Broadband Development Conference
Idaho Broadband Office, Project Manager
Kim Glineski is a Project Manager with the Idaho Office of Broadband within the Idaho Department of Commerce, where she helps lead the implementation of major state and federal broadband infrastructure initiatives. In her role, Kim works closely with industry leaders, community partners, state and federal agencies, and policymakers to advance broadband deployment and expand reliable high-speed internet access across Idaho.
Prior to joining the Idaho Office of Broadband, Kim served in business retention and expansion at the Idaho Department of Commerce, working directly with Idaho companies and communities to support business growth and economic development. She also brings extensive private-sector experience in marketing, communications, and stakeholder engagement from her work with Treasure Valley Racing, Agri Beef, and Micron.
Kim studied business marketing and communications at Boise State University. With deep roots in agriculture, she has a strong appreciation for Idaho's rural communities and the businesses and industries that drive the state's economy.
Permitting is one of the most critical—and complex—factors shaping the success of BEAD-funded broadband deployment in the Western United States. This panel brings together state broadband leaders to discuss real-world permitting barriers encountered across rural, tribal, and federally managed lands, and the strategies states are using to overcome them. Panelists will explore challenges such as environmental review timelines, rights-of-way approvals, limited local permitting capacity, and inconsistent jurisdictional requirements. The discussion will also highlight successful approaches, including centralized state coordination, early engagement with federal land management agencies, standardized permitting frameworks, and collaborative partnerships with tribal and local governments. Designed for state broadband offices, policymakers, and providers, this session will offer practical insights and transferable best practices to reduce delays, increase certainty, and accelerate BEAD implementation while respecting environmental, tribal, and local governance considerations.
