[image-caption title="Co-op%20leaders%20attending%20the%20June%204-6%20NRECA%20Broadband%20Leadership%20Summit%20in%20Washington%2C%20D.C.%2C%20will%20learn%20the%20latest%20in%20policies%2C%20regulations%20and%20funding%20opportunities%20from%20key%20decisionmakers.%20(Photo%20By%3A%20Jerry%20Mosemak%2FNRECA)%20%20" description="%20" image="%2Fnews%2FPublishingImages%2FLeg%20Con_76.JPG" /]
Updated: May 21, 10:40 a.m. ET
The fourth annual NRECA Broadband Leadership Summit, set for June 4-6 in Washington, D.C., will offer participants a chance to gain exclusive insight on key federal programs and services for electric cooperatives delivering high-speed internet or building networks.
“NRECA Broadband is excited to share a wealth of information about the state of rural broadband and new services available through participation that you won’t get anywhere else,” said NRECA Broadband Director Cliff Johnson. “This year’s summit comes at a time of crucial transition, making it even more important to attend, network and be heard.”
NRECA CEO Jim Matheson and Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Connor will speak at the conference, which includes opportunities for attendees to meet with their lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Rural Utilities Service Assistant Administrator Laurel Leverrier will update attendees on major changes at the agency within the Department of Agriculture, including streamlined permitting procedures to better enable RUS borrowers to meet their broadband project deadlines in a timely manner.
Kathryn de Wit, who heads the Broadband Access Initiative at The Pew Charitable Trusts, will outline data-driven impacts of federal and state policies on co-ops and give updates on what she’s seeing at state broadband offices assigned to deploy $42 billion in Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program funds.
“With a new administration and many new faces in Congress, the summit presents a unique opportunity for co-ops engaged in broadband to be part of ongoing conversations around broadband policy,” said NRECA Legislative Affairs Director Katie Culleton.
“From potential changes to the BEAD program to permitting reform, there are so many policies and programs that could impact the success of a broadband project and it’s important that co-ops are present, sharing their stories and making their voice heard with policymakers as these discussions move forward.”
Three electric co-ops will share their experiences and strategies on how to restore broadband systems and navigate the Federal Emergency Management Agency when natural disasters strike. Corey Parr, vice president of safety and loss prevention for Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange, and Bronson Brown, NRECA regulatory affairs director, will join the panel discussion.
Other sessions this year include:
A presentation of the 2025 Rural Electric Cooperative Broadband Benchmarking Report by NRECA and NRTC on how co-ops are faring in an increasingly competitive field.
An update on the current legislative agenda and urgent issues from invited congressional leaders.
A deep dive into regulatory and compliance issues with representatives from the law firm of Keller and Heckman.
