Winthrop, MN – RS Fiber Cooperative (RS Fiber) has been presented with the Community Broadband Innovative Partnership Award by the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) Board of Directors.
The award was accepted on behalf of RS Fiber by Winthrop EDA Director, Mark Erickson, atNATOA’s 36th Annual Conference held September 19-22 in Austin, TX.
The award is presented annually by NATOA in recognition of exceptional leadership and innovative programs that support community interests in broadband deployment and adoption in local communities across the country.
“We are proud to honor our 2016 individuals, communities, and organizations that lead the nation in improving broadband connectivity to all our residents,” said NATOA president Jodie Miller. “These pioneers were selected based on their extraordinary efforts, achievements and innovation in community-based approaches to broadband technology.”
The RS Fiber Project is currently in its second year of construction. When completed in 2018, the high-speed fiber-optic network will provide state-of-the-art connectivity to 10 cities and 17 townships in Renville and Sibley counties.

Winthrop eda director mark erickson (center) with jodie miller, (left) president of natoa & executive director, northern dakota county minnesota cable communications commission and town square tv and fcc commissioner jessica rosenworcel (right) at the national association of telecommunications officers and advisors annual conference last week in austin, tx. (submitted photo)
About us: RS Fiber Cooperative is a community driven effort to deliver a high-speed fiber-optic connection to Sibley County and portions of Renville, Nicollet, and McLeod Counties. The project will bring fiber-optic Internet, Video, and Phone services to ten cities and seventeen townships. The RS Fiber mission is: “To provide each and every customer with an exceptional service experience that you can only expect to receive from a local business, while providing you with access to the benefits of the most advanced fiber optic network in the US”.
For additional information, or to schedule an interview, please contact David Dicke at david.dicke@rsfiber.coop or call 507-474-5884.