Deploying Broadband With A Little Help From My Friends

August 9 – 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm
Plaza Ballroom

Moderator

Ray Gifford

Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP: Managing Partner of the Denver Office

We are in the early days of a once-in-a-generation opportunity to increase the availability and adoption rates for broadband service. Workforce development, telehealth, distance learning, emergency services economic development all have the opportunity to take a giant leap forward during this decade. This panel will discuss the need for all the players to work together, as we will only get there With A Little Help From My Friends.

Each state has invested in empowering broadband experts like Jade Piros de Carvalho to create the required plans to secure and distribute the funding. Mark Wiranowski has collaborated with Legislators to draft rights of way statutes, and alongside providers ranging from coops to the largest ISPs to deploy networks. State AGs like General Weiser are in the middle helping everyone navigate these hurdles.

The opportunity before us will also drive an unprecedented number or mergers or acquisitions, deal financing, and a glut of new commercial agreements that will need to be moved forward at a pace that does not delay network deployment. Let alone addressing the deployment challenges in accessing rights-of-way expediently while balancing the rights of property owners.

Speakers

Eric Bergman

Colorado Counties , Inc.: Policy Director

Jade Piros de Carvalho

Kansas: Director of the Office of Broadband Development

Phil Weiser

State of Colorado: Attorney General

Mark Wiranowski

Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP: Partner