--- title: Connecting Communities Summit September 2026 description: The 3rd Connecting Communities Summit unites private, public & nonprofit leaders to bridge the digital divide for every unserved community in America. image: https://news.taranawireless.com/hubfs/Tarana-CCS-Sept-2026-HS-LP-banner-2400x600px.png --- [![Tarana-Logo-Horizontal-no-Tagline-w-white-outline](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Tarana-Logo-Horizontal-no-Tagline-w-white-outline.png?width=503&height=128&name=Tarana-Logo-Horizontal-no-Tagline-w-white-outline.png "Tarana-Logo-Horizontal-no-Tagline-w-white-outline")](https://www.taranawireless.com/) --- Date: Thursday, September 17th, 2026 Time: In-person — 7:30am – 3:00pm | Livestream — 8:30am – 3:00pm   (Full agenda below!) Location: [Tarana HQ — 630 Alder Drive, Milpitas, CA, 95035](https://www.google.com/maps/dir//630+Alder+Dr,+Milpitas,+CA+95035/@37.4119927,-121.9191472,16z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x808fc9396da4c85b:0x7d0675367a46e7d0!2m2!1d-121.9165723!2d37.4119927!3e0?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAyMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) [RSVP Today](https://news.taranawireless.com/connecting-communities-summit-sept-2026?hsLang=en#form) --- ### Why Attend?  Our 3rd "Connecting Communities Summit" is an ideal place for private, public and nonprofit leaders to gather together for in-depth, interactive sessions on how we collectively work together to bridge the digital divide for every unserved, underserved and "unhappily" served family and location in America. The Summit draws Internet Service Providers, State Broadband Officers, vendors, distributors, public officials and other stakeholders to interact with each other, learn from other leaders and leave with deeper knowledge on how to connect more communities.   We encourage you to join us in person for the full experience (and lunch will be included)! --- ![CCS](https://news.taranawireless.com/hubfs/CCS.png "CCS") [RSVP Today](https://news.taranawireless.com/connecting-communities-summit-sept-2026?hsLang=en#form) Event Hosts ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hubfs/Basil_bw_324.png) Basil Alwan *CEO* Tarana ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hubfs/Carl_bw_113%20(1).png) Carl Guardino *VP of Gov Affairs & Policy* Tarana Guest Speakers & Moderators ![Frame 2](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Frame%202.png?width=100&height=100&name=Frame%202.png "Frame 2") Adam Cassady *Deputy Assistant Secretary* NTIA ![Frame 1-1](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Frame%201-1.png?width=100&height=100&name=Frame%201-1.png "Frame 1-1") Louise Fischer *Program and Project Supervisor* CPUC ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ana_bw_113.png?width=100&height=100&name=Ana_bw_113.png) Ana Maria Johnson *Deputy Executive Director* CPUC ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Sam_bw_113.png?width=100&height=100&name=Sam_bw_113.png) Sam Liccardo *Congressman* 16th District of California ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ramon_bw_113.png?width=100&height=100&name=Ramon_bw_113.png) Ramón Hobdey-Sánchez *SBO* Idaho ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Patrick_bw_113.png?width=100&height=100&name=Patrick_bw_113.png) Patrick Haggerty *SBO* Nebraska ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ariane_bw_113.png?width=100&height=100&name=Ariane_bw_113.png) Ariane Schmidt *Executive Director* Broadlinc ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Mark_bw_113.png?width=100&height=100&name=Mark_bw_113.png) Mark Chinn *Co-Founder and COO* Twist Broadband ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/joshua_edmonds_113.png?width=100&height=100&name=joshua_edmonds_113.png) Joshua Edmonds *CEO* Digital C ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/James_bw_113.png?width=100&height=100&name=James_bw_113.png) James Hackett *COO* Cruzio Internet ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Maribeth_bw_113.png?width=100&height=100&name=Maribeth_bw_113.png) Maribeth Collins *VP, Legislative Affairs* CCA ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Chip_bw_113.png?width=100&height=100&name=Chip_bw_113.png) Chip Pickering *CEO* INCOMPAS ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Steve_bw_113-1.png?width=100&height=100&name=Steve_bw_113-1.png) Steven Schwerbel *Director, State Advocacy* WISPA ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Richard_bw_113.png?width=100&height=100&name=Richard_bw_113.png) Richard Bernhardt  *VP, Spectrum and Industry* WISPA ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Sergiu_bw_113.png?width=100&height=100&name=Sergiu_bw_113.png) Sergiu Nedevschi *CSO, Co-Founder* Tarana ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Dirk_bw_113.png?width=100&height=100&name=Dirk_bw_113.png) Dirk Gates *SVP, Customer Experience* Tarana ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Mike_bw_113-1.png?width=100&height=100&name=Mike_bw_113-1.png) Mike Calabrese *VP, Sales* Tarana ### Agenda 7:30am — Registration & Refreshments 8:30am — Welcome and Fireside Chat with Special Guest FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty  *This interactive conversation will cover "a spectrum" of key telecom priorities, ranging from infrastructure deployment and regulatory reform to universal service, national security, and the future of spectrum, 6G, and AI.* 9:15am — Panel One: A.I. (Awesome Internet) — The Intersection of Policy & Technology *How does AI impact telecom? How are growing pressures on the supply chain impacting ISPs, technology companies, and our public sector partners? * Morning Stretch & Refresh 10:20am — Panel Two: Multi-State is Still Great: State & Federal Grant Programs are Vital to Close the Digital Divide *While millions of American families and locations will be covered through BEAD, many more were not captured on BSL maps and there are new neighborhoods being built every day. what is the role of other federal and state grant programs to close the gap? * Break 11:30am — Panel Three: Spectrum: Sharing is Caring! *CBRS "The Innovation Band" launched just six years ago and has been an incredible success...but not everyone agrees. What has CBRS accomplished? What can be strengthened? Are increased "power levels" needed, or is it "power politics?"* 12:10pm — Lunch 1:10pm — Panel Four: To BEad, or Not to BEad — Implementation is the Question *From supply chains, labor constraints, and new maps revealing more BSLs, how are states and ISPs "meeting the moment" to deliver on BEAD? What else needs to be done?* Break 2:10pm - 3:00pm — Closing Keynote with Tarana CEO Basil Alwan: Making the Impossible, Possible — Tarana Technology: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow Event Hosts ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Basil_bw_324.png?width=100&height=100&name=Basil_bw_324.png) Basil Alwan *CEO* Tarana ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Carl_bw_113%20(1).png?width=100&height=100&name=Carl_bw_113%20(1).png) Carl Guardino *VP of Gov Affairs & Policy* Tarana Guest Speakers & Moderators ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Olivia%20Trusty%20(1).png?width=100&height=100&name=Olivia%20Trusty%20(1).png) Olivia Trusty *Commissioner* FCC ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Sam%20Liccardo.png?width=100&height=100&name=Sam%20Liccardo.png) Sam Liccardo *Congressman* U.S. House of Representatives ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Jay%20Obernolte.png?width=100&height=100&name=Jay%20Obernolte.png) Jay Obernolte *Congressman* U.S. House of Representatives ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Tricia%20Paoletta%20(1).png?width=100&height=100&name=Tricia%20Paoletta%20(1).png) Tricia Paoletta *Sr. Advisor for Spectrum* NTIA ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Jordan%20Arnold%20(1).png?width=100&height=100&name=Jordan%20Arnold%20(1).png) Jordan Arnold *Director* Washington State Broadband Office ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Peter_bw_400.png?width=100&height=100&name=Peter_bw_400.png) Peter Voderberg *Chief* BroadbandOhio ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Megan_bw_400.png?width=100&height=100&name=Megan_bw_400.png) Megan Minor *Chief* Indiana Broadband Office ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Mike%20Sanders.png?width=100&height=100&name=Mike%20Sanders.png) Mike Sanders *Executive Director* Oklahoma Broadband Office ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Chandler_bw_400.png?width=100&height=100&name=Chandler_bw_400.png) Chandler Vaughan *Director* Virginia Office of Broadband ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Veneeth%20Iyengar.png?width=100&height=100&name=Veneeth%20Iyengar.png) Veneeth Iyengar *Executive Director* ConnectLA ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Joseph%20Le%20(1).png?width=100&height=100&name=Joseph%20Le%20(1).png) Joseph Le *Deputy Dir. of Broadband Development* Kansas Dept. of Commerce ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Chris_bw_400.png?width=100&height=100&name=Chris_bw_400.png) Chris Lehane *Chief Global Affairs Officer* OpenAI ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Claude%20Aiken%20(1).png?width=100&height=100&name=Claude%20Aiken%20(1).png) Claude Aiken *Chief Strategy Officer* Nextlink ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Iyad%20Terazi%20(1).png?width=100&height=100&name=Iyad%20Terazi%20(1).png) Iyad Tarazi *President & CEO* Federated Wireless ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/joshua_edmonds_113.png?width=100&height=100&name=joshua_edmonds_113.png) Joshua Edmonds *CEO* DigitalC ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Jill_bw_400.png?width=100&height=100&name=Jill_bw_400.png) Jill Springer *Principal Consultant* Quadra Partners ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Joey%20Wender.png?width=100&height=100&name=Joey%20Wender.png) Joey Wender *Executive Director* SHLB Coalition ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Drew_bw_400.png?width=100&height=100&name=Drew_bw_400.png) Drew Clark *CEO* Broadband Breakfast ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Staci%20Pies%20(1).png?width=100&height=100&name=Staci%20Pies%20(1).png) Staci Pies *VP of Gov Affairs & Policy* INCOMPAS ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Louis%20Peraertz.png?width=100&height=100&name=Louis%20Peraertz.png) Louis Peraertz *VP of Policy* WISPA ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Dave_bw_400.png?width=100&height=100&name=Dave_bw_400.png) Dave Wright *Global Policy Director* Spectrum for the Future ![](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Dirk_bw_113.png?width=100&height=100&name=Dirk_bw_113.png) Dirk Gates *SVP of Customer Experience* Tarana ### Travel Info ### Hotel [The Element Hotel](https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sjcem-element-san-jose-milpitas/overview/?scid=f2ae0541-1279-4f24-b197-a979c79310b0) is directly across the street from Tarana HQ (\<5 min walk) Airports San Jose Mineta International (SJC) — 15 min drive from HQ \*without traffic\* San Francisco International (SFO) —  40 min drive from HQ \*without traffic\* Transportation We recommend Uber and Lyft! [![Lobby photo](https://news.taranawireless.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Lobby%20photo.png?width=2000&height=1192&name=Lobby%20photo.png "Lobby photo")](https://www.google.com/maps/dir//630+Alder+Dr,+Milpitas,+CA+95035/@37.4119927,-121.9191472,16z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x808fc9396da4c85b:0x7d0675367a46e7d0!2m2!1d-121.9165723!2d37.4119927!3e0?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAyMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) [Click here for directions to Tarana headquarters!](https://www.google.com/maps/dir//630+Alder+Dr,+Milpitas,+CA+95035/@37.4119927,-121.9191472,16z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x808fc9396da4c85b:0x7d0675367a46e7d0!2m2!1d-121.9165723!2d37.4119927!3e0?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAyMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) Copyright © 2026 Tarana Wireless. All Rights Reserved.