This event took place on Thursday, April 15th, 2021. For speaker bios, visit this page or click the links below.
Event Schedule
2:00 – 2:06 pm
Welcome and Overview
Speakers:
Nathan Ohle – Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP)
Tina Metzer – National Center for Resource Development (NCRD)
2:06 – 2:10 pm
Quick Pitch: Island Institute
An overview of the success and replication of the Community-Driven Broadband Process Model developed by the Island Institute for Maine’s island and coastal communities. Rooted in community engagement, the process model takes communities on a path through engaging their community, assessing infrastructure options, funding broadband projects, realizing benefits and use of their solution. This model has proven successful for several communities in Maine, is further supporting many through their planning process, and has been the foundation for a virtual broadband bootcamp.
2:10 – 2:25 pm
From Advocacy to Industry Expert
This session explores the challenges and opportunities inherent to rural broadband and advocacy for affordable broadband in rural communities.
Speaker:
Clint Odom – Vice President of Strategic Alliances and External Affairs, T-Mobile
2:25 – 2:30 pm
Quick Pitch: Network Kansas
Emerging as a significant driving force behind advancement of the Kansan technology sector, the Ignister project aims to provide inclusive education, training and employment resources, created through statewide strategic partnerships.
2:30 – 2:35 pm
Quick Pitch: WNC
A rural Western North Carolina community can be broadband connected for life, health, education, and more.
2:35 – 2:40 pm
Intro to Cooperatives
Speaker:
Adam Schwartz – Founder and Principle, The Cooperative Way
2:40 – 3:05 pm
Fireside Chat: Role of Cooperatives in Rural Deployment
Cooperatives have been present in rural communities for years. This panel will discuss how the switch to broadband offerings can assist rural America in the quest for full broadband coverage.
Moderator:
Adam Schwartz – Founder and Principle, The Cooperative Way
Speakers:
Joshua Seidemann – Vice President of Policy at NTCA, The Rural Broadband Association
Brian O’Hara – Senior Director Regulatory Issues – Telecommunications and Broadband, National Rural Electric Cooperative (NRECA)
3:05 – 3:10 pm
Anchor Institutions
This session will examine the importance of connecting schools, hospitals, and libraries in rural areas to gigabit broadband. John Windhausen will also discuss the $7 billion in the COVID relief bill for E-rate and the upcoming $80 billion broadband infrastructure bill.
Speaker:
John Windhausen – Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB)
3:10 – 3:15 pm
Break
3:15 – 3:20 pm
Introduction to State Broadband Deployment and Partnerships
Speaker:
Jeremy Hegle – Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
3:20 – 4:00 pm
Successful State Programs and Partnerships
Learn how Maine partners were able to build their broadband ecosystem. Over the course of the past few years, Maine philanthropic leaders, governmental agencies, non-profits, and community-oriented ISP’s have intentionally worked to invest in the human capital necessary to develop the financial and infrastructure capital for Maine’s broadband networks. Prioritizing small flexible funds to kick-start community-driven broadband planning enables capacity to do the work, informal communities of practice, and a more reliable pipeline of projects ready for investment.
Moderator:
Jeremy Hegle – Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Speakers:
Peggy Schaffer – ConnectME Authority
Andrew Butcher – Maine Broadband Coalition
Maggie Drummond – Maine Community Foundation
4:00 – 4:05 pm
Quick Pitch: Great Lakes Community Action Partnership & Rural Community Assistance Partnership
Identify key dynamics that shape broadband connectivity and walk-through practical steps to help your residents affordably get connected today. This approach helps address urgent connectivity needs near-term while setting the stage for even greater improvements going forward.
4:05 – 4:15 pm
Digital Inclusion in Rural Areas
This session will examine examples of what communities are doing in regard to planning for rural broadband, including the potential or limitation of not being digitally inclusive.
Speaker:
Roberto Gallardo, Ph.D. – Director, Purdue Center for Regional Development; C&RE Specialist, Purdue Extension
4:15 – 4:35 pm
Advancing Digital Equity
As rural advocates work to increase broadband access in their communities, it can create visibility and momentum for digital inclusion – and vice versa. Rural LISC program officer Christa Vinson interviews three rural community leaders about their success in advancing digital equity – via tech literacy, device access and affordable internet options – in their communities, beginning with the launch of their Digital Navigator programs and beyond.
Moderator:
Christa Vinson – RuralLISC
Panelists:
Christopher Snipes – People, Inc; Abingdon, VA
David Saunders – Kingsport Housing; Kingsport, TN
Sue Wagner – Fayette County Community Action; Uniontown, PA
4:35 – 4:55 pm
Rural Partnerships to Deploy Broadband
This session will examine real-world programming that helps communities plan new fiber networks by building feasibility models, creating business plans with capital stacks that take advantage of state and federal subsidies, and devising partnership structures that align the incentives of public and private entities. From the normal to the unique, Alex Kelley will examine how partnerships are the key to distributing rural broadband.
Speaker:
Alex Kelley – Center on Rural Innovation (CORI)
4:55 – 5:00 pm
Quick Pitch: Startup Space
What does closing the digital divide mean for small business? While broadband access spurs economic activity, entrepreneurship also requires equitable access to capital, development support, and an ecosystem conducive to starting and growing a business. With broadband comes bold new frameworks for entrepreneurship support: “connect, nurture, measure and grow.” From the example of SOVA, a transformational project in rural Southern Virginia, we will explore the potential for community-building in a wireless future. Learn how this visionary partnership of the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation, Microsoft TechSpark, business and education stakeholders, Startup Space, and SOVA is a model for connecting disconnected communities, measuring impact, and inspiring rural 21st-century digital careers and business opportunities.
5:00 – 6:00 pm
RuralRISE Networking & Social Hour
Join us for a fun networking and social session sponsored by Startup Space. Connect with your fellow attendees, play trivia, and win prizes!