Broadband and Your Community Workshop 103:
A Deeper Dive

We have had a remarkable response to the first two workshops. We appreciate all who participated in the workshop(s) and invite you to mark your calendars for “Workshop 103: A Deeper Dive” on November 14th at Hazard Community & Technical College.

The third workshop in the series will take a more in-depth look at details of community development and planning of last mile services. Those who participated in the first two workshops are especially encouraged to further their knowledge by attending “Workshop 103: A Deeper Dive”.

If you were unable to attend one of the first two workshops, there is still time to get involved. The workshop will include a brief recap of topics covered previously. Details and registration for “Workshop 103: A Deeper Dive” will be forthcoming.

Workshop Agenda

10:00                     Welcome: Lonnie Lawson, President & CEO, The Center for Rural Development

 10:10                     Keynote: The Appalachian Regional Commission’s Broadband Vision for the ARC Region – Mark DeFalco, Telecommunications Initiative Manager, Appalachian

Regional Commission

 10:45                     Business Panel: The Need for High-speed, High-capacity Internet Access – Payton May, Creative Director, BitSource; Scott Noble, Director of IT, Senture; Willie Wilson, Director of Operations, Blackboard Student Services

 11:40                     Youth Panel: The Growing Need for Better Internet Service – Nadia Richardson, Craft Academy, Morehead State University; Carolina O’Neil, Craft Academy, Morehead State University; Alex Vermillion, Craft Academy, Morehead State University; Vada Miller, Perry County High School; Hannah Daniels, Perry County High School

 12:30                     Lunch

 12:45                     Update from KentuckyWired – Phillip Brown, CEO, Kentucky Communications Network Authority (KCNA)

 1:15                        Featured Speaker: The Cost of Building Broadband: How to Write a Financial Plan – Lori Sherwood, Director for Broadband Development, Vantage Point Solutions

 2:00                        Providers and Partners: How Your Local Telecommunications or Electric Provider can be a Partner in Your Quest for High-speed Broadband for Your Community – Carol Wright, CEO, Jackson Energy Electric Cooperative; Melissa Mitchell, Customer Relations Manager, Twin Lakes Telecom Coop; Bill Grigsby, Owner, Thacker/Grigsby Telephone Cooperative; Jacob Colley, External Affairs Manager, American Electric Power

 3:00                        Funding Sources: Federal Funds that can Help Your Community Have High-speed Broadband –  Mark DeFalco, Telecommunications Initiative Manager, Appalachian Regional Commission; James Wilson, General Field Representative for Kentucky and Indiana, Rural Utilities Service, USDA; Anthony Hollinsworth, Director of Community Facilities and Water and Waste Programs, KY Office of USDA Rural Development; Ralph Ross, District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration

 4:00                        Closing Remarks