Accelerating Implementation: A Statewide Summit on Broadband as Economic Development

February 10 – 11, 2026

Dallas

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
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Registration

Agenda

Tuesday, Feb. 10
9:00 a.m.	Check-in
10:15 a.m.	Welcome Kseniya Benderskaya, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Kelty Garbee, Texas Rural Funders
10:30 a.m.	Connecting to your network: broadband communities meeting Facilitator: Jane Santa Cruz, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Noon	Lunch
1:00 p.m.	The state of Texas broadband Moderator: Kseniya Benderskaya 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 and providers Moderator: Kathryn de Wit, The Pew Charitable Trusts Hunter Hook, CoBank Jennifer Prather, Totelcom
3:00 p.m.	Break
3:15 p.m.	The skills we need: broadband workforce Introduction: Ashley Harris, United Ways of Texas Amanda Bergson-Shilcock, National Skills Coalition
4:00 p.m.	Meet the trainers: broadband workforce poster session
4:30 p.m.	Reception

Wednesday, Feb. 11
8:00 a.m.	Breakfast
8:35 a.m.	Welcome Robert Triplett, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
8:45 a.m.	Keynote address: The Opportunities Ahead for Texas Broadband Kathryn de Wit
9:45 a.m.	Ready, set, go: real-world insights on broadband and economic development Rob Sitterley, AR-TX REDI
10:00 a.m.	Common cents connections: measuring the economic impact of broadband Alan Spell, University of Missouri Brian Whitacre, 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, Texas Demographic Center
11:30 a.m.	Wired for prosperity: driving regional progress through broadband Moderator: Kelty Garbee Keralee Clay, Amarillo Area Foundation Jose Peña, City of Pharr Connor Sadro, Deep East Texas Council of Governments
12:30 p.m.	Lunch
12:45 p.m.	Power hour with ISPs: breaking down barriers to local broadband deployment Facilitators: Kassandra Huhn, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, and Evan Wolstencroft Charlie Cano, Etex Matt Leach, FiberLight Rusty Moore, BBT
1:45 p.m.	Final reflections and call to action Kelty Garbee

For more information

Contact Kassandra Huhn.