Kansas Broadband Summit

The Kansas Office of Broadband Development invites you to join us for the inaugural Kansas Broadband Summit. The summit will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Thursday, January 19, 2023, at Wichita State University Hughes Metropolitan Complex. The Office of Broadband Development will share engagement strategies and information regarding Broadband Equity Access and Deployment and Digital Equity planning efforts. This event will provide an opportunity to discuss how we can work together to efficiently and effectively use federal and state funding to achieve the highest level of high-speed internet deployment and adoption.

Who should come? We hope to see community champions, local governments, economic development, and community anchor institutions (schools, libraries, higher education, museums, and nonprofits). Our commitment to connection and your voice matter. Join us and let’s make progress on #connectingAllKansans.

Powerhouse speakers and panelist including:

• Angela Thi Bennet, Digital Equity Director, National Telecommunications and Information Administration
• Jeremy Hegle, Community Development Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
• Lazone Grays, Chief Executive Officer- IBSA
• Mike Beene, Assistant Secretary, Kansas Department of Commerce

Schedule of Events

8:00a Registration and Breakfast

9:00a Welcome: Kansas Perspective + Intro

This welcome will look at the incredible strides Kansas has made in expanding broadband access throughout the state and the potential for even greater digital equity for our communities with new funding opportunities through BEAD + DE planning. 9:15a Keynote: National Telecommunications and Information Administration

10:00a From Digital Divide to Digital Equity

This session will feature state partners with successes in the digital inclusion space, their recommendations for best practices in rural and urban communities and how others have leveraged their institutions to serve stakeholder broadband needs.

11:05 a GOV. LAURA KELLY

Industry Panel- Expectations + Foundation

It took 35 years to build the highway system. Hear from an industry panel on what’s reasonable and reliable to accomplish this work. Are we flipping switches?

Noon Lunch + KC Digital Drive Showcase

Since 2012 KC Digital Drive has been on the frontier of digital inclusion and innovation. They will share their strategic pillars and how they intersect with their areas of impact to form a brighter and expanded area of economic opportunity for the communities they serve.

1:00 p Understanding Kansas Perspectives

2:10p Expanding Workforce through Digital Skills

Panel session will address topic of expanding entry level digital workforce capacity through GED programs, Regional Workforce Centers, Registered Apprenticeship, and the technical needs in broadband infrastructure.

3:20 p Better Together

3:40 p Moving Forward | Our Ask to You

4:10 p Lieutenant Governor/Secretary of Commerce David C. Toland