2021 Agenda

Conference Registration

In 2021, Conference Registration will be located at the Main Lobby Registration Desk.

• 12:00 pm to 5:30 pm
• Main Lobby Registration Desk

Exhibitor Setup

• 12:00 pm to 5:30 pm
• Quandary Peak/Longs/Shavano Foyers

Conference Registration

In 2021, Conference Registration will be located at the Main Lobby Registration Desk.

• 7:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Main Lobby Registration Desk

Conference Full Breakfast

Full Breakfast Buffet

• 7:00 am to 8:00 am
• Colorado Rockies Ballroom

Supply Chain & Fiber Technician Challenges

This panel will discuss the issue and challenges with current fiber and chip set supply chain issues as well as the shortage of qualified fiber technicians.  Given the demand of … Read more

• 10:00 am to 10:45 am
• Moderator: Kathleen Lockhart
• Speakers: Kara Mullaley, Duke Horan, Kellen Burl, Jeremy Harris
• Castle Peak

An Intro to Wi-Fi 6E

The allocation of the 6 GHz band to Wi-Fi represents the largest single allocation of spectrum in history for unlicensed use, thanks to ongoing advocacy by Aruba and other leading … Read more

• 10:00 am to 10:45 am
• Speakers: Greg Kamer
• Quandary Peak 1

How Data-Drive Marketing Improves Customer Experience

We have all been there. Suddenly the internet won’t connect to a device and you don’t know how to get it connected again. Join us as we discuss how data … Read more

• 10:00 am to 10:45 am
• Speakers: Naylor Gray
• Quandary Peak 2

17 Million in 77 working Days – #CONNECTWyoming Project review

The Covid-19 Pandemic brought renewed attention to the digital divide, and states are seeing significant funding for broadband on the 2022 horizon. Join the team from Visionary Broadband to hear … Read more

• 10:00 am to 10:45 am
• Moderator: Brian Worthen
• Speakers: Greg Worthen, Tachana Petty, Andrew Eubank
• Quandary Peak 3

What it Means to be a Gigabit Society

Learn how a ubiquitous city-wide fiber network can future-proof and positively impact your community. This impact is realized in the residential, business, governmental, and non-profit sector of a city. Hear … Read more

• 11:00 am to 11:45 am
• Speakers: Brad Moline
• Castle Peak

Narrowing the Cybersecurity Battlefield for Community Infrastructure

Municipal cyber attacks might not grab national headlines, but a stream of hacking incidents has become a tide: courthouses, libraries, schools, hospitals, and government service agencies have all become targets. … Read more

• 11:00 am to 11:45 am
• Moderator: Bob Thompson
• Speakers: Kyle Glaeser, Forrest Senti
• Quandary Peak 1

Bringing Your City Organization Together to Launch Municipal Broadband

Launching a successful municipal broadband initiative takes cooperation and integration across a city organization. Learn best practices for handling communication, building relationships, driving collaboration, and cooperation.

• 11:00 am to 11:45 am
• Moderator: Colman Keane
• Speakers: Brieana Reed-Harmel, Valerie Dodd
• Quandary Peak 2

How a local economic development broadband mission, located in the Four Corners, is growing into a regional public-private partnership fiber build

Reliable and affordable high-speed internet is crucial for economic growth and community development in unserved and underserved rural areas. Right now state, local agencies and service providers carriers are coming … Read more

• 11:00 am to 11:45 am
• Speakers: Diane Kruse, Rick Smith, Stephen Hartman, Brock Johansen
• Quandary Peak 3

How Resilience to Climate Change Reframes our Value Proposition, Tapping a Trillion Dollar Mandate for Mission Critical Infrastructure

While it seems that we live in a wireless world, the core of our internet infrastructure is all fiber optic cable, running underground and across telephone poles, the whole of which is … Read more

• 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm
• Speakers: David Theodore
• Castle Peak

The Impact of Future Technologies on Network Delivery

The future will be here before we know it.  Extended Reality (XR), a blend of Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR),  and Mixed Reality (MR) technologies will require an exponential … Read more

• 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm
• Speakers: Jon Saunders
• Quandary Peak 1

10G Broadband 10G Home – Converging XGS-PON and Wi-Fi 6 in the modern connected Home

High-speed Broadband access continues to soar, we see an increasing demand for fast reliable Internet access, 10G and XGS-PON are well suited for delivering extremely fast Broadband access with 10 … Read more

• 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm
• Moderator: Patrick Moreno
• Speakers: Kevin Kloehn
• Quandary Peak 2

Accelerating Around the Curve: The Future of Innovation in Broadband

When professional triathletes approach a curve while on their bike, they speed up. Others slow down. Why? What is it about amateur and casual athletes that cause them to slow … Read more

• 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm
• Speakers: Josh Wehe, Jordan Wehe
• Quandary Peak 3

Women in Telecom

What can we do to bridge the gender gap in our industry? This session is guaranteed to be an authentic, dynamic and fairly hard-hitting discussion around barriers and opportunities to effect … Read more

• 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm
• Moderator: Lori Sherwood
• Speakers: Deb Socia, Nancy Casados, Kara Mullaley, Gina Dillard
• Castle Peak

How to execute on Innovation – The Foolproof Formula for Finding Product-Market Fit

In the age of applied innovation it is easier to launch a new product than it is to grow one.  Sean  will walk you through the foolproof formula for finding … Read more

• 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm
• Speakers: Sean Sheppard
• Quandary Peak 1

Old Dogs Can Learn New Connections: Infrastructure Improvements for Long Term Sustainability

The 20 year old educational network in eastern Colorado was aging and stressing capacity limits, while school budgets were decreasing and broadband demand was increasing at alarming rates. Come learn … Read more

• 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm
• Moderator: Denise Shorey
• Speakers: Jarred Masterson, Dan Endries
• Quandary Peak 2

Bridging the Digital Divide: Long Haul Fiber Solving the Middle Mile Challenge

With the current state of broadband opportunities in rural America and Tribal Communities in relation to the new funding climate, allocation of spectrum with the Tribal Priority Window, and new … Read more

• 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm
• Moderator: Matt Rantanen
• Quandary Peak 3

Making Smart City Simple. Resiliency for the “New Normal” World

Learn how converged and intelligent infrastructure are vital to transforming our cities, utility agencies, and urban fabric. Gain a crystal-clear understanding of how progressive communities and utility agencies are aligning … Read more

• 4:15 pm to 5:00 pm
• Speakers: Dave Zelenok, Ed Barrett
• Castle Peak

Getting Started with Digital Twins for Governments

Digital Twins team up with the Industrial Internet of Things to drive the Industry 4.0 megatrend that’s digitally transforming the world. This technology allows us to model machines, processes, interactions, people.and … Read more

• 4:15 pm to 5:00 pm
• Moderator: Rob Tiffany
• Quandary Peak 1

A More Strategic Approach to Broadband Mapping – Broadband Intelligence in Context of ARP Investments

When America built our railroads and highways, paper maps were updated continuously with feedback from the edge of the networks that provided regular status updates. When reports of obstacles were … Read more

• 4:15 pm to 5:00 pm
• Speakers: Brian Mefford
• Quandary Peak 2

Municipal Success Stories from Iowa

Beginning in 1994 and continuing today, 28 communities in Iowa have built broadband networks while another 46 communities have authorized them through a referendum. Iowa’s municipal community continues to grow … Read more

• 4:15 pm to 5:00 pm
• Moderator: Curtis Dean
• Speakers: Kurt Karr, David Schilling, Austin Karr, Kurt Ripperger
• Quandary Peak 3

Conference Registration

In 2021, Conference Registration will be located at the Main Lobby Registration Desk.

• 7:00 am to 12:00 pm
• Main Lobby Registration Desk

Conference Full Breakfast

Buffet Breakfast Served

• 7:00 am to 8:00 am
• Colorado Rockies Ballroom

Are You Ready for Your Share of Billions Devoted to Broadband Funding?

It took a pandemic to tell us what we already knew. “We must invest more in our broadband network infrastructure.”   Together, federal (NTIA, FCC, USDA), state, county and local governments … Read more

• 9:30 am to 10:15 am
• Moderator: Gregory Bathrick
• Speakers: Gary Bolton, Kevin Kloehn, Eric Keber
• Castle Peak

It’s the Right Thing to Do: How to use Power-over-Ethernet Technology to Create Future-Ready Schools

Future-proofing school spaces for the digital age comes down to three letters – P.O.E.  Power-Over-Ethernet (PoE) technology is enabling school districts to create state-of-the-art learning environments easily adaptable to the … Read more

• 9:30 am to 10:15 am
• Moderator: Tim Miles
• Speakers: Pascal Ginesta, Dwight Stewart
• Quandary Peak 1

Working with ISPs to Facilitate Fiber-to-the-Premises Builds in Colorado Communities

Hear first-hand experience of how cities can work with private providers to bring comprehensive fiber-to-the-premises solutions to their communities. Panelists include a Colorado city that has implemented a public-private partnership, … Read more

• 9:30 am to 10:15 am
• Speakers: Monica Webb, Diane Kruse, Stephanie Piko
• Quandary Peak 2

Multi Rural County DORA Project Success Story

Rural projects go best when it’s a group effort from the get-go. Listen to how Visionary Broadband and a dynamic duo of county broadband managers improved dismal wireless connectivity in … Read more

• 9:30 am to 10:15 am
• Moderator: Justin Davis
• Speakers: Andrew Eubank, Eric Hittle, Jason Cox
• Quandary Peak 3

From Fixed Wireless to Fiber Business Plan

How operators are leveraging FWA and FTTP together to win in their markets Learn about a variety of use cases where network operators are deploying FWA in conjunction with, or … Read more

• 10:30 am to 11:15 am
• Moderator: Jeff Brown
• Castle Peak

Next-Generation Wireless

Gigabit fixed wireless is here. Hear about cutting edge wireless deployments and what to expect coming down the pike from leaders in the fixed wireless industry.

• 10:30 am to 11:15 am
• Moderator: Claude Aiken
• Speakers: Steve Coran, Jeff Kohler, Mike Calabrese
• Quandary Peak 1

The Largest Rural Fiber Project in Colorado!

Colorado is a state that is continuously searching for and finding unique ways to bridge the digital divide. The recent RDOF auction was the catalyst for a $190 million multi-gigabit … Read more

• 10:30 am to 11:15 am
• Speakers: Jonathan Chambers, Amanda Hall
• Quandary Peak 2

Using Partnerships, Middle Mile fiber and Carrier Neutral Locations to Improve Rural Broadband

How can rural and remote communities achieve a high level of broadband service that rivals more metropolitan areas?  Region 10 in Western Colorado has come up with a formula that … Read more

• 10:30 am to 11:15 am
• Moderator: Michelle Haynes
• Speakers: Kent Blackwell, Corey Bryndal
• Quandary Peak 3

Harnessing Digital Innovation for Network Deployment

We are quickly becoming a cloud-based society, yet our broadband industry has been using the same paper-based approach and project management tools for decades. This session explores how our industry … Read more

• 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm
• Moderator: Lori Sherwood
• Speakers: Paul Sulisz, Sean Dundon
• Castle Peak

Best Practices for Improving Rollout Efficiency with a Single Network Data Model

As fiber rollout initiatives gather momentum across the country, the need for a resilient network data record keeping strategy is more important than ever before. IQGeo works with large and … Read more

• 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm
• Speakers: Kyle Berg
• Quandary Peak 1

Build it and they will come: Project THOR Turns Two

Project THOR and other regional government owned networks are changing the availability, affordability, and reliability of broadband access across Colorado. First connected in July 2019 and formally launched in April … Read more

• 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm
• Moderator: Nate Walowitz
• Speakers: Dan Endries, Tim Miles, Andy Atencio
• Quandary Peak 2

School and ISP Partnerships to Connect Homes

Whether with CARES Act dollars, local philanthropy, or other sources, school districts and ISPs have used a variety of funding sources and their own roofs to help local ISPs to … Read more

• 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm
• Moderator: Christopher Mitchell
• Speakers: Denise Shorey, Andrew Moore, Chris Frost
• Quandary Peak 3

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Many neighborhood pockets get left behind because the are hard and expensive to serve. They also get misrepresented as being served by incumbents so to secure funding they are fighting … Read more

• 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm
• Speakers: Stephen Andrade
• Castle Peak

Emerging Technologies and the Capabilities they Bring

Many emerging technologies make the claims that they are the answer. In this session we will look at the emerging technologies their claims and how they may improve broadband capabilities … Read more

• 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm
• Moderator: Ed Mills
• Speakers: Nate Walowitz
• Quandary Peak 1

Shovel Readiness: The Key To Optimizing Your Funding & Accelerating Your Build

Pre- Covid much of our time was spent educating communities on the value of fiber broadband. In 2020 communities everywhere learned first-hand that broadband is essential as we all had … Read more

• 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm
• Speakers: Barry Walton
• Quandary Peak 2

A Municipal Case Study of Taking 10 Gbps to the Airwaves

In this session, you will learn about the collaborative effort between Castle Rock Microwave and the City of Aurora, CO.  Castle Rock Microwave helped the city to extend their enterprise … Read more

• 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm
• Speakers: Brett Bonomo
• Quandary Peak 3

The Broadband Lobby – not just for big Telcom

CEO Brian Worthen and Public Relations Director Stacie McDonald have experienced a growing success through the engagement of elected officials in towns, Counties and states, from ‘Enzi to DC’! Join … Read more

• 3:30 pm to 4:15 pm
• Speakers: Brian Worthen, Stacie McDonald
• Castle Peak

Orchestration & Automation: For Operators Both Big & Small

No matter your size, your broadband subscribers always want their services faster than you can deliver them. Orchestration brings efficiency through automation, but naturally there are tradeoffs and costs to … Read more

• 3:30 pm to 4:15 pm
• Speakers: Glen Scymański
• Quandary Peak 1

IPTV- When, Where, Why and How

Is IPTV right for you?  If so what are the best options, and how do you get started?  This session will answer your questions about IPTV and help you decide … Read more

• 3:30 pm to 4:15 pm
• Speakers: Layne Sisk
• Quandary Peak 2

Broadband obstacles created by Communities

This session will highlight real examples of challenges imposed by cities that greatly affect the construction and execution of broadband networks in their community.

• 3:30 pm to 4:15 pm
• Speakers: Allen Meyer
• Quandary Peak 3