Accelerating Implementation: A Statewide Summit on Broadband as Economic Development
Broadband is fundamental to economic opportunity and community prosperity. Communities across Texas have developed thoughtful broadband plans—but many still face challenges in turning those plans into tangible progress.
Local broadband leaders are invited to join this two-day gathering on transforming broadband plans into engines of economic growth.
The aim is to support collaboration, solution-sharing, and actionable pathways to broadband implementation. Through general sessions and breakout discussions, the following topics will be covered:
- Broadband Funding Models
- Building a Broadband Workforce
- Regional Collaboration
- Economic Impact of Broadband
When
- February 10 – 11, 2026
Where
- Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
2200 N Pearl St
Dallas, Texas 75201
Apple Maps | Google Maps
Registration
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZLTKBSN
Registration closes January 31.
Agenda
| Tuesday, February 10 | |
| 12:00 p.m. | Check-In |
| 1:00 p.m. | Summit Welcome & The State of Texas Broadband Kseniya Benderskaya, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Bryant Clayton, Texas Broadband Development Office |
| 1:40 p.m. | Finding Funding for Fiber Evan Wolstencroft, Texas Rural Funders |
| 2:00 p.m. | Banking on Broadband: A Finance Discussion with Lenders & Providers Jennifer Prather, Totelcom Moderated by Kathryn de Wit, The Pew Charitable Trusts |
| 3:00 p.m. | Break |
| 3:15 p.m. | The Skills We Need: Broadband Workforce Amanda Bergson-Shilcock, National Skills Coalition |
| 4:00 p.m. | Meet the Trainers: Broadband Workforce Poster Session |
| 4:30 p.m. | Reception |
| 6:00 p.m. | Reception ends |
| Wednesday, February 11 | |
| 8:00 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8:30 a.m. | Morning Welcome |
| 8:45 a.m. | Keynote Address: The Opportunities Ahead for Texas Broadband Kathryn de Wit, The Pew Charitable Trusts |
| 9:45 a.m. | Ready, Set, Go: Real World Insights on Broadband and Economic Development Rob Sitterley, Arkansas Texas Regional Economic Development, Inc. (AR-TX REDI) |
| 10:00 a.m. | Common Cents Connections: Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband Alan Spell, University of Missouri Brian Whitacre, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University |
| 11:00 a.m. | Break |
| 11:15 a.m. | Every Connection Counts: Broadband, Demographic Data, and the U.S. Census Monica Cruz, Ph.D., Texas Demographic Center |
| 11:30 a.m. | Wired for Prosperity: Driving Regional Progress through Broadband Keralee Clay, Amarillo Area Foundation Jose Peña, City of Pharr Connor Sadro, Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG) Moderator: Kelty Garbee, Ph.D., Texas Rural Funders |
| 12:30 p.m. | Lunch |
| 12:45 p.m. | Power Hour for ISPs: Breaking Down Barriers to Local Broadband Deployment Charlie Cano, Etex Rusty Moore, BBT |
| 1:45 p.m. | Final Reflections & Call to Action Kelty Garbe, Ph.D., Texas Rural Funders |
| 2:00 p.m. | Summit ends |
For more information
Contact Kassandra Huhn.