Bridging the Last Internet Mile in Rural Communities: A Whole Community Approach

Thu, Jul 27, 2023 1:15 PM – 2:45 PM EDT

---

Access to reliable and affordable high-speed Internet is essential in today’s digital world, yet many rural communities struggle with connectivity challenges. Lack of high-speed internet service economically, medically, and socially disadvantages many rural communities and limits resilient energy applications. It also hamstrings business and advanced applications like precision agriculture. Taking a whole community approach to address the last internet mile can help to ensure that the various infrastructure needs are addressed in a coordinated and sustainable way with shared goals and priorities to optimize resource allocation and create new opportunities for economic development and community well-being. The webinar will also provide practical guidance on developing effective strategies for addressing this critical issue. Whether you are a community leader, policymaker, or interested citizen, we invite you to join us for this vital conversation. Panelists from Viasat, Arizona State University, Microsoft’s Airband Initiative and others.

Meet the Panelists

Traci MorrisExecutive DirectorAmerican Indian Policy Institute, Arizona State UniversityFocuses on building strong ties to Indigenous urban and rural governments and communities through emerging trends and tribally driven innovative democratic practices. Ryan PalmerGlobal Digital Equity Strategist Microsoft Airband Initiative.The Microsoft Airband nitiative brings together a global ecosystem of partners to build infrastructure, deploy solutions, and advocate for the policies and funding needed to help all communities thrive in a connected world.

Mike LubinVice-​President Corporate Development, Viasat For more than 30 years, Viasat innovations have helped shape how consumers, businesses, governments, and militaries around the world communicate — even in the hardest-to-reach places. Tom FereeChairman and CEOConnected NationConnected Nation improve lives by providing innovative solutions that expand the access, adoption, and use of broadband and its related technologies to all people.

Andrew Maynard, ModeratorArizona State University, Author, Professor of Advanced Technologies in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society.