Strong access to fiber broadband a major asset

Within the last few weeks, there was an announcement in the Aurora News-Register that Hamilton Telecommunications was recently named a Smart Rural CommunitySM provider by NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association. 
In case you missed it, NTCA’s Smart Communities are powered by innovative rural broadband providers that believe that by being connected to fiber broadband we achieve more together. As the press release stated, the program promotes rural broadband and its role in supporting innovative economic development, effective education, efficient energy distribution and use, state-of-the-art health care and other important issues for rural America.
Rural broadband has been a topic of discussion in the economic development world for more than a decade. The South Central Economic Development District (SCEDD) has conducted rural broadband studies of our region and various conferences I have attended over the years have had rural broadband as a topic of discussion. While I like to stay up to date with what is happening in the region and across Nebraska and always participate in the conversation, I have been fortunate to have a different perspective than my peers on the topic, because many of them do not have the same connectivity that we do. 
Access to this speed of reliable internet is something we have come to expect, but it is not the case for many rural communities across the state.  When businesses look at Aurora as a place to locate, one of the first utilities they ask about is fiber internet. Likewise, workers and residents need high-speed internet to work from home and for their children to complete homework, not to mention that most households are streaming several types of entertainment through their smart TVs and phones each evening.  
Thank you to Hamilton Telecommunications for your investment and commitment to bringing this type of connectivity to our community. It might be an asset that we take for granted in our regular lives, but it is truly something we have come to rely on and would struggle to live without.  
With access to fiber broadband, our residents and local businesses can truly participate in today’s digital world. From learning, to working, to entertainment and everything in between, Aurora’s connectivity puts us on an even playing field with some of the most advanced communities in the country as a Smart Rural Community.   
 KELSEY BERGEN serves as executive director of the Aurora Development Corporation. She can be reached at kelsey@growaurora.com