East Bay Broadband Summit 2017 – Building the East Bay Telecommunications Superhighway

These are challenging times for the national broadband community.  The newly appointed FCC chair, Ajit Pai, has moved in recent weeks to cut the Federal Lifeline program for low-income families; has voiced support for net neutrality, but is opposed to the FCC’s policy of regulating Internet providers with Title II of the Communications Act; he withdrew a report showing the success of the E-rate program, which subsidizes broadband in schools (including the recent connection of all SLUSD schools to Lit San Leandro); and just two days ago, the House voted to eliminate consumer protections regarding broadband privacy rules.

The good news is — we live in the East Bay.  And for the East Bay, digital divide and open access to the internet are not just aspirations, they are guideposts to ensuring equal access to high quality internet, secure and private, for all.

How can we improve broadband in the East Bay?  Please join us on April 5, 2017, 8:30 a.m., at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center for a conversation between officials from local cities with gigabit broadband and telecom providers: The Future of Broadband: Telecommunications in the New Era.  Speakers will include Sunne Wright McPeak, President and CEO of the California Emerging Technology Fund; the Hon. Keith Carson, Alameda County Supervisor; City officials focused on developing fiber optic networks, including the cities of Danville, Vallejo, Brentwood, all with developing or installed fiber optic networks; San Leandro’s Chief Innovation Officer will be on a panel to discuss the transformation of San Leandro into a Smart City through fiber optics; and representatives from Comcast, AT&T, TechEquity Collaborative, Urban Strategies Council, Tech Exchange and East Bay Leadership Council will add their voices to the conversation.

To register for this no-cost event, please click here.  We look forward to seeing you there!