Smithville Touts National Recognition
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowEllettsville-based Smithville Communications is again being honored by a national publication for its technology innovations. For the sixth consecutive year, Broadband Communities has included the Indiana telecommunications provider among its “Top 100.” August 26, 2014
News Release
ELLETTSVILLE, Ind. – Indiana-based Smithville Communications has received national recognition as a Top 100 FTTP technology service leader for an unprecedented sixth straight year. Smithville, known as a top trailblazer in providing fiber broadband and fiber-to-the-premise service (FTTP) in Indiana (particularly in traditionally neglected rural areas), was named together with major national firms like Cisco Systems, DISH Network, Google (and Google Fiber), AT&T, and others in receiving the 2014 honor.
The recipients of “Top 100” award must undergo a highly competitive review process. To receive the honor, broadband companies must effectively demonstrate the capacity to “transform local economies or improve communities' quality of life,” or by “introducing innovative technologies that have game-changing potential,” and/or provide other outstanding performance factors, according to Masha Zager, editor of Broadband Communities magazine, which sponsors the Top 100 award. A panel of editorial and technical experts in fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) deployment makes the final decisions.
“Smithville Communications has now consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to state-of-the-art fiber deployment and a high-degree of performance for more than half a decade,” said Zager. “Smithville is recognized by its industry peers as a national leader in strategic fiber-based broadband, as evidenced by its proven performance in deployment and by their public comments in support of FTTH.”
Smithville Communications has previously been recognized by state officials for providing state-of-the-art fiber connectivity to Indiana citizens. “Smithville has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to Hoosiers, particularly in rural areas, by providing a 'game-changing' capacity that promotes economic development and business growth,” said Indiana Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann.
Recognizing Smithville as a national business example, the award judges cited Smithville Chairman and CEO Darby McCarty's comments about the fiber industry: “Fiber-based broadband services in the United States is at a critical crossroads,” she emphasized in the magazine.
“To maintain and improve global competitive capacity, fiber conversion must accelerate across the board, including traditionally neglected areas such as small towns, communities and rural areas. A new focus on technical applications to take full advantage of gigabit connectivity for consumers and small businesses also needs to take place. If this is achieved and supported by the FCC and other federal agencies, strategic broadband connectivity will make its maximum capacity to the improvement and sustainment of U.S. economic growth,” she concluded.
Speaking of the company's role in the Hoosier state, Ms. Darby explained: “We believe that our Indiana company and employees have received consistent national recognition for a specific reason.” Continuing, she noted, “Smithville Communications is Indiana's largest independent telecommunications and broadband provider because the company is solidly dedicated to providing the best technology and customer service available in the state.”
Founded in 1922, privately owned Smithville has grown to be Indiana's largest independent telecom company with about 180 employees. Smithville remains strongly engaged in supplying FTTH and other services through its growing network to more than 23,000 businesses and residences, now offering speeds up to 10 Gigabit (1o Gbps) for fiber-based enterprise-level companies.
Smithville made Indiana history in March 2014 when it turned up full gigabit service to all residential fiber customers for one month, becoming to the first Indiana technology company to actually provide Google-level fiber gigabit connectivity. Its continued one-gigabit service availability to residences represents some of the fastest and lifestyle changed connectivity in Indiana.
The company’s subsidiary, Smithville Telecom, provides high-speed fiber-based connectivity, data consulting, network management and managed services for businesses, university campuses, biotechnology companies, health care providers and government offices.
“We believe that Smithville Communications and Smithville Telecom continue to succeed because of our relentless focus on providing customized solutions with high performing state-of-the-art technology,” said Cullen McCarty, president of Smithville Telecom. “We have employees who come to work every day ready to provide outstanding customer service, which makes for a winning formula.”
Smithville and Smithville Telecom have expanded fiber access to hospitals and statewide health care networks, utility and wireless companies, technology parks and technology incubators, financial institutions and industrial operations. The company is active in telemedicine and telehealth initiatives, particularly in rural areas. Smithville also provides small business services, managed services, videoconferencing solutions, including customized mobile videoconferencing carts and room systems, video call bridging, ISDN transcoding, and recording and streaming services, in addition to software and hardware offerings.
About Smithville
Founded 90 years ago as the Monroe County Telephone Company, privately owned Smithville is now Indiana's largest independent telecom company with about 180 employees. Smithville is deploying Fiber-to-the-Premise (FTTP) services, which at 1-10 Gbps provides the fastest connectivity available in Indiana, to more than 23,000 businesses and residences in southern Indiana. Its subsidiary Smithville Telecom provides fiber-based connectivity, data consulting, network management and managed services for businesses, university campuses, biotechnology companies, healthcare providers and government offices. For more information, please visit www.smithville.net.
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