Broadband is the Electricity of the 21st Century: Let’s Light Up Every Community

Participants will be able to engage with federal, state, Tribal and local leaders, policymakers, and broadband advocates through interactive roundtables, fireside chats, and networking sessions.

• Welcome and Introduction to Next Century Cities
• Keynote Address Councilor Jonathan Paz, Waltham, MA
• Using Advocacy, Community Partnerships, and Storytelling to Change Connectivity Outcomes in Texas
• A Case Study in What Broadband Advocacy in Ohio Means for Other States
• City Spotlight: Community Insights on Successful Public-Private Partnerships
• What We Learned from COVID to Must Be Used to Inform Universal Broadband Strategies
• Building Sustainable Solutions for Digital Inclusion in Equity - Post the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Funding Opportunities for Communities on the Wrong Side of the Digital Divide
• Remarks from Mayor Brandon Scott
• What Would Ubiquitous Broadband Connectivity Enable?
• Conclusion

An academic pre-conference will take place on Tuesday, July 20th, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET. It will include presentations from:

• Darrah Blackwater, Indigenous Law & Policy Fellow;
• Mike Conlow, Blue State Digital;
• Colin Rhinesmith, Simmons University; and
• Brian Whitacre, Oklahoma State University.