Awards

The shortlist of finalists across more than a dozen categories for the 2026 Broadband Communities Awards has been announced.

July 8, 2026 — Broadband Communities has officially revealed the finalists for the 2026 Broadband Communities Awards, celebrating over two decades of recognizing excellence, innovation, and community impact in the broadband sector. Since 2004, these prestigious awards have honored the providers, partners, technologies, and visionaries driving the deployment and adoption of high-speed internet.

The winners will be revealed live during a special awards ceremony at the conclusion of Day 1 at Broadband Communities Summit 2026. The event takes place on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. All Summit ticket holders are invited to attend the ceremony.

The highly anticipated Startup of the Year winner will also be revealed live at the event in a separate ceremony. The complete shortlist across all 13 remaining categories includes:

2026 Broadband Communities Awards Finalists

Broadband Provider of the Year

  • Archtop Fiber

  • Blue Stream Fiber

  • DigitalC / Canopy, Powered by DigitalC

  • Erwin Fiber (Erwin Utilities Authority)

  • Fort Collins Connexion

  • Midco

  • Ripple Fiber

  • UTOPIA Fiber

Broadband Visionary

  • David Wade

  • 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

  • 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

  • CHR Solutions

  • EPC

  • Truenet Communications

Customer Experience Award

  • Blue Stream Fiber

  • DigitalC

  • Erwin Fiber (Erwin Utilities Authority)

  • ETC Communications

  • GFiber

  • Stratus Networks

  • UTOPIA Fiber

Multifamily Partner of the Year

  • Aerwave, Inc.

  • Blueport

  • Calix SmartMDU

  • Elauwit Connections

  • RealtyCom Partners

  • Ruckus Networks – RUCKUS One and RUCKUS Wi-Fi infrastructure

  • Synergy Fiber – Fiber Enabled IoT Services for Multifamily Properties

Property of the Year

  • Aerwave: Avalon Lake Norman

  • Aerwave: Gables Riverwalk

  • Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures

Rural Connectivity Award

  • 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

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

  • 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

  • Aerwave, Inc.

  • Blueport

  • Calix SmartMDU

  • Cambium Networks

  • Comcast XMS – Multifamily Properties

  • DIRECTV and DIRECTV STREAM Bulk Service

  • Scio Services, LLC

Tribal Lands Award

  • Gila River Telecommunications, Inc.

  • Jemez Pueblo Tribal Network (JNET)

  • Toptana Technologies

Wireless Initiative Award

  • Belden-PPC / OVP Terminal

  • Erwin Utilities Authority – SmartTown

Workforce Development Award

  • 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

About the Broadband Communities Summit

Broadband Communities Summit is the leading event for community leaders, property owners, network infrastructure builders and telco service providers to meet and discuss strategies for delivering connectivity for communities across the US. For more information on the event or to secure tickets to attend the awards ceremony, visit the event’s website.

Share