Connecting America: Getting Taxpayers Their Money’s Worth in Broadband Expansion

As states move through the final planning stages of their Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment efforts, it is paramount that they effectively use the $42 billion in taxpayer dollars funding the program. Past subsidy efforts to connect Americans to the internet failed due to ineffective competitive processes, insufficient accountability, and a lack of transparency. AEI’s Broadband Barometer Project seeks to provide resources and information to help states ensure their new efforts succeed in bringing broadband to those lacking access or sufficient capacity.

A panel with representatives of high-ranking state broadband offices and members of AEI’s Broadband Barometer Project to discuss the status of broadband expansion, examine key challenges states are facing, and offer solutions to inefficiencies.

2:00 p.m.
Introduction:
Mark Jamison, Nonresident Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

2:05 p.m.
Panel Discussion

Panelists:
Sally Doty, Director, Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi
Janice Hauge, Professor of Economics, University of North Texas
Ramón S. Hobdey-Sánchez, Broadband Manager, Idaho Commerce
Veneeth Iyengar, Executive Director, ConnectLA

Moderator:
Mark Jamison, Nonresident Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

3:15 p.m.
Q&A

3:30 p.m.
Adjournment

Submit questions to Kate.Beinkampen@aei.org or on Twitter with #AskAEITech.