Broadband Deployment and Funding Conference for Electric Cooperatives and Municipalities

January 31, 2024 | Online :: Central Time

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“In one day, we learned the fundamentals of broadband. We learned the drivers and value the broadband brings to communities. We learned the do’s, don’ts and best practices through lessons learned on how to design, build, and interface with other entities to have a successful project.  Great education!” – RSM, ADTRAN

“Very good, informative sessions.” – Marketing & Economic Development Coordinator, SLVREC/CIELLO

“The program is a must for those entering the broadband provider marketplace.” – CEO, Continental Divide Electric Coop

The EUCI Broadband Deployment and Funding Conference for Electric Cooperatives and Municipalities will delve into the transformative world of broadband and fiber deployment. This event brings together industry experts, policymakers, and community leaders to explore the crucial role electric cooperatives and municipalities play in expanding broadband access. Throughout the virtual conference, participants will gain insights into:

• Funding and financing strategies
• Regulatory frameworks
• Infrastructure development best practices

Discussions will also focus on network management, partnership models, and cutting-edge technologies, all with a strong emphasis on promoting digital inclusion and equity. Engaging presentations, real-life case studies, and forward-looking discussions will equip attendees with the knowledge and tools needed to build successful broadband projects, bridging the digital divide and empowering communities across the nation.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify how electric cooperatives and municipalities play a pivotal role in expanding broadband access
• Navigate the world of federal and state grants for broadband projects and gain practical insights into securing financial support for cooperative and municipal initiatives
• Explore the landscape of government policies and regulatory considerations impacting broadband deployment for electric cooperatives and municipalities
• Enhance your ability to drive broadband deployment by exploring effective partnership models and collaboration strategies with ISPs
• Investigate strategies for promoting broadband adoption, addressing equity, engaging local communities, and ensuring the success of your broadband projects

Wednesday, January 31, 2024 : Central Time

 

9:00 – 9:20 a.m. :: Keynote Welcome

Join us for a keynote address that illustrates the future of electric cooperatives, municipal broadband, and inclusive digital connectivity, exploring how collaborative strategies and technological innovations can bridge the digital divide and empower communities across the nation.

Bree Maki, Director, Minnesota Office of Broadband

9:20 – 9:55 a.m. :: Building Relationships with Contractors and 3rd Party Vendors for Broadband Deployment Programs

Explore the intricacies of establishing and maintaining successful partnerships with contractors and third-party vendors for comprehensive broadband deployment programs. Explore the nuanced processes of contractor selection, meticulous forecasting of material needs, implementing robust quality assurance measures, and ensuring the longevity and efficiency of Fiber-Optic Networks through effective maintenance strategies.

Dean McDowell, Director Fiber Operations, Arkansas Electric Cooperative

9:55 – 10:30 a.m. :: Case Study, Northern Ontario: Open-Access Community Broadband Network Infrastructure Development and Deployment

Explore the intricacies of establishing and maintaining successful partnerships with contractors and third-party vendors for comprehensive broadband deployment programs. Explore the nuanced processes of contractor selection, meticulous forecasting of material needs, implementing robust quality assurance measures, and ensuring the longevity and efficiency of Fiber-Optic Networks through effective maintenance strategies.

Joe Hickey, CEO, Rock Networks

10:30 – 10:45 a.m. :: Morning Break

10:45 – 11:30 a.m. :: Broadband Partnership Models and Collaboration

Distinguish the multifaceted approaches to broadband partnerships in this session, focusing on distinct models and collaboration strategies. Examine the vital role of partnerships with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) for achieving last-mile connectivity, and gain insights into the dynamics of successful Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) that are instrumental in driving effective broadband deployment. Understand the nuances of collaboration in diverse settings and discover how these models contribute to the overall success and sustainability of broadband initiatives.

Alex Banh, Director of Broadband and Digital Equity, HR&A Advisors 

Danny Fuchs, Partner, Broadband and Digital Equity, HR&A Advisors 

Cat Blake, Senior Analyst, Broadband and Digital Equity, HR&A Advisors 

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. :: Panel Discussion: Funding and Financing Strategies for Broadband Deployment and Management

Gain valuable insights from policymakers and funding experts in this panel discussion on federal and state funding and grants for broadband deployment, explore opportunities and best practices to secure financial support for your cooperative or municipal broadband projects.

• Leveraging Federal and State Programs for Broadband Funding
• Innovative Financing Models for Cooperative and Municipal Broadband

Mitch Gorsen, Funding Advisor, Cisco Systems 

Jeff Sutterer, Grants Manager, Missouri Office of Broadband Development

Brian M. O’Hara, Senior Director Regulatory Issues – Telecom & Broadband, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)

Brandon Black, Vice President of Rural Infrastructure Credit, CoBank

12:30 – 1:00 p.m. :: Lunch Break

1:00 – 1:30 p.m. :: Broadband Policy and Regulatory Frameworks

Join this presentation to discuss key aspects of broadband policy, emphasizing deployment strategies, adoption initiatives, spectrum considerations, funding dynamics, and federal aid requirements. Our speaker will offer insights into the intricacies of the following concepts and more:

• Federal aid and BEAD requirements
• One-Touch-Make-Ready/pole attachment policies
• Broadband infrastructure deployment coordinated with federal-aid highway projects (dig once)

John Roman, Director, Broadband and Regulatory Policy, Intel Corporation

1:30 – 2:00 p.m. :: Building a Broadband Ecosystem: Supporting Diverse Entities in Deployment

Explore the intricacies of fostering a comprehensive broadband ecosystem that nurtures and aids various entities in their collective mission to deploy broadband networks, ensuring seamless collaboration, efficient resource utilization, and equitable digital access. In this session, we will review case studies from a municipal in Michigan and an electric utility.

Lori Adams, VP of Broadband Policy & Funding Strategy, Government Affairs Americas, Nokia

2:15 – 2:30 p.m. :: Afternoon Break

2:30 – 3:30 p.m. :: Panel Discussion: Broadband Adoption and Digital Inclusion

• Strategies for Promoting Broadband Adoption and Bridging the Digital Divide
• Addressing Equity and Inclusion in Broadband Deployment
• Engaging Local Communities in Broadband Planning and Deployment
• Effective Communication Strategies for Broadband Projects

Krystal Stone, Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Coordinator, BUSINESS OREGON 

Juliet Fink Yates, Ed.M, Broadband and Digital Inclusion Manager, Office of Innovation & Technology, City of Philadelphia

Emily Schuh, Administrative Servies Director, City of Anacortes, WA

3:30 – 4:00 p.m. :: Case Study: Sprout Fiber Internet Powered by Cullman Electric Cooperative: Marketing and Sales of Your Broadband Services

• Find Your Why
• Marketing Strategy Development and Implementation
• Impact of Your Brand Strategy

Bonnie Baty, Marketing and Service Manager, Cullman Electric Cooperative

4:00 – 4:30 p.m. :: Wrap up Open Discussion and Q&A

• Lori Adams, VP of Broadband Policy & Funding Strategy, Government Affairs Americas, Nokia

• Alex Banh, Director of Broadband and Digital Equity, HR&A Advisors

• Brandon Black, Vice President of Rural Infrastructure Credit, CoBank

• Cat Blake, Senior Analyst, Broadband and Digital Equity, HR&A Advisors

• Juliet Fink Yates, Ed.M, Broadband and Digital Inclusion Manager, Office of Innovation & Technology, City of Philadelphia

• Danny Fuchs, Partner, Broadband and Digital Equity, HR&A Advisors

• Mitch Gorsen, Funding Advisor, Cisco Systems

• Joe Hickey, CEO, Rock Networks

• Bree Maki, Director, Minnesota Office of Broadband

• Dean McDowell, Director Fiber Operations, Arkansas Electric Cooperative

• Brian M. O’Hara, Senior Director Regulatory Issues – Telecom & Broadband, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)

• John Roman, Director, Broadband and Regulatory Policy, Intel Corporation

• Emily Schuh, Administrative Servies Director, City of Anacortes, WA

• Krystal Stone, Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Coordinator, BUSINESS OREGON

• Jeff Sutterer, Grants Manager, Missouri Office of Broadband Development

We will be using Microsoft Teams to facilitate your participation in the upcoming event. You do not need to have an existing Teams account in order to participate in the broadcast – the course will play in your browser and you will have the option of using a microphone to speak with the room and ask questions, or type any questions in via the chat window and our on-site representative will relay your question to the instructor.

• Microsoft recommends downloading and installing the Teams app if possible. You may also use the Edge browser or Chrome.
• You will receive a separate email with a unique link to a personalized landing page which will include links to join all sessions of this event.
• If you are using a microphone, please ensure that it is muted until such time as you need to ask a question.
• The remote meeting connection will be open approximately 30 minutes before the start of the course. We encourage you to connect as early as possible in case you experience any unforeseen problems.

Please Note: This event is being conducted entirely online. All attendees will connect and attend from their computer, one connection per purchase. For details please see our FAQ

If you are unable to attend at the scheduled date and time, we make recordings available to all attendees for 7 days after the event

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Broadband Deployment and Funding Conference for Electric Cooperatives and Municipalities

January 31, 2024 | Online

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before December 29, 2023 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

Credits

EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 0.6 CEUs for this event.

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program

Participants must log in and be in attendance for the entirety of the conference

Instructional Methods

Power Point presentations, open discussion and examples will be used.

Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.

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Conference CPE Credits: 6.5
There is no prerequisite for this Conference.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Advanced Preperation: None

EUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org

 

Who Should Attend

Electric Cooperative, Municipal/State Government Agencies, Communications, and Cable Company employees:

• City/County Manager
• Chief Information Officer (CIO)
• Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
• Broadband Manager/Director
• Economic Development Specialist
• Digital Inclusion Officer
• Planning and Zoning Officer
• Public Works Director
• Technology and Innovation Manager
• Rural Development Coordinator
• Grants and Funding Coordinator
• Policy Analyst
• Engineering Manager
• Member Services Representative
• Financial Controller
• Community Relations Specialist or Engagement Coordinator
• Broadband Network Technician
• Fiber Deployment Coordinator