Broadband Development Conference
Myrta Consulting, Infrastructure Strategy Consultant
Earnie Holtrey is an infrastructure and government relations leader with extensive experience shaping broadband and utility expansion policy at the state and local levels. During his five years with the State of Indiana, including serving as Deputy Director of the Indiana Broadband Office, Earnie helped design and implement statewide broadband programs. These programs strengthened collaboration between government, industry, and local communities by guiding complex funding initiatives, legislative engagement, and public-private partnerships that continue to influence Indiana's broadband development.Most recently, Earnie served as Director of State & Local Government Partnerships at Ready.net, partnering with broadband offices, consultant teams, and industry leaders nationwide to support BEAD and other federal infrastructure programs. His work bridged the gap between government expectations and provider capabilities, helping states align policy goals with practical deployment strategies. Today, Earnie leads MYTRA Consulting, a boutique federal broadband compliance advisory firm specializing in helping ISPs, engineering firms, and construction companies navigate the complex transition from BEAD award to program execution. Drawing on his dual experience managing state broadband programs and working alongside private sector providers, he advises clients on subgrantee agreement reviews, risk assessments, letters of credit, and ongoing federal compliance requirements across the 5–10 year BEAD obligation period. MYTRA's approach builds on close, customized partnerships that deliver the kind of responsive, expert guidance clients need to move from grant award to construction with confidence. Earnie Holtrey is an infrastructure and government relations leader with deep experience in broadband policy and federal program execution. As former Deputy Director of the Indiana Broadband Office and Director of State & Local Government Partnerships at Ready.net, he has shaped statewide broadband programs and supported BEAD implementation nationwide. Today, Earnie leads MYTRA Consulting, a boutique federal broadband compliance advisory firm that helps ISPs, engineering firms, and construction companies navigate the transition from BEAD award to program execution advising on subgrantee agreements, risk assessments, and long-term federal compliance.
The NTIA BEAD program has already allocated approximately 20 billion dollars in deployment funds. Eligible Entities and Subgrantees are actively planning, forecasting, scheduling, procuring, and designing. But what happens later on down the line? Local permitting is where deployment plans meet the real world—and sometimes collide with it. This candid panel brings together state broadband leaders and on the ground practitioners to share stories about the challenges, surprises, and human moments behind local permitting. From unexpected roadblocks to hard won breakthroughs, attendees will hear what it really takes to navigate local permitting while keeping projects (and tempers) on track. This session will emphasize how early, consistent, and respectful engagement at the local level, including “boots on the ground,” can dramatically reduce delays and improve project outcomes. Panelists will explore how these relationships are especially critical in smaller jurisdictions where staff juggle multiple roles, and how, by investing in these partnerships, Subgrantees can unlock smoother reviews, clearer feedback loops, and more collaborative problem-solving throughout the permitting process. This panel will dive into real-world examples and highlight the human side of deployment: the towns that became partners, the jurisdictions that threw curveballs, as well as the collaborative relationships that helped move projects forward despite those obstacles. Panelists will share best practices and what it’s like to navigate mismatched requirements, shifting timelines, seasonal moratoriums, and the occasional “lost” application. If you’ve ever walked into a permit office with optimism and walked out feeling frustrated, this conversation is for you! Join us for honest stories, real world lessons, and shared discussion. Panelists:
