GETTYSBURG – The Third Annual Pennsylvania Broadband Summit, held April 16-17 in Gettysburg, couldn’t have happened at a better time, according to Todd Eachus, president of the Broadband Communications Association of Pennsylvania (BCAP).
“With the new administration taking over in Washington, D.C., a lot of changes are being proposed, not only with respect to telecommunications policies but also to the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program,” Eachus said. “Many of these changes are expected to be positive to the industry, to our providers and to residents across the Commonwealth. The time for vetting will allow Pennsylvania to better prepare itself for the BEAD rollout so that we don’t waste any additional time in connecting our rural areas, one of our foremost priorities.”
Most of the educational sessions addressed the uncertainty in Washington, D.C.; its impact upon Pennsylvania; and what that means to efforts in connecting unserved and underserved locations across the state. Most of the uncertainty involves the BEAD program. Pennsylvania just wrapped up its first application window, but changes are being discussed in how to lessen red tape within the grant program and better allow providers to apply and compete. BEAD changes are expected to be made after the confirmation hearing of Arielle Roth as administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
As far as policy matters, numerous changes are taking place at the FCC. While those are mainly a step forward for free market and a light touch regulatory framework, several states, including Pennsylvania, are taking matters into their own hands. Legislation has been introduced in the state House to implement a net neutrality policy, even though it has been struck down by the federal courts.
The Broadband Summit included 24 panelists and moderators in 10 sessions on a wide range of telecommunications policies and issues, including two panels of provider executives; insights from Washington, D.C.; a look at the digital transformation; the future of franchising and managing rights-of-way; the federal BEAD program and its potential impact; best practices for customer service; broadband infrastructure deployment challenges; state broadband policies; and the future of video programming.
The day-and-a-half long event also included more than 20 exhibitors and 14 sponsors, including Platinum Sponsor, Telgoo5; Gold Sponsors, Evolution Digital and Calix; Bronze Sponsor, GOCare; Friend of BCAP Sponsors, ACA Connects; Cablefax; Fox; GloFiber Business; OpenVault; PCN; TiVo; Timmons Group; Warner Bros. Discovery; and Wesco.
“Pennsylvania is the cradle of innovation,” Eachus continued. “There is always something new to talk about.”
The summit was organized by BCAP along with its educational entity, the Pennsylvania Cable and Telecommunications Foundation.
The Broadband Communications Association of Pennsylvania, a member-driven organization based in Harrisburg, actively promotes broadband cable and telecommunications industry issues in Pennsylvania. BCAP – the nation’s first state cable association – represents broadband cable operators, programmers and equipment suppliers that collectively provide service to nearly 3 million Pennsylvania households and businesses.
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Broadband Communications Association of Pennsylvania
127 State St., Harrisburg PA 17101
717.214.2000 * www.BCAPA.com * @BCAPisBroadband
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