The American Public Power Association has honored Lafayette Utilties System Director Terry Huval with its top honor. The American Public Power Association has honored Lafayette Utilties System Director Terry Huval with its top honor. The APPA recently presented Huval with the Alex Radin distinguished Service Award, given in recognition of exceptional leadership and dedication to public power, on June 22 at its national conference in Orlando. In its newsletter announcement of the award, APPA writes:
"Huval saw early on the impact of Internet technology on commerce, education and quality of life and in 1998 was instrumental in convincing city leaders to build a fiber ring around the city. Going live in 2009, LUS's fiber-to-the-home system, which offers high-speed cable, Internet, and digital phone service to the residents of Lafayette, has garnered national attention. Huval's creative inspiration and leadership on municipal broadband led to a groundswell of local support and drew national attention to the importance of a public power utility's ability and right to offer advanced telecommunications services."
Huval has been LUS Director since 1994. He has served on the APPA board of directors for several years, and was board chairman in 2007-2008. He has also been a member of the Louisiana Broadband Advisory Council, the Consumers United for Rail Equity executive committee, and the Louisiana Energy and Power Authority.