A full ballroom of broadband providers joined NTCA this week at its 2022 Fall Conference in downtown San Francisco.
Themed “Building a Better Broadband Future,” the conference focused on making the most of the once-in-a-generation opportunity to connect all Americans to high-speed internet in the wake of record public funding for broadband deployment, thanks largely to the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Conference panels and committee meetings were held to help attendees get ready for the distribution of federal funding and learn more about the latest in broadband technologies.
NTCA Board Chairman Keith Oliver, executive vice president and chief financial officer for Home Telecom (Moncks Corner, S.C.), reminded attendees of the importance of not only celebrating the successes of the industry, but also in getting involved in conversations about how to extend and sustain universal service policies moving forward.
“The realities we will face in the future will look different than today,” Oliver said. “To meet the challenges of the next 50 years, we must create new paradigms and aggressively approach our future,” he added, highlighting the importance of sustaining universal access and ensuring data privacy, cybersecurity, and non-discriminatory access to content.
NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield also spoke to the future of universal service, a critical piece of keeping broadband affordable and sustainable everywhere, particularly in high-cost areas. Bloomfield highlighted NTCA members’ efforts to continue leading the charge to reach all un- and underserved communities across the country and shared the association has joined the White House’s Talent Pipeline Challenge to raise awareness of the challenges companies face with workforce shortages and supply chain delays. Bloomfield also encouraged all NTCA members to join the Smart Communities program to help tell their stories of community commitment and service excellence while they make the most of this broadband moment.
Rounding out the opening session was a panel discussion about universal connectivity with Evan Feinman, the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program director for NTIA, and Trent Harkrader, chief of the FCC Wireline Competition Bureau, hosted by NTCA Executive Vice President Mike Romano. The group shared the latest updates on federal funding programs such as BEAD, as well as next steps for broadband mapping and the FCC’s recent Future of Universal Service report. Feinman shared NTIA’s plans for the distribution of $42.5 billion in BEAD funding and its priority to deploy networks equitably and get fiber to every corner of the country. Harkrader highlighted the importance of not only deploying broadband networks, but also ensuring their long-term maintenance and upkeep and said although the deadline for providers to submit initial data for new broadband maps has passed, the FCC continues to work closely with providers in advance of the release of the first new map in November.
"This is an incredible moment for all of us."
- Trent Harkrader
On Tuesday, the Women in Telecom program gathered to hear from Lisa Brouwer, a certified “Dare to Lead” facilitator who challenged our women telco staff to think about what it’s like to enter “the arena.” Women in Telecom read “Dare to Lead” by Brené Brown last year, and the workshop continued the important message that leaders need to bravely approach challenges at work and at home and cheer themselves on to accomplish big goals.
The conference also featured sessions on new technology for building networks, workforce development, Universal Service Fund (USF) reform, cooperative business models, overcoming national supply chain shortages, and much more.
Thanks to everyone who attended in person or streamed portions of the conference online. A recording of the Opening General Session is available on the NTCA Facebook page.
See you at RTIME!