Broadband Breakfast Live Online on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 — Preparing for Success

See “At Launch of #BroadbandLive Series on ‘Tools for Broadband Deployment’, Panelists Tout Symmetrical Fiber,” Broadband Breakfast, November 4, 2020

Tools for Broadband Deployment: This series explores the way that geospatial data and asset management are 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, October 21, 2020, 12 Noon ET — “Tools for Broadband: 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.

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 sponsored by ADTRAN and Render Networks.

Panelists include:

• Shirley Bloomfield, CEO, NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association
• Gary Bolton, Vice President of Global Marketing, ADTRAN and Vice Chair, Fiber Broadband Association
• Laurel Leverrier, Acting Assistant Administrator, Telecommunications Programs, Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
• Drew Clark (Moderator), Editor and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast

Shirley Bloomfield is chief executive officer of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, which represents nearly 850 independent, community-based telecommunications companies across rural America. With more than 30 years of experience representing the country’s smallest independent telecom operators, she seeks to sustain the vitality of rural and remote communities and the benefits broadband networks bring to the national economy. She is also a board member of the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative and GlobalWin, an organization of women leaders in the high-tech industry.

Gary Bolton joined ADTRAN in 2008 as vice president of global marketing. He is also Vice Chairman of the Fiber Broadband Association. Bolton has influenced FCC and congressional proceedings on the broadband stimulus, the National Broadband Plan and Universal Service Fund Reform. Prior to ADTRAN, Gary held executive positions in high tech start-ups and publicly traded companies. He holds an M.B.A. from Duke University and a B.S. in electrical engineering from North Carolina State University.

Laurel Leverrier is the Acting Assistant Administrator of the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS), Telecommunications Programs, where she oversees RUS’ $4 billion portfolio of telecommunications loans and grants.  During her  fifteen-year career at USDA, Laurel has served in a variety of positions and has participated on a number of federal working groups, including the American Broadband Initiative (ABI).  Laurel is a recent graduate of American University’s Key Executive Leadership Program and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and Economics from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.

Jim Matheson is CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing the nation’s more than 900 electric cooperatives. Nationally, electric co-ops provide service to 42 million people in 47 states and a growing number of co-ops are working to make rural broadband access possible in their communities. Matheson previously served seven terms as a U.S. representative from Utah.

Panelist resources

• “Promoting Home Connectivity for Rural Students Through Broadband,” by Shirley Bloomfield, Broadband Breakfast, September 16, 2020
• “Under the Stress of COVID-19, the Networks That Held Fast Were Symmetrical Fiber Broadband,” by Gary Bolton, Broadband Breakfast, May 29, 2020
• “Full Measure – The Internet Divide,” by Full Measure, September 20, 2020

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: 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

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