The American Association for Public Broadband (AAPB) and ILSR’s Community Broadband Networks Initiative are teaming up to host a webinar later this month for local and community leaders interested – or on the fence – in pursuing municipal broadband solutions to local connectivity challenges.

“Municipal Broadband and Innovative Financing Models: Unlocking Economic Growth” will focus on ways publicly-owned broadband networks can be financed and feature municipal broadband providers and financing experts who have successfully navigated the maze of municipal finance.

The free webinar is slated for February 20, 2025, from noon to 1 pm ET.

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Registration is open now here.

Co-hosted by AAPB Executive Director Gigi Sohn and Sean Gonsalves from ILSR's Community Broadband Networks Initiative, organizers are encouraging attendees to bring their questions, as the agenda aims to foster information-sharing and actionable insight.

Panelists for the discussion will be:

• Ernie Staten, City of Fairlawn’s Public Service Department Director
• F.X. Flinn, ECFiber Governing Board Chair
• Laura Lewis, Principal and Co-Owner of LRB Public Finance Advisors
• Eric Rex, Vice President at KeyBanc Capital Markets

“There are more than 400 publicly-owned broadband networks operating right now across the nation,” said AAPB Executive Director Gigi Sohn. “That number has been growing rapidly. But, there's more work to do to address the fear and hesitation that’s stopping some communities from pursuing the public model.”

The American Association for Public Broadband (AAPB) and ILSR’s Community Broadband Networks Initiative are teaming up to host a webinar later this month for local and community leaders interested – or on the fence – in pursuing municipal broadband solutions to local connectivity challenges.

“Municipal Broadband and Innovative Financing Models: Unlocking Economic Growth” will focus on ways publicly-owned broadband networks can be financed and feature municipal broadband providers and financing experts who have successfully navigated the maze of municipal finance.

The free webinar is slated for February 20, 2025, from noon to 1 pm ET.

Image

Registration is open now here.

Co-hosted by AAPB Executive Director Gigi Sohn and Sean Gonsalves from ILSR's Community Broadband Networks Initiative, organizers are encouraging attendees to bring their questions, as the agenda aims to foster information-sharing and actionable insight.

Panelists for the discussion will be:

• Ernie Staten, City of Fairlawn’s Public Service Department Director
• F.X. Flinn, ECFiber Governing Board Chair
• Laura Lewis, Principal and Co-Owner of LRB Public Finance Advisors
• Eric Rex, Vice President at KeyBanc Capital Markets

“There are more than 400 publicly-owned broadband networks operating right now across the nation,” said AAPB Executive Director Gigi Sohn. “That number has been growing rapidly. But, there's more work to do to address the fear and hesitation that’s stopping some communities from pursuing the public model.”

The American Association for Public Broadband (AAPB) and ILSR’s Community Broadband Networks Initiative are teaming up to host a webinar later this month for local and community leaders interested – or on the fence – in pursuing municipal broadband solutions to local connectivity challenges.

“Municipal Broadband and Innovative Financing Models: Unlocking Economic Growth” will focus on ways publicly-owned broadband networks can be financed and feature municipal broadband providers and financing experts who have successfully navigated the maze of municipal finance.

The free webinar is slated for February 20, 2025, from noon to 1 pm ET.

Image

Registration is open now here.

Co-hosted by AAPB Executive Director Gigi Sohn and Sean Gonsalves from ILSR's Community Broadband Networks Initiative, organizers are encouraging attendees to bring their questions, as the agenda aims to foster information-sharing and actionable insight.

Panelists for the discussion will be:

• Ernie Staten, City of Fairlawn’s Public Service Department Director
• F.X. Flinn, ECFiber Governing Board Chair
• Laura Lewis, Principal and Co-Owner of LRB Public Finance Advisors
• Eric Rex, Vice President at KeyBanc Capital Markets

“There are more than 400 publicly-owned broadband networks operating right now across the nation,” said AAPB Executive Director Gigi Sohn. “That number has been growing rapidly. But, there's more work to do to address the fear and hesitation that’s stopping some communities from pursuing the public model.”

Tune in June 11 for the third and final installment of a new webinar series aimed at local government leaders thinking about building publicly owned networks. Hosted by the American Association for Public Broadband (AAPB) and the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society - both veteran organizations in this space - the event aims to unpack key considerations in the building and operation of community-owned networks.

The first two webinars in the series took place in April and May, and featured conversations with industry experts on the factors that go into deciding whether to embark on a path to building publicly owned broadband and understanding the models available and when pursuing a partnership is the right path.

The webinar series as a whole follows the publication of a guide by AAPB and Benton published this spring called Own Your Internet: How to Build a Public Broadband Network [pdf]. It is packed with analysis, practical advice, and lessons learned on everything from feasibility studies to business models to financing to marketing, as well as case studies in Ohio, Texas, Utah, and more.

This third event - titled Implementation - Building and Operating the Network - rounds out the series with infrastructure builders and the General Manager of Waterloo, Iowa’s municipal network, which has been building since September 2022. See the full schedule below:

Webinar Three: Implementation - Building and Operating the Network

June 11th, 12 pm - 1pm ET

The last webinar will focus on the challenges of and strategies for building the physical infrastructure and launching services. Panelists will discuss how they manage complex operations while also adapting to changing conditions, all in view of a community invested in their broadband.

Bill will be joined by:

• Suzanne Heritage, Underline
• Sachin Gupta, Cetranet Fiber
• Eric Lage, Waterloo Fiber
• Jon Willow, Community Broadband Action Network

Register for the event, which runs from 12p to 1p ET on June 11th.

Tune in June 11 for the third and final installment of a new webinar series aimed at local government leaders thinking about building publicly owned networks. Hosted by the American Association for Public Broadband (AAPB) and the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society - both veteran organizations in this space - the event aims to unpack key considerations in the building and operation of community-owned networks.

The first two webinars in the series took place in April and May, and featured conversations with industry experts on the factors that go into deciding whether to embark on a path to building publicly owned broadband and understanding the models available and when pursuing a partnership is the right path.

The webinar series as a whole follows the publication of a guide by AAPB and Benton published this spring called Own Your Internet: How to Build a Public Broadband Network [pdf]. It is packed with analysis, practical advice, and lessons learned on everything from feasibility studies to business models to financing to marketing, as well as case studies in Ohio, Texas, Utah, and more.

This third event - titled Implementation - Building and Operating the Network - rounds out the series with infrastructure builders and the General Manager of Waterloo, Iowa’s municipal network, which has been building since September 2022. See the full schedule below:

Webinar Three: Implementation - Building and Operating the Network

June 11th, 12 pm - 1pm ET

The last webinar will focus on the challenges of and strategies for building the physical infrastructure and launching services. Panelists will discuss how they manage complex operations while also adapting to changing conditions, all in view of a community invested in their broadband.

Bill will be joined by:

• Suzanne Heritage, Underline
• Sachin Gupta, Cetranet Fiber
• Eric Lage, Waterloo Fiber
• Jon Willow, Community Broadband Action Network

Register for the event, which runs from 12p to 1p ET on June 11th.

Tune in June 11 for the third and final installment of a new webinar series aimed at local government leaders thinking about building publicly owned networks. Hosted by the American Association for Public Broadband (AAPB) and the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society - both veteran organizations in this space - the event aims to unpack key considerations in the building and operation of community-owned networks.

The first two webinars in the series took place in April and May, and featured conversations with industry experts on the factors that go into deciding whether to embark on a path to building publicly owned broadband and understanding the models available and when pursuing a partnership is the right path.

The webinar series as a whole follows the publication of a guide by AAPB and Benton published this spring called Own Your Internet: How to Build a Public Broadband Network [pdf]. It is packed with analysis, practical advice, and lessons learned on everything from feasibility studies to business models to financing to marketing, as well as case studies in Ohio, Texas, Utah, and more.

This third event - titled Implementation - Building and Operating the Network - rounds out the series with infrastructure builders and the General Manager of Waterloo, Iowa’s municipal network, which has been building since September 2022. See the full schedule below:

Webinar Three: Implementation - Building and Operating the Network

June 11th, 12 pm - 1pm ET

The last webinar will focus on the challenges of and strategies for building the physical infrastructure and launching services. Panelists will discuss how they manage complex operations while also adapting to changing conditions, all in view of a community invested in their broadband.

Bill will be joined by:

• Suzanne Heritage, Underline
• Sachin Gupta, Cetranet Fiber
• Eric Lage, Waterloo Fiber
• Jon Willow, Community Broadband Action Network

Register for the event, which runs from 12p to 1p ET on June 11th.

The Tribal Business of Broadband webinar series, a virtual extension of the Tribal Broadband Bootcamps, continues later this month with a focus on wireless Tribal networks.

It will be held on December 19 at 2 pm ET.

As historic investments are being made to bring better broadband to Indian Country, the webinars are designed to be a practical resource for Tribal leaders seeking to expand high-speed Internet access within Indigenous communities.

Coming on the heels of the first webinar in the series, which focused on high-level business considerations in establishing Tribal networks, this second webinar will cover what it takes to deploy wireless networks, the spectrum licensing involved, and other related issues.

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Like the previous webinar, the lineup of speakers bring in-depth knowledge and experience in the building and operation of Tribal networks. Speakers for the Dec. 19 webinar include: Brandon Ramon, Network Operations Center Supervisor for the Tohono O'odham Utility Authority; Matthew “Speygee” Douglas, Broadband Manager for the Hoopa Valley Tribe's Public Utilities District; and Monica Braine, Project Specialist for AMERIND Critical Infrastructure. The conversation will be moderated by Brooke Munroe, Director of the Tribal Resource Center.

Pre-registration is not required. Interested participants can watch the webinar live here.

The Tribal Business of Broadband webinar series, a virtual extension of the Tribal Broadband Bootcamps, continues later this month with a focus on wireless Tribal networks.

It will be held on December 19 at 2 pm ET.

As historic investments are being made to bring better broadband to Indian Country, the webinars are designed to be a practical resource for Tribal leaders seeking to expand high-speed Internet access within Indigenous communities.

Coming on the heels of the first webinar in the series, which focused on high-level business considerations in establishing Tribal networks, this second webinar will cover what it takes to deploy wireless networks, the spectrum licensing involved, and other related issues.

Image

Like the previous webinar, the lineup of speakers bring in-depth knowledge and experience in the building and operation of Tribal networks. Speakers for the Dec. 19 webinar include: Brandon Ramon, Network Operations Center Supervisor for the Tohono O'odham Utility Authority; Matthew “Speygee” Douglas, Broadband Manager for the Hoopa Valley Tribe's Public Utilities District; and Monica Braine, Project Specialist for AMERIND Critical Infrastructure. The conversation will be moderated by Brooke Munroe, Director of the Tribal Resource Center.

Pre-registration is not required. Interested participants can watch the webinar live here.

The Tribal Business of Broadband webinar series, a virtual extension of the Tribal Broadband Bootcamps, continues later this month with a focus on wireless Tribal networks.

It will be held on December 19 at 2 pm ET.

As historic investments are being made to bring better broadband to Indian Country, the webinars are designed to be a practical resource for Tribal leaders seeking to expand high-speed Internet access within Indigenous communities.

Coming on the heels of the first webinar in the series, which focused on high-level business considerations in establishing Tribal networks, this second webinar will cover what it takes to deploy wireless networks, the spectrum licensing involved, and other related issues.

Image

Like the previous webinar, the lineup of speakers bring in-depth knowledge and experience in the building and operation of Tribal networks. Speakers for the Dec. 19 webinar include: Brandon Ramon, Network Operations Center Supervisor for the Tohono O'odham Utility Authority; Matthew “Speygee” Douglas, Broadband Manager for the Hoopa Valley Tribe's Public Utilities District; and Monica Braine, Project Specialist for AMERIND Critical Infrastructure. The conversation will be moderated by Brooke Munroe, Director of the Tribal Resource Center.

Pre-registration is not required. Interested participants can watch the webinar live here.

The Tribal Business of Broadband webinar series, a virtual extension of the Tribal Broadband Bootcamps, continues later this month with a focus on wireless Tribal networks.

It will be held on December 19 at 2 pm ET.

As historic investments are being made to bring better broadband to Indian Country, the webinars are designed to be a practical resource for Tribal leaders seeking to expand high-speed Internet access within Indigenous communities.

Coming on the heels of the first webinar in the series, which focused on high-level business considerations in establishing Tribal networks, this second webinar will cover what it takes to deploy wireless networks, the spectrum licensing involved, and other related issues.

Image

Like the previous webinar, the lineup of speakers bring in-depth knowledge and experience in the building and operation of Tribal networks. Speakers for the Dec. 19 webinar include: Brandon Ramon, Network Operations Center Supervisor for the Tohono O'odham Utility Authority; Matthew “Speygee” Douglas, Broadband Manager for the Hoopa Valley Tribe's Public Utilities District; and Monica Braine, Project Specialist for AMERIND Critical Infrastructure. The conversation will be moderated by Brooke Munroe, Director of the Tribal Resource Center.

Pre-registration is not required. Interested participants can watch the webinar live here.