How Digital Can We Get Here In Mesa?

Digital Southwest Here in Mesa

Next Century Cities will host a regional broadband summit, Digital Southwest, in Mesa, Arizona from 9:00am to 5:00pm MST next Tuesday, April 18, 2017 in partnership with the City of Mesa.
To watch the full event live, go to: https://livestream.com/internetsociety/digitalsw
Source: Broadband Breakfast

This full-day event will bring together broadband champions from federal, state, and local government, as well as community leaders and broadband policy experts from the Southwest and across the nation.
More information >
http://nextcenturycities.org/event/digital-southwest/

The event will feature stories of broadband deployment success, digital inclusion initiatives, financing opportunities, and more.

Participants will hear from mayors, other city officials, state and federal policymakers, rural and tribal representatives, as well as national broadband experts. From financing to infrastructure development to smart cities, panelists will share a wealth of practical information.

Participants may also take advantage of NTIA’s connected event on broadband planning and funding the following day. See below for details.

Conference: Tuesday, April 18, 2017 from 8:30 to 5pm at the Mesa Convention Center, 263 N Center Street, Mesa, AZ 85201
Welcome Reception: Monday, April 17, 2017 from 5:30 to 7pm at the Mesa Arts Center, 1 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201

Agenda for Digital SW in Mesa, AZ, April 18, 2017

Keynote Speakers:

US Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ)

FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn

Mayor Giles

 

Breakfast and Keynote

Panel One: What’s Working– Stories of Success
Hear from elected officials and city leadership who can share stories about what is working in their communities.

 

 

 

 

 

John Bowcut, IS/SFCN Director, Spanish Fork, UT

Bob Fifer, Mayor Pro Tem, Arvada, CO

Beth Huning, Chief Engineer, City of Mesa, AZ

David Littell, RIVCOconnect Manager, Riverside County, CA

Kimball Sekaquaptewa, Manager of Tribal Critical Infrastructure, Amerind Risk

Don Williams, Senior Program Specialist for Broadband at US Department of Commerce

Panel Two: Broadband Infrastructure Needs
Where are the gaps in broadband infrastructure in our country?
What can be done to improve access for the underserved and the unserved?

John Brown, CISSP, President / CTO,  CityLink Telecommunications NM, LLC

Jonathan Chambers, Partner, Conexon LLC.

Christopher Mitchell, Policy Director, Next Century Cities

Matt Rantanen, Director of Technology, Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association

Jory Wolf, Vice President, Digital Innovation, Magellan Advisors

Presentation on PAWR: Bill McGuire, US Ignite, PAWR Project Office

Lunch and Keynote

Breakout Session One: Models 101
What are the ways in which a counties, cities, or towns might successfully bring broadband to their communities?

Mitch Drake, Executive Engagement Leader, Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc.

Mark Feest, General Manager, Churchill Communications

Mark Goldstein, President, International Research Center

Andrew T. Gonzales, PIO/Telecom Manager, Kit Carson Electric Cooperative

Virgil Turner, Director of Innovation and Citizen Engagement, Montrose, CO

 

Breakout Session Two: Small Cells and Pole Attachments
What do communities need to know about pole attachments?
What are small cells and how can local leaders create a collaborative and mutually beneficial process with vendors who are seeking to deploy them?

Todd O’Boyle, Deputy Director, Next Century Cities

Michael Calabrese, Director, Wireless Future Program, New America, Open Technology Institute

Casey Lide, Partner, Law Firm of Baller, Stokes, and Lide

Courtney Schmidt, Executive Vice President, SureSite Consulting Group, LLC

David Young,  ‎Fiber Infrastructure and Right of Way Manager, Lincoln, NE

 

Breakout Session Three: Rural and Tribal
What are the unique issues and barriers in rural and tribal lands that leave many of these areas unserved? What solutions exist that can help to improve access?

John Badal, CEO, Sacred Wind Communications, NM

Brian Howard, Research & Policy Analyst, American Indian Policy Institute, Arizona State University

Shawn Irvine, Economic Development Director, Independence, OR

Blake Mobley, IT Director, Rio Blanco County, CO

Belinda Nelson, Director, Gila River Indian Community Utility Authority and Gila River Telecom, Inc.

Matt Rantanen, Director of Technology, Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association

Panel Three: Broadband Financing
How are communities funding broadband expansion?
What resources exist to help local communities fund infrastructure and digital inclusion efforts?

Keith Adams, Assistant Administrator, RUS

Jordana Barton, Senior Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Tom Coverick, Managing Director, KeyBanc Capital Markets

Tim Herwig, District Community Affairs Officer, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

Aimee Meacham, Director, Broadband Services Program, NTIA

REGISTRATION: 

Register now for Next Century Cities’ third regional broadband summit, Digital Southwest, in Mesa, AZ.
This conference is an opportunity for cities from the state and region to learn about successful models for ensuring that all have access to fast, affordable, reliable broadband access.
Registration is free for all government employees, and $100 for general admission.
You can register online by following this link.

HOTELS:

We have secured a very limited number of hotel rooms in the Residence Inn Phoenix Mesa, which is just a short distance from the conference. You may reserve either a Studio Style Suite for $129/night or a One Bedroom Suite for $139/night.To take advantage of the group rate, please call 480-610-0100 or visit this website and mention “Digital Southwest Conference” when booking. 
We also have a very limited number of hotel rooms will be made available at the group rate of $129/night for a Standard King or Double Room at the Phoenix Marriott Mesa, which is conveniently located just steps from the main event space. To take advantage of the group rate, please call 480-898-3000 or visit this website and mention “Digital Southwest Conference” when booking. 

NTIA HALF DAY EVENT

NTIA’s BroadbandUSA will host a free half-day, in-depth technical assistance workshop on broadband planning and funding on April 19, the day after Digital SW, in Mesa, AZ.

Arizona Broadband Workshop

BroadbandUSA 

 

 

 

Event Details

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), through its BroadbandUSA program, is holding an in-depth technical assistance workshop on broadband planning and funding in Mesa, Ariz., on Wednesday, April 19, 2017.
Broadband is a critical driver for American prosperity and economic growth.
As a result, state and local governments are seeking ways to expand broadband access and digital inclusion to improve economic growth, workforce development, education outcomes and healthcare in their communities. 

   • Does your community need broadband?
   • Do you want to learn more about how to plan and fund broadband infrastructure access in your community?
   • Do you need help getting started or make sure you are on the right path?

If you answered yes to those questions, please join BroadbandUSA’s technical assistance team for a half-day workshop with a deep dive into planning and funding a broadband infrastructure project. This team has substantial public and private sector experience in broadband deployment and implementation.

The technical assistance  workshop is free to attend and can assist your community in meeting your broadband needs.
Who: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (U.S. Department of Commerce).
Experts from NTIA's BroadbandUSA Technical Assistance team will lead the workshop.

When: Wednesday, April 19, 2017; from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. MST.
This workshop will be held a day after the Next Century Cities "Digital Southwest" broadband summit in Mesa, AZ.  
Where: Mesa Arts Center
1 E Main St
Mesa, AZ 85201
Have questions about Arizona Broadband Workshop? Contact BroadbandUSA