Broadband Breakfast on May 21, 2025 - Locates and Underground Infrastructure Safety
Join us as we explore the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of underground infrastructure, public policy, and broadband deployment.
Installing and maintaining broadband networks requires safely navigating a maze of underground infrastructure - but with a shortage of trained locators and a patchwork of state dig laws, network deployment often faces delays, damage, and rising costs. How can the broadband industry ensure underground safety and efficiency while expanding connectivity? What policies and best practices are needed to support smarter, safer builds? Join us as we explore the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of underground infrastructure, public policy, and broadband deployment.
Panelists
- Ariane Schaffer, Head of Public Policy and Government Affairs, GFiber
- Louis Panzer, Executive Director, NC 811
- Sarah Magruder Lyle, President & CEO, Common Ground Alliance (CGA)
- Erik Phillips, Vice President of Operations, UtiliQuest, LLC
- Drew Clark (moderator), CEO and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast
Panelists Resources
Ray Dubicki
Ariane Schaffer is the Head of Public Policy and Government Affairs for GFiber, an Alphabet company that provides Google Fiber and Google Fiber Webpass internet services to homes and businesses across the United States. In this role, she represents GFiber on a wide variety of issues impacting the business, including competition, utility safety, permitting reform, and taxes and also serves as the company’s liaison to trade associations, industry coalitions, third-party groups, and participates on expert panels and in events with other thought leaders. She is currently serving a three-year term as a board member for the Fiber Broadband Association and is Chair of the Board for 2025.
Louis Panzer has served as Executive Director on NC 811 for the past 14 years. He has several published Journal articles as well as a book through ASCE regarding underground damage prevention. A 20 + year member of the CGA, Louis is a firm believer in the concept of damage prevention as a shared responsibility.
Sarah K. Magruder Lyle is President & CEO of the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), a stakeholder-run organization dedicated to preventing damage to underground utility infrastructure and protecting those who live and work near these important assets through the shared responsibility of our stakeholders. Under her leadership, CGA focuses on building strong partnerships across the organization’s 16 stakeholder groups, developing strategies to educate about the importance of safe digging, encouraging the next generation of damage prevention practices and technologies, and implementing programs to reduce excavation-related damages to underground infrastructure.
Erik Phillips, Vice President of Operations for UtiliQuest, brings over 24 years of locate experience to the field. Beginning his career as a locator, Erik has progressed through the locating ranks serving in roles of increasing responsibility as Field Supervisor, Operations Manager, Director of Operations and his current role as Vice President of Operations serving the Mid-Atlantic and Mid-West region. Erik has engaged with various committees focused on Locator Achievement Recognition, Damage Prevention Conference Planning and The Maryland Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Authority where he served as a member and as Chairman of The Authority.
Breakfast Media LLC CEO Drew Clark has led the Broadband Breakfast community since 2008. An early proponent of better broadband, better lives, he initially founded the Broadband Census crowdsourcing tool to collect and verify broadband data left unpublished by the Federal Communications Commission. As CEO and Publisher, Clark presides over the leading media community advocating for higher-capacity internet everywhere through topical, timely and intelligent coverage. Clark also served as head of the Partnership for a Connected Illinois, a state broadband initiative.
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