Summit ’26

Learn how Summit can help your ISP navigate complex funding strategies and structure for maximum investment appeal.

Internet service providers, community leaders, and digital infrastructure developers seeking capital for modern network rollouts will have a dedicated roadmap at the upcoming Broadband Communities Summit.

The event kicks off August 25 (see full agenda) with a specialized, Calix-sponsored workshop titled “Unlocking Private Equity, Debt and Partnership Models for Modern Broadband Financing.”

Led by industry authorities, the two-hour educational session is designed to help operators navigate complex funding strategies, meet institutional lender criteria, and structure organizations for maximum investment appeal.

Moderated by Bradford Randall, editor at Total Telecom, the workshop agenda features a prominent lineup of financial and infrastructure experts:

  • Private equity demands

    • Jason Nicolay, Managing Director of Digital Infrastructure Investment Banking at Fifth Third Securities, will outline what private equity firms look for in community and ISP partnerships.

  • Public-Private Partnerships (P3)

    • Rahul Bhardwaj, Partner and Senior Director of Corporate Development at Digital Infrastructure Group, will examine joint ventures and P3 models for network expansion.

  • Organizational Readiness

    • Jeff Reiman, President of The Broadband Group, will provide actionable insights on structuring internal operations to attract private investment.

  • Commercial Debt Realities

    • Crayton Saby, Senior Relationship Manager at CoBank, will break down traditional commercial bank lending criteria and debt navigation.

The workshop concludes with an extended, interactive Q&A session, offering attendees direct access to the panel to address specific financing challenges.

Broadband Communities Summit 2026 (get tickets here) runs from August 25 to August 27 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.

Some AI tools also assisted in the crafting of this report.

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