The National League of Cities announced its 2008 Awards for Municipal Excellence Winners. "These cities have demonstrated leadership and imagination in creating municipal programs and are being recognized as winners for the Awards for Municipal Excellence," said Donald J. Borut, NLC's executive director in an announcement on the League's Web site. "These programs are illustrative of the types of projects that are improving the lives of residents in cities and towns across the country."

Bristol Virginia Mayor Jim Rector said of his city's gold award: "To get this kind of national recognition is very exciting. What we have done is a perfect example of how any small community can position for growth and improve quality of life through fiber-optics. Our partnerships have helped transform rural Southwest Virginia into a technology hub."

The city launched the nation's first municipally owned fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) broadband network offering voice, cable and data services in 2003. BVU OptiNet also partnered with the Cumberland Plateau Company, a division of the Cumberland Plateau Planning District Commission representing the counties of Russell, Buchanan, Dickenson and Tazewell, to bring digital voice and advanced broadband services to remote areas of Southwest Virginia.

"It is gratifying to be counted among such an elite group of cities," said Bristol Virginia City Manager Bill Dennison in a release. "Our decision to link our economic future to advanced technology was daring and progressive. This move has and will continue to reap rewards."

Gold and Silver Winners:

Population Category Under 50,000:
Gold: Bristol, Virginia
Silver: South Sioux City, Nebraska

Population Category of 50,001 - 150,000:
Gold: High Point, North Carolina
Silver: West Covina, California

Population Category of 150,001 - 500,000
Gold Henderson, Nevada
Silver Award Winner: Boise, Idaho

Population Category of 500,001 and over:
Gold: San Jose, California
Silver: Denver, Colorado