Editorials
This year’s Broadband Communities Summit comes at a pivotal time as state officials rush to adapt to new guidance for BEAD.
By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
As with any grant program, there are winners and losers. This has always been the case with BEAD, and it will continue to remain so.
As Broadband Communities Summit 2025 gets underway, state broadband offices will be scrambling to adjust to the BEAD Program’s revised guidance as new deadlines approach.
Meanwhile, those in the private sector will be faced with new judgement calls in a changing economy.
Construction economics are changing. Tariffs have become unpredictable. All the while, labor availability remains a top concern — as it has been for years.
Policymaking has, arguably, also become unpredictable.
In 2025, it seems like the media cycle in the US completes a full orbit around the sun twice a day.
For instance, the recent drama between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump was a huge story, hyped as a turning point, until — days later — it wasn’t anymore.
The firehose of information we’re inundated with on a daily basis can often be a distraction. But Broadband Communities Summit 2025 later this month in Houston will be a chance to filter out the noise.
At Summit, our expert panels will dive into critical issues, like building the business case for rural broadband, and how to build and maintain successful community partnerships.
We’ll discuss rural tribal connectivity, strategies for increasing adoption of services — along with nuanced topics, like how to integrate proptech to make smarter, more successful communities.
We’ll also showcase some of those successful communities and provide attendees with updates from state broadband officials, giving a glimpse into their decision-making in real-time.
Helping you focus on the finish line
At Broadband Communities Summit, attendees will find that our panels are built for the broadband long-distance runner, because the work of connectivity is often a marathon, not a sprint.
There are exceptions, of course. But as with all marathons, endurance is key, and the finish line always remains the goal.
Addressing resiliency issues, making accommodations for remote medicine, work, and education, and building for economic growth remain crucial unchanged missions across America’s telecommunications ecosystem.
Solutions that help organizations work smarter, not harder, are an equally critical component.
At Broadband Communities Summit, we’ll have scores of exhibitors seeking to showcase such solutions, many of which incorporate AI.
Whether you’re a property owner seeking to cut down on expenses and make your property more attractive to new residents, or a broadband builder looking to reduce overhead and increase efficiency, you’ll find something that speaks to you in our expo hall.
We also encourage prospective attendees to review our free ticket program, which offers complimentary passes to a wide array of professionals, from public officials to those working for assisted living facilities.
Multifamily property managers for second and third-tier property management firms, those working for healthcare providers, and representatives of electric co-ops, are also on the list of those eligible for free tickets.
Summit hopes to foster sense of community
To harken back to the marathon analogy before closing, if you’re at Summit 2025, you’ll find that we’re all in the same marathon. And we hope you end up leaving with an enhanced sense of community in our sector, no matter your role in it.
Attendees should take advantage of Broadband Communities Summit’s networking opportunities. Use them to make new connections and friends and let this year’s event help to open doors for you.
In the meantime, feel free to explore our agenda, review our floor plan for the expo hall, or browse our complete list of 200 participating speakers.
And if you haven’t signed up to attend yet (and you’re not eligible for a free ticket) don’t miss your last chance to save on tickets by booking before midnight, June 20.
We look forward to seeing you in Houston!
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Learn more about Broadband Communities Summit 2025 in Houston.
