AUSTIN, April 10, 2015 - One of the most promising aspects of the revived interest in community broadband networks is the great availability of opportunities for public-private partnerships to build or enhance next-generation internet infrastructure.
This year, at the Broadband Communities Summit next week here in Austin, the main conference from April 14-April 16 will be proceeded by a special event, "Financing Fiber Networks," on Monday, April 13, 2015.
The program runs from 9:45 a.m. to 5 p.m., and includes panels on "Private Financing Mechanisms," "State and Regional Funding Programs," "Working Lunch and Armchair Interview between Lev Gonick of OneCommunity and Dave Shaw of Kirton McConkie," "Municipal Debt Financing and Public-Private Partnerships," "Thinking Outside the Box," and "Federal Loans, Grants and USF Support."
Among the other speakers participating in the sessions on Monday include:
- Hilda Legg – CEO, Legg Strategies
- Danna MacKenzie – Executive Director, Broadband Development, Minnesota
- Mark DeFalco – Telecommunications Initiative Manager, Appalachian Regional Commission
- Art Ware – Dormitory Authority of the State of New York
- Lev Gonick – CEO, OneCommunity
- Dave Shaw – Partner, Kirton McConkie
- Brian G. Garcia – Managing Director – Municipal/Debt Financings, Aegis Capital Corp
- Fred Cornwall – President, Municipal Capital Markets Group
- Nicholas Hann – Senior Managing Director, Macquarie Capital/Macquarie Group Limited
- Mark Erickson – EDA Director, City of Winthrop, MN
- Fletcher Kittredge – CEO, GWI
- Diane Kruse – CEO, NEO Fiber
- Elliot Noss – CEO, Ting Internet
- Bill Vallée – State Broadband Policy Coordinator, Connecticut
- Deborah Acosta – Chief Innovation Officer, San Leandro
- Bernadine Joselyn – Director, Public Policy & Engagement Program, Blandin Foundation
- Douglas Jarrett – Partner, Keller and Heckman
- Jonathan Chambers – Chief, Office of Strategic Planning, FCC
- Sandeep Taxali – Senior Policy Analyst, Broadband Development Officer, NTIA, Department of Commerce
- Laurel Leverrier – Operations Branch Chief Policy and Outreach Division Telecommunications Programs, Rural Utilities Service
The full program is available at http://www.bbcmag.com/2015s/pages/15financingfibernetworks.php
According the program description on the Broadband Communities web site:
Capital is once again flowing into next-generation network infrastructure, ending a long dry spell. This time around, network operators have gotten more creative about financing: They’re finding money in new places, developing new mechanisms for funding, and combining funding sources in novel ways.
There’s private money for public networks … public money for private networks … debt, equity and lease financing … and grants from sources you may not have thought of.
At the Financing Fiber Networks workshop, you’ll learn which types of funding are most suitable for your organization – and how to successfully pursue them.
