Agenda

7:45am — Coffee, Breakfast Bites, & Mingling

9:00am — Welcome & Opening Keynote, presented by Basil Alwan and Carl Guardino

Panel One — BEAD: Wins and the Road Ahead
With awards allocated, the industry must pivot to deploying networks. This panel of State Broadband Officers and BEAD-winning ISPs will unpack immediate operational hurdles (from permitting bottlenecks to workforce constraints), sustaining networks in the long-term, and “post-BEAD” realities.

Stretch Break

Panel Two — Multi-State Grant Programs: More Money on the Way
This panel will dive into broadband access funds beyond BEAD. Learn the standards per program, how partnership between states and broadband operators will make the difference for your underserved constituents, and craft your own blueprint for winning grants.

Panel Three — Operator Success in Competitive Markets
Broadband service providers are achieving connectivity goals in rural America and “stranded streets” of urban and suburban neighborhoods, but now they’re also competing with incumbent and monopoly providers. Learn these operators’ approaches to succeeding in saturated markets and how healthy competition is benefitting end-users all over the country.

Stretch Break

Panel Four — CBRS: The Importance of America's Innovation Band
The Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum supports more than 420,000 deployed radios, serves families in all 50 states, and represents more than $14 billion in private investment — including about $7 billion from rural WISPs that connect hyper-remote communities. This panel will discuss the ways the band is being used and why shared spectrum is an asset.

Fireside Chat, presented by NTIA Deputy Assistant Secretary Adam Cassady
Hear firsthand insights into the current status of BEAD, the potential use of non-deployment funds, and what it will take to finally achieve Internet for All for unserved and underserved families across the country. 

1:00pm — Lunch & G2 Tech Demo
Calling all California operators! Take advantage of our just-added lunchtime discussion with Louise (Lou) Fischer, Program and Project Supervisor at the CPUC. From 1–2pm, Lou will lead an interactive conversation on what to expect from this year’s CASF programs and processes, and answer your questions firsthand.

Event Hosts

Guest Speakers & Moderators