Hartford, Smart Rural Community

Golden West Launches Smart Rural Community^SM Program in Hartford, Announces New Broadband Platform

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5-PhshkSeI

HARTFORD  –  Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative recently launched the Smart Rural Community ^SM program in Hartford and announced the development of a new broadband platform coming to the community.

“Golden West intends to help Hartford leverage its existing fiber infrastructure so it can bring opportunities to the community – especially as the demand for distance learning, telemedicine and remote work grows,” said Greg Oleson, director of marketing, communications and government affairs for Golden West. He made these announcements at the 2021 Hartford Area Development Foundation annual meeting on Nov. 9.

NTCA, The Rural Broadband Association, has named Golden West as a Smart Rural Community ^SM provider. As part of that designation, Golden West will partner with officials in Hartford to help answer any capacity and speed questions from potential businesses and to provide necessary information and collateral materials to market Hartford to business sectors being pursued.

“Golden West wants to help ensure that Hartford succeeds in its efforts to grow as a community in the best way possible,” Oleson said.

Faster internet speeds are an important tool in economic development, positively impacting healthcare, education, public safety and everyday activities for businesses and residents. Golden West is developing a new broadband platform that will launch first in Hartford during 2022. The platform will provide significantly higher speeds at competitive prices.

Through the Smart Rural Community ^SM program and the new broadband platform Golden West will help Hartford amplify the message of the power of fiber-driven broadband capacity to take advantage of opportunities throughout the region, nation and the world. Those efforts have already begun, according to Oleson.

“Not only did Golden West invest in fiber-optic technology (in and around Hartford), we donated to the Envision 2025 fund,” he said. “We have helped the Downtown Hartford Inc. program get the money to develop a master plan, and we have produced several ‘Meet the Owners’ videos. These spots highlight business owners in the community to raise awareness of businesses that connect with people on a level that only Hartford can do.

“Oleson shared a video (see above) about the Smart Rural Community SM program at the annual meeting, as well. Browse the collection of local “Meet the Owners” videos and stories at goldenwest.com/owners.