See “Broadband Breakfast Panelists Discuss How Rural Fund Recipients Can Prepare For Efficient Network Builds,” Broadband Breakfast, December 22, 2020

Tools for Broadband Deployment: This series explores the way that geospatial data and asset management is shaping the future of rural network delivery and performance. This series explores how market-leading fiber builders are using digital tools to map, analyze, manage and deploy new networks – with a focus on rural success stories.

Wednesday, December 16, 2020, 12 Noon ET — “Tools for Broadband: RDOF and Other Rural Broadband Deployments”

• The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, the Connect America Fund and other rural deployments: How new awardees are laying the future for managing their deployments. Think managing your budget.

WATCH HERE, or on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. 

This event is part of a five-part event series, “Tools for Broadband: Preparing for Success,” on Broadband Breakfast Live Online.

Panelists include:

• Lori Sherwood, Director, Commercial and Market Development, Render Networks
• Ryan McCowan, Director, Customer Engagement & Solutions, ADTRAN
• Ed Barrett, Vice President and Practice Leader, HR Green’s Fiber and Broadband Practice
• Greg Santoro, Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, NRTC
• Drew Clark (Moderator), Editor and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast

Ed Barrett, Lori Sherwood, Ryan McCowan, Greg Santoro

Lori Sherwood is a strategic industry leader with decades of broadband experience, more recently focused on uncovering solutions for rural communities. As the Director of Commercial and Market Development for Render Networks, she has a background in contract development, community broadband networks, and issues facing municipalities. Lori has successfully led programs awarding federal stimulus grant processes with hundred-million-dollar investments. Lori is currently a Member of the Board of Directors for the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA).

A veteran telecom professional with over 18 years in the industry, Ryan McCowan leads the team defining and driving ADTRAN’s vision for the fiber-based access networks of today and tomorrow. Previously at ADTRAN he served in a range of product management capacities for its market-leading fiber and copper-based product lines. Prior to joining ADTRAN in 2010, he served in engineering and technology management roles with Paradyne and AMD. Ryan holds a Master’s degree from Georgia Tech and a Bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Tech, both in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Ed Barrett is Vice President and Practice Leader for HR Green’s Fiber and Broadband Practice. During his tenure at HR Green, he has led the analysis and strategic planning efforts for clients including counties, municipalities and special districts. His experience includes work in the telecommunications sector, where he brings more than 15 years of telecom and broadband services experience working with both carriers and local communities.  His work has focused on the study of municipal broadband feasibility, deployment of large fiber to the home networks, and the creation of innovative partnerships that link community and private sector 5G deployments.

Greg Santoro is chief marketing and strategy officer for NRTC, originally the National Rural Telephone Cooperative, where he is responsible for strategy, marketing, business development, and IT. He joined NRTC from NII Holdings where he was responsible for corporate marketing and branding, product and device development, and strategic planning for a Latin American wireless company.

Panelist Resources

• Broadband Web Page from Company Site: https://www.hrgreen.com/markets-projects/governmental-services/community-broadband/
• 5G/Smart City Page from Company Site: https://www.hrgreen.com/articles/building-smart-cities-5g-technology/
• Broadband Consulting Sell Sheet: https://www.hrgreen.com/app/uploads/2017/07/HRG_GS_Broadband-092017-web.pdf
• Community Fiber Sell Sheet: https://www.hrgreen.com/app/uploads/2018/03/bro_GS_CommunityFiber-web.pdf
• NRTC’s Broadband Benchmark: https://www.nrtc.coop/news/rec-broadband-benchmark-report

Events in “Tools for Broadband Deployment” series, which is sponsored by ADTRAN and Render Networks, include:

• Wednesday, October 21, 2020, 12 Noon ET — “Tools for Broadband Deployment: Preparing for Success”
  • Are you ready for rural deployment? The United States is currently in the midst of multiple, significant efforts pushing for Better Broadband for Rural America. Think of the big picture opportunity.
• Wednesday, November 25, 2020, 12 Noon ET — “Tools for Broadband Deployment: Connecting Providers and Customers Faster”
  • Case studies of network-building with an all-digital workflow. How fiber-builders are finding success in construction management, workflow processes and on-the-fly changes. In a phrase: Think workflow and business systems.
• Wednesday, December 16, 2020, 12 Noon ET — “Tools for Broadband Deployment: RDOF and Other Rural Broadband Deployments”
  • The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, the Connect America Fund and other rural deployments: How new awardees are laying the future for managing their deployments. Think managing your budget.
• Wednesday, February 3, 2021, 12 Noon ET — “Tools for Broadband Deployment: Mapping the Rural Broadband Buildout”
  • Mapping broadband assets is only the first step. This session will explore how end-to-end data is showing that successful rural fiber networks begin with the end in the mind. Think broadband mapping.
• Wednesday, February 17, 2021, 12 Noon ET — “Tools for Broadband: Fueling the Fire of Rural Innovation”
  • We’ll showcase how broadband deployment is accelerating the digital future for rural America at a time of COVID-19. Think success.

“Tools for Broadband Deployment” is sponsored by:

Render Networks

ADTRAN

SUBSCRIBE to the Broadband Breakfast YouTube channel. That way, you will be notified when events go live. Watch on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. 

See a complete list of upcoming and past Broadband Breakfast Live Online events.