Des Moines, IA (PRWEB) June 06, 2014
On Monday, June 16, Connect Iowa will host the second annual Iowa Broadband Summit sponsored by Mediacom Business at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny. The meeting will include several distinguished speakers, including Governor Terry Branstad. Broadband and technology are critical to positioning Iowa at the forefront of economic growth. In an effort to continue the state’s discussion around broadband technology programs, projects, and success stories, panels will be presented regarding community broadband efforts, FirstNet, library and education, e-Health initiatives, and digital jobs creation.
Who:
- Honorable Terry Branstad, Governor of Iowa
- Mark Lewellen, Manager of Spectrum Advocacy, John Deere (Keynote presentation, sponsored by Mediacom Business)
- Jonathan Adelstein, President & CEO – PCIA (Keynote presentation, sponsored by AT&T)
- Tom Ferree, President & COO, Connected Nation
- Rita Grimm, COO and General Counsel – Iowa Economic Development Authority
- Robert Denson, President – Des Moines Area Community College
Join fellow participants for afternoon breakout sessions to network with community leaders, industry and economic development professionals, broadband providers, and policymakers from across the state, to address the progress being made in Iowa and to open discussion for future strategy. Hear from nationally recognized presenters including Mark Lewellen, Manager of Spectrum Advocacy with John Deere, and Jonathan Adelstein, President and CEO of PCIA, the Wireless Infrastructure Association, and former Commissioner at the FCC and Administrator of the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service, as well as from state and local community leaders and professionals.
The Summit will also include a review of legislative initiatives to expand broadband access, adoption, and use in Iowa. Panelists from the Iowa State House and Senate will discuss progress made on broadband-related legislation in the 2014 legislative session, and the likelihood of this issue receiving further consideration in the future.
Connect Iowa will also present the 2014 Broadband Hero Awards during this meeting.
Sponsors of the Summit include: Mediacom Business, AT&T, Iowa Economic Development Authority, Renew Rural Iowa, Iowa Networks Services, Des Moines Area Community College, Great Lakes Communication Corp.
For registration, more information, and to see the full agenda, visit http://www.connectiowa.org/broadband-summit.
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About Connect Iowa: Connect Iowa is a subsidiary of Connected Nation and operates as a nonprofit in the state of Iowa to promote broadband access, adoption, and use. The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) is leading the initiative to increase broadband Internet access throughout rural Iowa. Connect Iowa was commissioned by the state to work with all broadband providers in Iowa to create detailed maps of broadband coverage and develop a statewide plan for the deployment and adoption of broadband. For more information, visit http://www.connectiowa.org.