Surf Internet representatives accept the 2026 Star Award during the Fiber Broadband Association’s Fiber Connect conference in Orlando, Florida. Pictured from left are FBA President and CEO Gary Bolton and Surf Internet team members Gene Crusie, Kevin Bush, Mary Moran, and Amber Rodriguez.
ELKHART, Ind. (May 26, 2026) – Surf Internet® received the Fiber Broadband Association’s (FBA) 2026 Star Award during the organization’s Fiber Connect conference in Orlando, Florida. The award recognizes a company or community that goes above and beyond in advancing fiber-to-the-home and was presented before broadband providers, infrastructure leaders, policymakers, and industry partners from across North America.
Surf earned the honor for its continued leadership in expanding fiber broadband access in rural communities across the Great Lakes region, including outreach efforts tied to Indiana broadband expansion initiatives and long-term investment in underserved areas.
“We’re honored to receive the Star Award because it reflects the heart of why we do this work,” said Gene Crusie, CEO of Surf Internet. “We believe broadband is the great equalizer, and no matter where someone chooses to live, they deserve access to reliable, high-speed internet. This recognition belongs to our entire team and the communities that partnered with us along the way.”
Earlier this year, Surf Internet also participated in a featured case study panel during the Fiber Broadband Association’s Regional Connect conference in Indianapolis, where company leaders discussed the realities of rural broadband deployment using Whitley County, Indiana, as a case study. The discussion highlighted the persistence, partnership, and long-term investment often required to bring fiber infrastructure to low-density rural communities.
Surf’s efforts in Indiana have included extensive outreach tied to the Indiana Connectivity Program (ICP), where the company worked directly with residents and local communities to help eligible households access broadband funding opportunities. Those efforts contributed to some of the largest ICP-funded fiber expansion projects in the state.
“Receiving this award from peers across the fiber broadband industry is incredibly meaningful,” said Kevin Bush, Chief Revenue Officer at Surf. “Projects like these take coordination across every part of the company, from engineering and construction to customer support and community outreach. We’re proud of what our team has accomplished together.”
Founded in Elkhart, Indiana, Surf Internet delivers fiber-optic broadband services throughout the Great Lakes region, including Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois. The company’s expanding fiber network now makes service available to more than 300,000 homes and businesses across the region, as Surf continues to invest in rural and underserved communities through a combination of private investment, grant-supported projects, and public-private partnerships.
About Surf Internet
Surf Internet is an innovative fiber-optic internet company that serves as the essential gateway to connectivity across the Great Lakes region of Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. The company is building a bridge to the wide-open future by delivering high-speed, reliable internet to homes and businesses in underserved, rural communities. Surf’s 350-plus-person team is local, giving them an edge when it comes to customer care and advocacy for the region. Headquartered in Elkhart, Ind., Surf also has offices in La Porte, Ind., Byron Center and Fowlerville, Mich., and Coal City, Naperville, and Rock Falls, Ill. Learn more at https://surfinternet.com.
