Earlier this week I got an opportunity to talk with Brent Christensen from the MTA (Minnesota Telecom Alliance) about Smart Rural Communities competition hosted by the NTCA, the Rural Broadband Association. Before I describe the opportunity I want to flag this is a great opportunity for smart Minnesota communities to get noticed for their great work. I’d love to see Minnesota dominate the competition!

Back to the details from the NTCA website…

The Rural Broadband Association is accepting nominations to identify Showcase and Paradigm Smart Rural Communities. A Showcase Smart Rural Community will have achieved high-levels of broadband connectivity and collaboration with one or more local vertical industries to support innovative applications. A Paradigm Smart Rural Community will demonstrate collaboration among the broadband provider and multiple local vertical industries to develop apps and network solutions.

The NTCA Smart Rural Community (SRC) initiative is intended to promote the development and deployment of broadband-enabled applications to support and foster innovative solutions for education, health care, public safety, public utilities, civic engagement and commerce in rural America.

A couple of logistic details – the community must be served by a NTCA/MTA member – if you’re not sure just ask your local provider if they are members or contact the MTA and they might be able to connect you with your local provider. The deadline is July 31.

Below are the questions from the application/nomination form. It’s pretty straightforward but I suspect it’s important to demonstration collaboration with community stakeholders – so including them would be helpful.

1. Please provide the population of your service area.
2. Please describe the type and capacity of broadband service provided (if broadband provided over multiple platforms, please describe capacity for each platform), including any specific residential or business offerings.
3. Please describe major industries or anchor institutions in your area; these may include public utility, commercial, government, education, health‐care and not‐for‐profit organizations. Please describe any special or unique challenges confronting these users, and how broadband has enabled users to meet those challenges. These may include economic, demographic, regulatory or other.
4. Please explain whether broadband played a role in the recruitment, retention, or expansion of commercial, government, or not‐for‐profit industries to the area. Please describe other positive local or regional economic or social impact generated by your firm’s broadband offerings, and how your efforts contemplate and plan for future growth and sustainability. Please include both quantitative and qualitative information.
5. Please describe joint or collaborative undertakings with other community stakeholders, and your community leaders’ collaborative efforts to promote and stand behind broadband technology. Include a description of these leaders’ positions in industry or government.
6. Please provide additional information that would be useful in determining whether your community is a Smart Rural Community. This information may include interactive, multimedia presentations or academic studies relating to your service area and deployment.

If you feel like you’re not ready to apply this year – perhaps you can use this opportunity to start a community conversation for next year. It sounds as if this isn’t a one-off event.