Broadband Communities Awards 2026
The Broadband Communities Awards have been an important recognition of excellence as part of the Broadband Communities Summit since 2004. Each year we review the categories to ensure their relevance to the industry and are enhancing the judging process to ensure that the Broadband Communities Awards benefit from greater credibility and transparency. if you make the effort to enter the awards, we want to make sure that they are worth entering, worth winning, and worth shouting about!
The aim is to recognize achievements in broadband and connectivity for all communities and municipalities, including residential multifamily (apartments, campus housing, active adult communities) and planned communities (multi-home developments, renewed urban areas). This means that for most categories, applications are accepted from these organizations and their partners.
Entries are free and you can nominate in as many categories as you like. This year's winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at the end of Day 1 of Broadband Communities Summit 2026, at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Texas on August 26 2026.
You will need to register on the platform before you can complete your entry. Please complete all questions when registering. Note: you will receive an email with a validation code which must be added to complete the registration process. Please check your junk folder.
If you do not want to complete your entry in one sitting you can part complete your entry and come back to it later. Your information is automatically saved. Simply login again using the YOUR ACCOUNT tab in the menu to complete your entry. To submit your entry, agree to the terms and conditions then click the CONTINUE button at the bottom of the page.
The deadline for award entries is April 26, 2026 at 5pm (CST). Good luck!
Broadband Project of the Year
This award recognizes a specific, high-impact deployment delivering measurable results since January of 2025. We are looking for the "gold standard" of projects—one that demonstrates seamless collaboration, technical excellence, and a profound impact on the end-users.
Broadband Provider of the Year Award
Open to any ISP or service provider who identifies the end consumer as their customer. We are looking for the organization that demonstrates outstanding customer service, innovative product packaging, and imaginative partnerships that have significantly moved the needle for the communities they serve.
Broadband Visionary Award
This award recognizes a current industry leader whose career-long (or recent) contributions have fundamentally changed the trajectory of the broadband industry. This individual must be currently active in the sector (not retired) and demonstrate a clear vision for the future of connectivity.
Community Improvement Award
This is open to operators and public-sector organizations that can demonstrate a project that brings a community together and delivers a measurable improvement—whether through creating employment, launching social-based initiatives, or utilizing technology for the greater good.
Construction Partner of the Year
This award honors the "boots on the ground." It is open to the construction firms, engineering teams, and contractors who have demonstrated excellence in the physical build-out of networks, emphasizing safety, speed to market, and innovative building techniques.
Customer Experience Award
Open to all ISPs and telecom service providers. This award recognizes the organization that provides the best all-round journey for its users, emphasizing ease of use, transparency, and the enhancement of trust in an increasingly digital world.
Multifamily Partner of the Year Award
This award recognizes solutions providers (vendors, integrators, and consultants) who have excelled in delivering connectivity and smart technology to the multifamily sector. The judges will look for partners who have helped property owners solve complex connectivity challenges and enhance the resident experience.
Property of the Year Award
Open to property developers, owners, and managers who have developed or renovated a residential or mixed-use property with a "technology-first" mindset. This award honors properties that use connectivity to enhance the lives of residents and the efficiency of operations.
Rural Connectivity Award
Open to ISPs, communities, and municipalities serving rural markets. The judges will prioritize innovative initiatives and creative deployment strategies designed to overcome the unique geographical and economic hurdles of bringing high-speed internet to rural locations.
Startup of the Year Award
Open to any startup organization founded in the last 5 years with fewer than 50 employees and revenue of less than $1M per annum. Candidates must serve the telecom, community, or multifamily sectors. The winner will be determined by a live pitch during the BBC Summit.
Technology Partner of the Year Award
This award is open to vendors, systems integrators, and network designers who have demonstrated outstanding performance in partnering with a service provider or community to bring a complex technical project to life through superior hardware, software, or design.
Tribal Lands Award
This will be awarded to the organization or initiative deemed to have done the most to provide modern, high-quality telecommunications services to tribal lands, respecting sovereignty while bridging the digital gap.
Wireless Initiative Award
Open to suppliers and service providers who have created an innovative wireless solution to provide broadband to a location not easily served by a fixed solution. Solutions can include all types of wireless, including FA and satellite.
Workforce Development Award
This award recognizes an initiative or series of programs specifically addressing the industry-wide labor shortage. We are looking for organizations that are successfully training, recruiting, and retaining the skilled professionals needed to build the next generation of American networks.