Gerald Spencer discusses what it takes to connect tribal communities at Regional Fiber Connect
Session will highlight key success factors for deploying fiber on tribal lands and building strong local partnerships
- Speakers: Gerald Spencer, senior manager of tribal relations and business development at Adtran; Joe Valandra, CEO and chairman of Tribal Ready
- Topics: Tribal broadband – ensuring communities have capacity to thrive
- When: Thursday, July 17, 11:10 a.m. AKDT
- Where: Regional Fiber Connect Anchorage, Marriott Anchorage Downtown, Anchorage, Alaska, USA https://www.edgereg.net/er/EventHomePage/CustomPage.jsp?ActivityID=43216&ItemID=140393
Access to affordable, reliable broadband is essential for education, healthcare, economic opportunity and cultural preservation. For tribal communities, closing the digital divide means building networks that meet local needs, support long-term growth and respect sovereignty and place. The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) is a $3 billion initiative supporting tribal governments in bringing high-quality internet to tribal lands.
In this session, Gerald Spencer and Joe Valandra will explore how to deliver fiber connectivity in tribal communities. They’ll discuss what makes a successful deployment, how to secure funding and why community-led planning is critical to long-term success.