Broadband Policy Symposium: Fiber to the Constituent

Implementing BEAD's Fiber Priority

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

4:15 PM - 4:45 PM CT

Location: Tennessee Ballroom C, Level 2

Moderator(s)

Erin Gill (she/her/hers)

Vice President, Sustainabilty & Government Relations
Knoxville Utilities Board

PDF

Panelist(s)

Eric Frederick (he/him/his)

Chief Connectivity Officer
Michigan High-Speed Internet Office
Lansing, Michigan, United States
Sally Doty (she/her/hers)

Director
Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM)
Jackson, Mississippi, United States
Glen Howie

State Broadband Director
Arkansas Department of Commerce Broadband Office
Joseph Le (he/him/his)

Interim Director of Broadband Development
Kansas Department of Commerce
Topeka, Kansas, United States

BEAD is a once-in-a-lifetime investment into broadband infrastructure that should last for multiple generations with a secure, future-proof media, but some believe that unserved and underserved homes and business should simply get “good enough” solutions that are not designed for the long-haul. This discussion with state broadband officials examines the long-term value of fiber compared to low-cost/lower-performing alternatives, discusses ways to proactively manage extremely-high-cost locations when allocating BEAD funding, and examine how fiber provides communities with enhanced economic and social value beyond simple data networking in areas such as quantum technologies and environmental sensing.