See “Electrical Cooperatives Are the Unsung Heroes of Rural Broadband, Say Broadband Breakfast Panelists,” Broadband Breakfast, February 18, 2021

Our Broadband Breakfast Live Online events take place every Wednesday at 12 Noon ET. You can watch the February 17, 2021, event on this page. You can also PARTICIPATE in the current Broadband Breakfast Live Online event. REGISTER HERE.

Tools for Broadband Deployment: This series explores the way that geospatial data and asset management is shaping the future of rural network delivery and performance. This series explores how market-leading fiber builders are using digital tools to map, analyze, manage and deploy new networks – with a focus on rural success stories.

Wednesday, February 17, 2021, 12 Noon ET — “Tools for Broadband Deployment: Fueling the Fire of Rural Innovation”

• We’ll showcase how broadband deployment is accelerating the digital future for rural America at a time of COVID-19. Think success.

WATCH HERE, or on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. 

This event is part of a five-part event series, “Tools for Broadband: Preparing for Success,” on Broadband Breakfast Live Online.

Panelists include:

• Mark DeFalco, Telecommunications Initiative Manager at the Appalachian Regional Commission
• Dr. Christopher Ali, Professor of Media Studies at the University of Virginia
• Brian O’Hara, Senior Director for Regulatory Issues, Telecommunications & Broadband at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
• Drew Clark (Moderator), Editor and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast

Mark DeFalco serves as Telecommunications Initiative Manager for the Appalachian Regional Commission. He’s worked in the Telecommunications Industry for over 30 years, specializing in competitive market envy and inter-carrier compensation issues. DeFalco has testified before state Public Service Commissions and state legislative committees in over 20 states.

Dr. Christopher Ali is an Assistant Professor of Media Studies at the University of Virginia. His research interests focus on communication policy and regulation, critical political economy, critical geography, comparative media systems, localism, and local news. He has published in numerous internationally ranked academic journals including: Communication Theory, Media Culture & Society, the International Journal of Communication, and the Journal of Information Policy. He holds a PhD from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Ali’s current project, Farm Fresh Spectrum: Rural Interventions in Media Policy is an investigation into the relationship between farming communities and communication policy in North America.

Brian O’Hara serves as the Senior Director for Regulatory Issues at NRECA. His work focuses on telecommunications and broadband issues. In this position, he has worked to develop and direct association regulatory policy on telecom and broadband for over 900 electric cooperatives, many of whom are offering, deploying or exploring broadband business opportunities. Brian has more than 20 years of telecommunications and broadband industry experience.

Events in “Tools for Broadband Deployment” series, which is sponsored by ADTRAN and Render Networks, include:

• Wednesday, October 21, 2020, 12 Noon ET — “Tools for Broadband Deployment: Preparing for Success”
  • Are you ready for rural deployment? The United States is currently in the midst of multiple, significant efforts pushing for Better Broadband for Rural America. Think of the big picture opportunity.
• Wednesday, November 25, 2020, 12 Noon ET — “Tools for Broadband Deployment: Connecting Providers and Customers Faster”
  • Case studies of network-building with an all-digital workflow. How fiber-builders are finding success in construction management, workflow processes and on-the-fly changes. In a phrase: Think workflow and business systems.
• Wednesday, December 16, 2020, 12 Noon ET — “Tools for Broadband Deployment: RDOF and Other Rural Broadband Deployments”
  • The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, the Connect America Fund and other rural deployments: How new awardees are laying the future for managing their deployments. Think managing your budget.
• Wednesday, February 3, 2021, 12 Noon ET — “Tools for Broadband Deployment: Mapping the Rural Broadband Buildout”
  • Mapping broadband assets is only the first step. This session will explore how end-to-end data is showing that successful rural fiber networks begin with the end in the mind. Think broadband mapping.
• Wednesday, February 17, 2021, 12 Noon ET — “Tools for Broadband Deployment: Fueling the Fire of Rural Innovation”
  • We’ll showcase how broadband deployment is accelerating the digital future for rural America at a time of COVID-19. Think success.

“Tools for Broadband Deployment” is sponsored by:

Render Networks

ADTRAN

SUBSCRIBE to the Broadband Breakfast YouTube channel. That way, you will be notified when events go live. Watch on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. 

See a complete list of upcoming and past Broadband Breakfast Live Online events.