Agenda

April 27, 2021

April 28, 2021

Times are subject to change.

12:00 PM EDT

Tuesday, April 27

Editorial

Opening Remarks

Description

Welcome to the Digital Divide program!

12:05 PM EDT

Tuesday, April 27

Keynote

The Moment of a Lifetime: How the Stimulus Package can Solve America’s Connectivity Problem

Editorial Speaker: Jessica Rosenworcel, Acting Chair, Federal Communications Commission

Editorial Moderator: Matt Dunne, Founder and Executive Director, Center On Rural Innovation

Description

What is the state of broadband across the nation today? Who has access, who has ownership, and who’s left out? Our opening keynote, will answer these questions and more.

On Demand

12:45 PM EDT

Tuesday, April 27

Underwritten

Elite Underwriter Session, Presented by Cisco: Helping school and communities bridge the digital divide with Cisco Extended Wireless Connectivity

Underwriter Speaker: Oscar Rico, EdD., Executive Director of Technology, Canutillo Independent School District

Underwriter Speaker: Marcus Moffett, Senior Director of System Engineering and Architectures & CTO, US Public Sector, Cisco Systems, Inc.

Underwritten by: Cisco

Description

The COVID-19 pandemic created a shift within multiple industries, including remote work and distance learning. Canutillo Independent School District in El Paso County, Texas was facing the challenge that 70 percent of students in the school district did not have internet access at home. Learn how the school district leveraged Cisco Extended Wireless Connectivity to launch "Canutillo Connect," an innovative initiative aimed at extending a secure, private wireless network across the district to bring internet access to children and families who need at-home connectivity.

On Demand

1:00 PM EDT

Tuesday, April 27

Editorial

Broadband in Context: Fixing Rural Access Issues

Editorial Speaker: Russ Elliott, Director, Washington State Broadband Office

Editorial Moderator: Alisha Powell Gillis, Senior Editor, Route Fifty

Description

From servicing the middle and last miles to ensuring equal access across rural and urban communities, how are Western states balancing broadband needs? During this session, we’ll explore current broadband developments in the West and learn lessons about fixing rural access issues that apply not only to Western states but also to states across the country.

On Demand

1:35 PM EDT

Tuesday, April 27

Editorial

Build-A-Broadband Network: Infrastructure

Editorial Speaker: Aldona Valicenti, Commissioner/Chief Information Officer, Lexington Fayette Urban County Government

Editorial Moderator: Micaela Suminski, Producer, Government Executive Media Group

Description

We’ll highlight a locality that has built its own broadband network and discuss actionable lessons learned.

On Demand

2:00 PM EDT

Tuesday, April 27

Editorial

Broadband in Context: Fueling the Digital Economy

Editorial Speaker: Alan Howze, Chief Knowledge Officer, Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas

Editorial Speaker: Angela Siefer, Executive Director, National Digital Inclusion Alliance

Editorial Moderator: Bill Lucia, Senior Editor, Route Fifty

Description

Internet access now defines livelihood. Access to reliable broadband makes or breaks employment, advancement, and equity. During this session, we’ll explore how the Midwest is leveraging broadband to ensure digital economy vitality in urban, suburban and rural areas.

On Demand

2:45 PM EDT

Tuesday, April 27

Editorial

Counties Speak on America's Broadband Future

Editorial Speaker: J.D. Clark, County Judge, Wise County, Texas

Editorial Speaker: Craig Rice, Councilmember, Montgomery County, MD

Editorial Moderator: Alisha Powell Gillis, Senior Editor, Route Fifty

Description

To follow up on our opening session, two county officials will discuss the state of broadband across the nation today. They'll unpack who has access, who has ownership, and who’s left out, and offer ideas for collaborative solutions for distributed access.

On Demand

Times are subject to change.

12:00 PM EDT

Wednesday, April 28

Editorial

Broadband in Context: Correcting the COVID Slide

Editorial Speaker: Bridget Quinn, Chief Executive Officer, Hartford Public Library

Editorial Moderator: Jean Dimeo, Managing Editor, Route Fifty

Description

One of the starkest divides uncovered by COVID is the learning gap between those with reliable broadband and those without. During this session, we’ll discuss the disturbing inequities revealed by the remote learning shift, and we’ll explore how areas in the Northeast region are pursuing broadband access in order to address the COVID education slide.

On Demand

12:30 PM EDT

Wednesday, April 28

Break

Coffee Break

Description

Go refresh your coffee and meet us back here in 15 minutes!

12:45 PM EDT

Wednesday, April 28

Editorial

Build-A-Broadband Network: Financing

Editorial Speaker: Will Aycock, Greenlight General Manager, Wilson, North Carolina

Editorial Speaker: Alex Kelley, Senior Broadband Consultant, Center On Rural Innovation

Editorial Speaker: Carole Monroe, Chief Executive Officer, ValleyNet

Description

We’ll highlight a state or locality that has found an innovative way to finance broadband and discuss actionable lessons learned.

On Demand

1:35 PM EDT

Wednesday, April 28

Editorial

Broadband in Context: The Future of Telemedicine

Editorial Speaker: Rena Brewer, Principal Investigator, Southeastern Telehealth Resource Center

Description

Another structural shift induced by COVID was the massive telemedicine overhaul. During this session, we’ll explore how and why broadband might be the future of health. We’ll look specifically at broadband and telemedicine access in the South and extrapolate lessons that can apply across the country.

On Demand

2:00 PM EDT

Wednesday, April 28

Editorial

The Case for Open Access Community Broadband

Editorial Speaker: Daniel Linville, State Delegate, West Virginia

Editorial Speaker: Robert Plymale, State Senator, West Virginia

Editorial Speaker: Kathryn de Wit, Project Director, Broadband Access Initiative, The Pew Charitable Trusts

Editorial Moderator: Alisha Powell Gillis, Senior Editor, Route Fifty

Description

Who has the right to broadband ownership? What are the benefits and challenges to placing ownership in the hands of the public? Our closing session will answer these questions and more.

On Demand

2:30 PM EDT

Wednesday, April 28

Main Stage

Closing Remarks

Description

Thank you for attending!