Arlington, Va., (April 22, 2024)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association will host two events next week to discuss broadband policies impacting small, community-based broadband providers and local initiatives that increase access to and use of broadband in rural communities. The 2024 Legislative + Policy Conference beginning Monday, April 29, will bring community-based providers together to hear the latest on federal broadband policy issues and to advocate on behalf of their communities with legislators and policymakers. And on May 1, NTCA will convene federal policymakers and broadband leaders for “Smart Communities in Conversation,” a look at locally driven initiatives that are spurring digital adoption, economic development and community engagement in rural communities.
Media are invited to cover the on-the-record portion of the Legislative + Policy Conference featuring:
- NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield
- FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez
- RUS Administrator Andy Berke
- Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson
- CISA Director Jen Easterly
Media are also invited to attend the half-day program on May 1, including:
- FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks
- Representatives from the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and American Farm Bureau Federation
- Smart Rural CommunitySM providers and other broadband industry leaders
Both events will be hosted at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. Media wishing to attend either event in person must RSVP to Alex Naughton no later than Friday, April 26. Agendas for both events can be found below.
AGENDA
Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill
400 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Monday, April 29
NTCA Legislative + Policy Conference
9:00 – 9:15 a.m. ET Industry update from NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield
9:15 – 9:45 a.m. ET Conversation with FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez
9:45 – 10:15 a.m. ET Conversation with RUS Administrator Andy Berke
10:15 – 10:45 a.m. ET Conversation with Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson
11:00 – 11:30 a.m. ET How to Engage with Members of Congress Back Home
Chris Townson, CEO, DTC Communications
Tyler Campbell, Executive Director, Kentucky Telephone Association
11:30 – Noon ET Conversation with CISA Director Jen Easterly
Wednesday, May 1
NTCA Smart Communities in Conversation
8:30 a.m. — 8:45 a.m. ET Welcome from NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield
8:45 – 9:15 a.m. ET Conversation on Rural Issues with FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks
9:15 – 10:00 a.m. ET Rural Digital Inclusion: Case Studies of Success and Lessons Learned
Shirley Bloomfield, CEO, NTCA
Jennifer Prather, CEO, Totelcom Communications
Catherine Nicolaou, Broadband Program Manager, the City of Albuquerque
10:00 – 10:45 a.m. ET Community Planning and Engagement Strategies
Tanya Sullivan, CEO, Plus One Strategic Communications
Friday Otuya, Community Engagement Specialist, Nex-Tech
Kelly Wismer, Chief of Staff to the Executive Director, Appalachian
Regional Commission
11:00 – 11:30 a.m. ET Tackling Rural Affordability
Kathryn de Wit, Program Director, Broadband Access Initiative,
The Pew Charitable Trusts
Keith Gabbard, CEO, Peoples Rural Telephone Cooperative
Cassidy Hjelmstad, CEO/General Manager, SRT Communications
11:30 – Noon ET What Does It Mean to Be a Smart Rural Community?
Andrew Brown, Director of Industry and Client Relations, JSI
Emily Buckman, Director, Government Affairs, the American Farm
Bureau Federation
Mitchell Bailey, CEO, GRM Networks
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