WV Economic Development Council Members and Friends,

New speakers are confirmed for the 2024 West Virginia Broadband Summit: Where West Virginia Connects, October 22-23, 2024, in Charleston.

Broadband infrastructure is critical to the growth and expansion of industries, businesses and communities throughout West Virginia. This event focuses on West Virginia’s growing broadband industry, its innovation, and its importance to the State’s economic development strategy. 

REGISTER TODAY

• Seating is limited and nearing capacity
• Register at: wvedc.org/meetinginfo2024WVBroadbandSummit
• Reserve Lodging at Embassy Suites: 2024 WV Broadband Summit
• An updated draft agenda is attached and highlighted below.

AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS

October 23 Keynote Speaker Confirmed:

Evan Feinman, Director of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)

Confirmed speakers include technology leaders and federal officials, including: 

• Jill Springer, Senior Policy Advisor for Permitting and Chief Environmental Review and Permitting Officer for NTIA
• Patrick Ryan, Senior Solutions Engineer, Telecommunications for Esri, Broadband Mapping for Telecoms with ArcGIS, a West Virginia Perspective
• Bryan Darr, Vice President, Government Affairs for Ookla, Measuring Progress for Broadband Network Performance
• Amelia R. De Jesus, Vice President, Workforce Solutions for WIA, Broadband Sector Partnerships.

Panels led by Tilson and The Thrasher Group featuring industry leaders in discussion of key topics, including:

• Andre Viera, Product Marketing Director of Broadband Access Networking for Calix 
• Robert Whitman, Vice President, Carrier Networks Market Development for Corning Optical
  
• Vini Santos, Marketing Intelligence Senior Advisor for Ciena
• Gary Jack, Senior Corporate Counsel for FirstEnergy, and more.

Summit Sessions include:

• Broadband Data and Mapping
• Pole Attachments and Permitting
• Build America Buy America Act 
• IIJA NEPA Requirements
• Workforce Development Initiatives and Economic Impact
• Funding for West Virginia’s Community and Technical Colleges and Career Technical Education programs, and Industry Partners
• Digital Equity and its Impact on Local Economies, and more.

The West Virginia Department of Economic Development, West Virginia Economic Development Council, and the West Virginia Office of Broadband and our many partners look forward to relevant and in-depth discussions as West Virginia embarks on an unprecedented expansion of broadband infrastructure. We invite you to join us at this event October 22-23, at Embassy Suites in Charleston, and look forward to seeing you soon.