BROADBAND COMMUNITIES is the leading source of information on digital and broadband technologies for buildings and communities. Our editorial aims to accelerate the deployment of Fiber-To-The-Home and Fiber-To-The-Premises.
Issue link: https://bbcmag.epubxp.com/i/655179
2 | BROADBAND COMMUNITIES | www.broadbandcommunities.com | MARCH/APRIL 2016 EDITOR'S NOTE Broadband Communities (ISSN 0745-8711) (USPS 679-050) (Publication Mail Agreement #1271091) is published 7 times a year at a rate of $24 per year by Broadband Properties LLC, 1909 Avenue G, Rosenberg, TX 77471. Periodical postage paid at Rosenberg, TX, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Broadband Communities, PO Box 303, Congers, NY 10920-9852. CANADA POST: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. Canada Returns to be sent to Bleuchip International, PO Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2. Copyright © 2016 Broadband Properties LLC. All rights reserved. CEO Barbara DeGarmo / barbara@bbcmag.com PU B LISH ER Nancy McCain / nancym@bbcmag.com E D I T O R - I N - C H I E F Masha Zager / masha@bbcmag.com E D I T O R -AT- L A R G E Steven S. Ross / steve@bbcmag.com ADV ER T ISI N G SALE S A CCO U N T E X E C U T I V E Irene Prescott / irene@bbcmag.com E V E N T S CO O R D I N AT O R Dennise Argil / dennise@bbcmag.com CO M M U N I T Y N E W S E D I T O R Marianne Cotter / marianne@bbcmag.com D E SI G N & PR O D U C T I O N Karry Thomas CO N T R I B U T O R S David Daugherty, Korcett Holdings Inc. Heather Burnett Gold, FTTH Council, NA Joanne Hovis, CTC Technology & Energy W. James MacNaughton, Esq. Christopher Mitchell, Institute for Local Self-Reliance Henry Pye, RealPage, Inc. Bryan Rader, Bandwidth Consulting, LLC Craig Settles, Gigabit Nation Robert L. Vogelsang, Broadband Communities Magazine B R OA D BA N D P R O P E R T I E S L LC CEO Barbara DeGarmo V I CE PR E SI D EN T, B USI N E SS & O PER AT I O N S Nancy McCain CHAI R M AN O F T H E B OAR D Robert L. Vogelsang V I CE CHAI R M AN The Hon. Hilda Gay Legg B USI N E SS & ED I TO R IAL O FFI CE B R OAD BAN D PR O PER T I E S LLC 19 0 9 Ave nu e G • R o s e n b e r g , T X 77471 281. 3 42 .9 655 • Fa x 281. 3 42 .1158 w w w. b r o a d b a n d co m m u n i t i e s . co m masha@bbcmag.com H aving never been a surfer, and not expecting to become one anytime soon, I consulted some online sources to fnd out how, exactly, one catches a wave. Te basic steps are as follows: Study your wave; paddle out to it; sit on the board; paddle hard; stand up; ride in to shore. I'm glad to say you can learn all these steps at the BroadBand C ommunities Summit. Study your wave. Learn what users will do with fber broadband when the wave comes in – run smart cities, smart buildings and smart grids; combat diseases; make businesses more productive; watch 4K over-the-top video; create new educational opportunities. Tere's even a special session on how Austin's famed creative sector is gearing up for the gigabit world. Surfers say that what's on the ocean foor is just as important as what's on the surface, so we've included deep dives into such new technologies as in- building wireless and software-defned networking. Tere's also a co-located Light Brigade training program to become a certifed fber-to-the-home professional. Watch out for those rip currents! Paddle out to the wave. What's the best way to get started with a broadband project? Prepare yourself by attending sessions on fnancial modeling, public and private fnancing, contracting and legal issues. Learn to gauge demand using online surveys and preregistrations. Find out how forward- looking mayors build community support for broadband and how advocates gather key stakeholders and encourage them to collaborate. Sit on the surfboard. Te key is choosing the right time and place to commit. Learn from successful broadband deployers – large and small, public and private – how they decided where and when to start building their networks. Paddle hard. When the wave comes in, you must be properly seated on the board and moving at the same speed as the wave. Tis part is tricky (or so I've been told). Te many Summit sessions about best practices and lessons learned in diferent types of projects will help you navigate the currents. Stand up. Time to go live! Tere are myriad sessions on overcoming all the barriers – technical, fnancial, political – waiting to knock you down. Ride in to shore. Now that you're standing up, use your network to good advantage. At the Summit, experts will share their experiences in using broadband to boost their local and regional economies, increase the value of their properties, maximize revenues, protect vulnerable populations and overcome the digital divide. Surfers (and network builders) are a friendly group. Talking to your peers is always the best way to learn. For best results, don't miss the opportunities for getting connected at the Summit. v Catching The Wave "Fiber: Catch the Wave!" is the theme of the 2016 BroadBand Communities Summit. Let us show you how.