfield’s Tribal Broadband Training Initiative

EPC

Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) OpTIC™ Path Fiber Optic Technician Training Program

Leadership Elevated: The Blue Stream Fiber Experience (Leading with Clarity, Connection & Confidence)

 

 

 

*The winner of Startup of the Year will be announced at the event