Doug Payauys discusses fiber broadband as critical infrastructure for rural communities and electric grids at MidAmerica Connect
Session will examine how co‑op fiber networks, built alongside electric infrastructure, support rural prosperity and data‑driven grid modernization
- Speakers: Doug Payauys, business development director at Adtran; Brian O'Hara, senior director of regulatory issues - telecommunications and broadband at NRECA; Brian Whitacre, professor and Neustadt chair at Oklahoma State University; Jeremy Stubblefield, CTO of Cookson Hills Electric/Cookson Hills Connect
- Topics: Fiber broadband - the catalyst for explosive economic growth
- When: Wednesday, March 25, 10:45 a.m. CT
- Where: MidAmerica Connect Broadband Summit, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA https://reg.eventmobi.com/midamerica-connect-broadband-summit
Cooperative fiber broadband, built alongside electric infrastructure, serves as essential infrastructure for rural regions. For electric cooperatives, fiber supports both community connectivity and grid modernization, aligning broadband availability with long term utility planning. As reliability, cost control and distributed energy demands increase, networks must deliver interoperability, automation and measurable service quality while supporting scalable, secure investment.
In this session, Doug Payauys will join fellow panelists to examine how cooperative fiber broadband strengthens both rural communities and modern electric grids. The discussion will explore how the availability of reliable, high speed broadband helps rural communities retain younger generations, stabilize population trends and compete on equal footing with urban markets. Panelists will also outline how fiber enables advanced utility automation, real-time visibility and data-driven grid investments that support long-term planning. Together, these outcomes reinforce resilience through a community first, cooperative model.