Community Broadband

Engaging With Communities Crucial in Building Public Broadband Networks

Speakers emphasized the importance of assessing community needs, building partnerships, and educating people about the benefits of broadband internet.

Jericho Casper

May 6, 2024 — 2 min read

Photo of Laura Lewis, principal at LRB Public Finance Advisors by Jericho Casper

HOUSTON, May 6, 2024 – Public broadband experts highlighted the essential role of directly engaging with communities to address their unique needs in network development, emphasizing the importance of all community members benefitting from public broadband initiatives, during the opening panel held Monday for the Broadband Communities conference in Houston, Texas.

Bill Badran, broadband services supervisor for the Holland Board of Public Works in Michigan, emphasized the importance of understanding the community's needs and engaging directly with residents to ensure the network addresses real demands, before beginning network development, sharing insights from Holland’s publicly owned utility, which has been providing fiber broadband for over 30 years.

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Community Broadband Bill Badran Holland Board of Public Works Gigi Sohn American Association for Public Broadband Chris Walker NoaNet Kerem Durdag GWI Laura Lewis LRB Public Finance Advisors