In April 2026, the 2025 HealthBeat: Fitness Court Edition received an Emerald Award from the Kansas Association of Health Care Communicators (KAHCC) in the Communications Publication category. The Emerald Awards recognize Kansas hospitals, health systems, and healthcare organizations that demonstrate excellence in communications, marketing, public relations, and community outreach.
Mengyao (Nikki) Li is an international student from China currently pursuing a Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Information Assurance Management at Fort Hays State University. Previously, she studied Digital Marketing, and her undergraduate degree is in Architecture. This summer, she is serving as a Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth Intern at Nex-Tech. She writes about her experience at the Kirwin Ribbon-Cutting and Fiber Showcase 2026.
My internship at Nex-Tech Creative started on the internal marketing team, not the agency side. I was creating short-form video content for the company itself while sitting in the same office as account executives managing campaigns for ISPs and broadband providers across the country.
Before starting my internship at Nex-Tech, I had a general understanding of the company as a telecommunications provider. As a graduate student studying Information Management in the United States, I knew Nex-Tech provided fiber internet, Wi-Fi, and phone services that connect communities across Kansas.
The definition of “fast internet” keeps moving and if you’re still treating gig as the ceiling, you’re already a step behind.
Multi-gig services (2 Gig, 5 Gig, and beyond) aren’t just a flex. They’re a strategic move.
I’m glad to officially begin my summer internship at Nex-Tech. Now that I have finished my first week, I can say that I learned much more than I expected in just a few days.
AI is quickly becoming a default conversation across broadband, often framed as the next logical efficiency gain. For rural providers especially, the appeal is obvious – do more with fewer resources. But the real shift isn’t about speed or automation. It’s about how decisions get made, and where AI actually fits.
Nex-Tech represents rural broadband providers in the America 250 documentary, now featured on USA TODAY—highlighting innovation and impact.
Rural broadband marketing has quietly crossed a line.
Visibility alone no longer drives growth. In 2026, brands are chosen based on how clearly they explain themselves – to customers and to the AI systems now shaping search, recommendations, and trust. Operators with strong networks, but unclear messaging are increasingly filtered out before conversations even begin.
The real challenge facing rural providers today isn’t whether innovation matters. That question has already been answered by rising customer expectations, tighter margins, and competition that no longer respects geography. The challenge is that many organizations are structurally designed to make innovation slow, fragile, and exhausting.