Does your neighboring underserved community know who you are? Do your own county officials or local economic development folks really understand what the community-based broadband providers in NTCA's membership bring to the table? While we all assume so, never forget where assumptions can sometimes lead us.
Creating that roadmap to success on building and sustaining a Smart Rural Community might not always be intuitive, and it certainly will be key to ensure it has been established as federal and state money continue to flow into the pipeline. It is never too early to start that education and collaboration process - which is why I think that SRC Live! and the discussions at that summit will be so pivotal and informative.
From a national perspective, leaders from the Pew Broadband Access Initiative, Heartland Forward Foundation and the Tennessee broadband office discussing the larger ecosystem for rural broadband initiatives beyond the providers will be so valuable for our members to hear. We'll then pivot to the sector leaders from the National Rural Health Association, National Rural Education Association and the Appalachian Regional Commission sharing the challenges and opportunities they see from their sectors and the role that broadband plays, as well as where broadband providers can find innovative interface opportunities within their communities.
We'll then move to some breakouts that will allow all of us to roll up our sleeves and dig deeper into the role broadband plays in health care, economic development, community development, agriculture, education and even a discussion on how to actually create this roadmap for your own communities. Branding updates, real takeaways on the "art of the possible" and robust discussion of how to use the information gleaned during this day and a half of sharing will also round out part of the schedule.
With BEAD money likely beginning to flow into the state for deployment, as opposed to planning, likely in the middle of 2023, now is the perfect time to think about how to establish these key relationships, dig deeper into your communities, think about who can be your local champions and never ever assume that just because you have been doing amazing work building networks to your rural neighbors, that they know who you are and what you are capable of.
The journey begins now. Come join us in Vegas on June 8th and let's start connecting the dots together!