Broadband Development Conference
Georgia Broadband Office, Director
Sarah Baska is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in the public sector at both the federal and state level. As a native Georgian, growing up in Atlanta and attending Georgia State University, Sarah has honed her expertise through a series of prominent roles for the state.
Currently serving as the Director of the State Broadband Office under the Georgia Technology Authority, Sarah has drawn upon her previous experience to provide leadership and strategic vision in executing more than 2 billion dollars in broadband infrastructure grants. Her previous experience includes working for several elected officials in federal and state offices including U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss. U.S. Senator David Perdue and Governor Brian P. Kemp. In these positions, Sarah has been instrumental in shaping policy and directing initiatives related to federal grants, statewide outreach programs, and operations processes.
Beyond her professional achievements, Sarah is a member of the Cobb County Honorary Commanders Association and serves on Senator Warnock’s Service Academy Selection Board.
A dynamic discussion among state broadband officials about multiple broadband programs (BEAD, CPF, SLFRF and RDOF) converging 2026 deadlines and the collaboration required to overcome the barriers to deployment ensuring the promise of universal broadband is finally delivered. 
We will discuss BEAD’s broad bipartisan support with potential to be a major win for federal, state, and local governments. Specifically, we will explore the opportunities at the local level for BEAD, and some of the challenges that still need addressing.
Federal, state, and local governments have varying authorities and roles to address barriers to BEAD deployment. We plan to examine the unique role state broadband offices can play in helping overcome obstacles related to permitting, poles, and easements.
This panel will cover:
Permitting - Permitting challenges impacting network expansion across the country. We will discuss concrete steps state and local governments can take to reduce permitting delays, and which broadband ready practices states have already taken and those outcomes.
Pole Attachments - We wil also include questions about how states should balance pole replacement funding, utility responsibility, and fair cost distribution, and what innovations in undergrounding or grid modernization can accelerate BEAD builds.
Easements and Rights of Way - Included discussion around how states can clarify or modernize antiquated easement laws to support rural buildout, and where federal and state authorities need tighter coordination.
