According to the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), rural communities can leverage broadband networks to become smarter, more efficient and stronger participants in the global marketplace.

The presence of a broadband network, however, does not itself complete the smart rural community. Rather, the actions of service providers who adopt and utilize the services create opportunities for community growth and viability.

For example, public utilities can offer consumers the unprecedented ability to control usage, increase efficiencies and preserve resources and spending. Somerset, Kansas is embarking on an ambitious project that will use broadband‐enabled technologies to increase water production from 10 million to 16 million gallons per day.

"The infrastructure and tech knowledge necessary to support smart applications exists in rural settings as well as big cities," said Shirley Bloomfield, NTCA Chief Executive Officer. "Policy makers should take note and work to ensure that rural Americans have access to the same smart applications and the many economic benefits that accompany them as their counterparts in urban areas."