ESCANABA — Highline celebrates eight townships — Bark River, Cornell, Ford River, Lynn, Moore, Snover, Watertown, and Wells Townships — for being named Smart Rural Communities. These townships represent the areas where Highline has connected customers to its gigabit-speed fiber internet.

In early 2022, Highline was named a Smart Rural CommunitySM (SRC) provider by NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association. SRC is a national network of communities powered by innovative rural broadband providers that are building a brighter future for small-town America. 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.

“We appreciate NTCA’s recognition of our townships and celebrate the hard work each community and key player poured into earning the designation of a Smart Rural Community,” said Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-01). “It’s imperative that our rural communities can offer residents equitable access so they are equipped to fully participate in today’s connected society. I’m proud to witness and assist in the economic, business, and educational advancements gained from high-speed internet access for our district.”

Highline delivers its subscribers 100% broadband, at 1000/1000 Mbps. As a result of Highline’s national recognition, all eight of the communities it has connected to real high-speed internet will now be celebrated as Smart Rural Communities1 in program materials and online at www.smartruralcommunity.com, joining a national network of similarly innovative communities.

“Highline has proven that we can solve the Internet issues our customer previously experienced after being left behind by other telecom companies. Fast and reliable Internet access is what Michigan’s rural residents need and deserve,” said Bruce Moore, CEO of Highline-Midwest. “Our fiber-based gigabit internet – that is, 1,000 Mbps – provides its communities with a future-proof network.”

NTCA Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield also recognized Highline for this achievement, noting, “We are so excited that as a Smart Rural Community provider, Highline keeps increasing the number of SRCs in their area that are delivering the fastest speeds in some of the most remote and rural communities of our country. I applaud Highline and all of the SRCs for their commitment to enabling cutting-edge technologies that drive innovation and promote economic development in their region and nationwide.”