Siskiyou Telephone is California’s First Smart Rural Community℠ Provider

Siskiyou Telephone will be celebrating the newly designated Smart Rural Community of Happy Camp at the city’s annual Wellness Fair on Saturday, April 22nd, with a ribbon cutting taking place at 12:00 p.m..

ETNA, Calif., April. 12th, 2023- Siskiyou Telephone recently announced its designation as the first Smart Rural Community℠ provider in California, a program to promote and encourage high-speed broadband development in rural areas. The designation, made by the NTCA’s Rural Broadband Association, highlights Siskiyou Telephone's commitment to making rural communities vibrant places to live and do business. Fiber communities in the city limits of Etna and Fort Jones, as well as the entire Happy Camp Exchange, are distinguished as Smart Rural Communities℠ by Siskiyou Telephone’s service and the NTCA.

"Being the first California communications company who has gone all in on NTCA's Smart Rural initiative has been a huge leap forward for western Siskiyou County. “ said Russ Elliott, CEO of Siskiyou Telephone. It lets all people know that connectivity will never be an issue in our rural towns of Fort Jones, Happy Camp and Etna and that all of the healthcare, educational, commerce and entertainment options available in most urban areas are now readily available in our rural region at comparable prices. It creates new economic opportunities here in rural Siskiyou County and enhances our routine trades and services with expanded technologies that now require significant and scalable broadband. All of these towns are gigabit ready and are built for generations to come."

With over 50% of their serving area qualifying for this award, Siskiyou Telephone continues to build fiber throughout the region to achieve their goal. In addition, the company offers free wifi hotspots that provide essential Main Street internet access, for those who visit and those who currently lack internet services.

The work of Siskiyou Telephone is of vital importance in Etna, Fort Jones and Happy Camp, particularly during times of emergencies such as fires. "Many people underestimate the importance of a landline during emergencies," said Elliott, CEO of Siskiyou Telephone. "When the power goes out, when your cell phone loses signal, that landline becomes the lifeline for communication."

Siskiyou Telephone remains committed to staying at the forefront of innovation and providing services that are crucial to the safety and well-being of its communities. Since its founding in 1896, Siskiyou Telephone has earned a renowned reputation for serving the people of Western Siskiyou County.

For more information about Siskiyou Telephone and its commitment to bringing high-speed broadband to rural communities, please visit: www.siskiyoutelephone.com/home/smart-rural-community and www.ntca.org/smart-rural-community

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