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Smart Communities in Conversation
Wednesday, May 1
8:30 a.m.–Noon
Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill
During this historic year for broadband deployment, local, community-driven efforts to connect more rural Americans — and to keep them connected to high-quality, affordable services that support greater achievement and boost economic activity — offer stories of success.
NTCA invites you to join federal policymakers, including FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, representatives of the Appalachian Regional Commission and American Farm Bureau Federation, Smart Rural CommunitySM providers and other broadband industry leaders for a look at community-based, locally driven initiatives that are spurring digital adoption, economic development and community engagement in rural communities.
Space is limited for this event. If you would like to attend, please RSVP below and let us know how you plan to participate.
Agenda | Wednesday, May 1
All times listed are Eastern Time (ET).
8:30 a.m.–8:45 a.m.
Welcome from NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield
8:45 a.m.–9:15 a.m.
Conversation on Rural Issues with FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks
9:15 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
Rural Digital Inclusion: Case Studies of Success and Lessons Learned
Shirley Bloomfield, CEO, NTCA
Jennifer Prather, CEO, Totelcom Communications
Catherine Nicolaou, Brodband Program Manager, the City of Albuquerque
10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
Community Planning and Engagement Strategies
Tanya Sullivan, CEO, Plus One Strategic Communications
Friday Otuya, Community Engagement Specialist, Nex-Tech
Kelly Wismer, Chief of Staff to the Executive Director, Appalachian Regional Commission
10:45 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Break
11:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Tackling Rural Affordability
Kathryn de Wit, Project Director, Broadband Access Initiative, The Pew Charitable Trusts
Keith Gabbard, CEO, Peoples Rural Telephone Cooperative
Cassidy Hjelmstad, CEO/General Manager, SRT Communications
11:30 a.m.–Noon
What Does It Mean to Be a Smart Rural Community?
Andrew Brown, Director of Industry and Client Relations, JSI
Emily Buckman, Director, Government Affairs, The American Farm Bureau Federation
Mitchell Bailey, CEO, GRM Networks
Thank You to the SRC Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor
