Summit 2023 | Maine Broadband

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Who Should Attend?

All broadband stakeholders in Maine. Event sessions will be designed for those at an early stage AND advanced stage of knowledge and readiness.

This includes:

County administrators; Economic Development Districts; municipalities, utility districts, regional chambers of commerce, healthcare providers, libraries; school boards, institutions of higher learning, community members, elected officials, philanthropies, IT professionals, policy wonks, and everything in between.

What To Expect

In addition to a keynote speech by Gigi Sohn and a State of the State presentation, we’re thrilled to share a few sessions that will be featured at this year’s Broadband Summit:

Beyond BEAD: What’s next for expanding access to world-class broadband?
What’s your Plan for Digital Equity: So You’re Connected, Now What?
Addressing MDU’s and Maine’s unique affordable housing challenges
BEAD Volume 1: State led challenge process & BEAD Volume 2: Subrecipient Plan and Deployment
Affordability and Digital Equity

How To RSVP

Click on the link above to access information about tickets, accommodations, and other details!

Where: Thomas College, Waterville, Maine and Online

When: November 15th, 9am-4:30pm

The Summit is almost here!

Here's what you need to know

When: 9am-4:30pm, though breakfast and registration will start at 8am. Lunch will be provided by Thomas College from 11:45am-1pm.

Where: The address for Thomas College is 180 W River Rd, Waterville, ME 04901. Unlike last year, the entirety of the Summit will be held in the same building — Spann Student Commons — in the middle of campus on Sheridan Drive. Click this text to see a map of Thomas College. Our building is #11 on the map key.

We ask that attendees park in the lot adjacent to Ayotte Auditorium.

AGENDA

Featuring

Gigi Sohn

Gigi Sohn is the Executive Director of the American Association of Public Broadband
(AAPB), a Benton Institute Senior Fellow and Public Advocate and a Distinguished Fellow
at the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy. She is one of the nation’s
leading public advocates for open, affordable and democratic communications
networks. In recognition of her expertise and dedication to the public interest in
communications, President Biden nominated her to serve on the Federal
Communications Commission in October 2021.

From 2013 to 2016, Gigi was Counselor to the former Chairman of the Federal
Communications Commission, Tom Wheeler. Singled out by Chairman Wheeler as “the
conscience of the Chairman’s office” for her tireless advocacy on behalf of American
consumers and competition, the Daily Dot named Gigi one of the “Heroes Who Saved
the Internet” in recognition of her role in the adoption of the FCC’s 2015 Network
Neutrality rules.

From 2001-2013, Gigi served as the Co-Founder and CEO of Public Knowledge, a leading
communications and intellectual property policy advocacy organization serving the
interests of consumers in Washington. She was previously a Project Specialist in the
Ford Foundation’s Media, Arts and Culture unit and Executive Director of the Media
Access Project, the first public interest communications law firm.
Gigi has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors for her work. Most recently,
in May 2023, the he University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School’s gave Gigi its Louis H.
Pollak alumni award for a career advancing social justice through service in the public
interest.

Gigi lives in Washington, DC with her wife Lara Ballard and their daughter Yosselin.

Director, Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program • Richmond, Virginia

Evan Feinman is the director of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, the primary program deploying broadband created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Evan has previously served in multiple roles within government, on political campaigns, and in the private sector; most recently directing both the Virginia broadband effort and a state economic development agency.

Evan received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia, his Juris Doctor from Washington and Lee University, and has completed multiple public policy fellowships.

Evan Feinman