Barry, IL — The City of Barry, IL, has been officially named a Smart Rural Community by NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, powered by Adams Fiber. This prestigious recognition was formally announced during the Barry City Council meeting, marking an important milestone in the city’s ongoing dedication to innovation, growth, and connectivity.
This achievement highlights Barry’s leadership in leveraging cutting-edge broadband technology to improve its community’s quality of life in a variety of ways, from driving economic development to enhancing education and supporting advancements in healthcare.
“We are thrilled to bring Barry into the national network of NTCA Smart Rural Communities,” said Bridgette Northern, Director of Marketing at Adams Fiber. “This recognition shines a spotlight on Barry’s investment in innovation and its commitment to creating a connected and vibrant future.”
Alongside Northern, other members of the Adams Fiber team, including Lori Miller, Marketing Coordinator; Danielle Flesner, Graphic Designer; Ryan Buehler, Systems Planner Manager; and Jason Baugher, Director of Network Operations, were present to celebrate this event and present the recognition to Mayor Shawn Rennecker and members of the Barry City Council.
What is a Smart Rural Community?
The NTCA Smart Rural Community program celebrates communities across the U.S. that are powered by innovative rural broadband providers. The program emphasizes the vital role broadband plays in advancing economic development, empowering students and teachers, transforming healthcare through telehealth solutions, and connecting communities to greater opportunities.
Barry will now be featured in national program materials, showcased on the official Smart Rural Community website (www.smartruralcommunity.com), and highlighted alongside other forward-thinking rural communities making a tangible impact.
Celebrating This Achievement
Barry’s official designation as a Smart Rural Community also came with a suite of materials to showcase the milestone. The city received the exclusive SRC road sign, certificate of recognition, and a social media marketing kit to help spread the word about its innovative accomplishments.
About Adams Fiber
Adams Fiber is an NTCA-certified Smart Rural Community provider, committed to bringing state-of-the-art fiber broadband to rural Illinois and has over 70 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, providing telephone and broadband Internet services in 30 communities where there was previously little or no coverage. By connecting even the most underserved areas, Adams Fiber is helping communities thrive and remain sustainable in today’s digital world. The company is well known for business communication, internet offerings and for investing in communities to further economic development.
Adams Fiber Team Members present Mayor Shawn Rennecker and Barry City Council members with SRC recognition.