Agenda at a Glance
New in 2025 - we are starting the conference at noon on Wednesday for all attendees!
Check out the schedule outline below*:
Day 1 - Wednesday, October 29
| Time | Location | Session |
| 12:00PM - 1:00PM | Salons AB | Plenary: Lunch & Setting the Scene |
| 1:15PM - 2:15PM | Salon DE | Breakout: The Pole Attachment Problem: How to Prevent Delays in Broadband Deployment Caused by Utility Poles |
| 2:15PM - 2:45PM | Foyer | Break for Refreshments |
| 2:45PM - 4:00PM | Salon DE | Breakout: In the Air: How Spectrum Policy Impacts Anchor Institutions |
| 1:15PM - 4:00PM | Salon H | Workshop: Doing More With Less? Overcoming the Scarcity Mindset to Achieve Sustainable Digital Opportunity |
| 1:15PM - 4:00PM | Salon C | Workshop: Exploring the Intersection Between AI, Infrastructure, and Public Trust |
| 4:00PM - 4:15PM | Foyer | Networking Break |
| 4:15PM - 5:00PM | Salons AB | Plenary: USF Contribution Reform: How Do We Solve That Problem? |
| 5:00PM - 6:30PM | Skyview | Reception - Sponsored by Broadband Legal Strategies |
| 6:30PM - 8:00PM | Offsite | Dinner on Your Own (Check out local options) |
| 8:00PM - 10:00PM | Offsite | After Party: Highline RxR 2010 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202 sponsored by AIM Concepts, C-Tech, E-Luminosity, and Ciena |
Day 2 - Thursday, October 30
| Time | Location | Session |
| 8:00AM - 8:45AM | Foyer | Breakfast |
| 8:45AM - 9:30AM | Salons AB | Plenary: Keynote With Tracie D. Hall on Information Islands: The Rise of Co-intelligence, the Necessity of Civic Fluency, and the Decline of Human Literacy |
| 9:30AM - 9:45AM | Foyer | Networking Break |
| 9:45AM - 12:00PM | Salons H | Workshop: Rural Health Care: Understanding the Program, Navigating Change, Influencing Tomorrow |
| 9:45AM - 10:45AM | Salons FG | Breakout: Training for the Future: Hybrid Workforce Models Connecting Tribal Nations, Latino Communities, and Carriers |
| 9:45AM - 10:45AM | Salon C | Breakout: Better Broadband Data Mapping with Crowd-Sourced Speed Testing |
| 9:45AM - 10:45AM | Salon DE | Breakout: Beyond the Hype: How Schools Are Building Real AI Literacy |
| 10:45AM - 11:00AM | Foyer | Networking Break |
| 11:00AM - 12:00PM | Salon C | Breakout: E-Rate Efficiency: Maximizing E-Rate as a Statewide Consortium |
| 11:00AM - 12:00PM | Salons FG | Breakout: Getting to $30: ACP’s Lessons for the Future of Universal Service |
| 11:00AM - 12:00PM | Salon DE | Breakout: What's Next for BEAD? A conversation with State Broadband Leaders |
| 12:00PM - 12:15PM | Foyer | Networking Break |
| 12:15PM - 12:45PM | Salons AB | Lunch |
| 12:45PM - 1:30PM | Salons AB | Plenary: Fireside Chat with FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez |
| 1:30PM - 1:45PM | Foyer | Networking Break |
| 1:45PM - 4:00PM | Salons H | Workshop: E-Rate: Reflecting on the Past, Listening to the Present, Shaping the Future |
| 1:45PM - 2:45PM | Salons FG | Breakout: HTTP - Bridging the Digital Divide With Cultural Awareness |
| 1:45PM - 2:45PM | Salon C | Breakout: Broadband in Action: Empowering Anchor Institutions and Advancing Community Impact |
| 1:45PM - 2:45PM | Salon DE | Breakout: Enhancing Rural Health Care Resilience |
| 2:45PM - 3:00PM | Foyer | Networking Break |
| 3:00PM - 4:00PM | Salons FG | Breakout: Extreme Conditions, Extraordinary Response: Recovery After Natural Disasters |
| 3:00PM - 4:00PM | Salon DE | Breakout: Powering Rural Innovation: How Middle Mile and Edge Infrastructure Enable AI Across Communities |
| 3:00PM - 4:00PM | Salon C | Breakout: Closing the Gap: Broadband Affordability, State Innovation, and the Connectivity Imperative |
| 4:00PM - 4:15PM | Foyer | Networking Break |
| 4:15PM - 4:45PM | Salons AB | Plenary: Awards Ceremony |
| 4:45PM - 5:45PM | Salons 1 & 2 (Arlington Ballroom) | Speed Networking hosted by Finley |
| 5:30PM - 7:00PM | Skyview | Reception hosted by Zayo |
| 7:30PM - 9:30PM | Pentagon | SHLB Board Member Dinner (Invite Only) |
Day 3 - Friday, October 31
| Time | Location | Session |
| 8:00AM - 8:30AM | Salons AB | Breakfast |
| 8:30AM - 9:15AM | Salons AB | Plenary: The USF Bipartisan Working Group |
| 9:15AM - 9:30AM | Foyer | Networking Break |
| 9:30AM - 10:30AM | Salon C | Breakout: Securing the Digital Frontlines: Cyber Resilience for Anchor Institutions |
| 9:30AM - 10:30AM | Salon DE | Breakout: Research & Education Networks Advancing Community Healthcare |
| 9:30AM - 10:30AM | Salon FG | Breakout: E-Rate Rules on the Applicant-Service Provider Relationship: What’s Allowed, What's Not, and What’s New? |
| 10:30AM - 10:45AM | Foyer | Networking Break |
| 10:45AM - 11:45AM | Salon C | Breakout: Impact of Federal Dollars on Library Connectivity |
| 10:45AM - 11:45AM | Salons DE | Breakout: How Hot Spots and Public Wi-Fi Help Close the Digital Divide |
| 11:45AM - 12:00PM | Foyer | Grab & Go Lunch |
| 12:00PM - 1:00PM | Salons AB | Plenary: The Future of Anchor Connectivity: A Public Strategy Session with SHLB |