Hurdling Rural, Urban and Suburban Digital Divides

Monday, June 2, 2025

1:50 PM - 2:30 PM CT

Location: Governor's Ballroom C

Moderator(s)

Craig Corbin

Director, Public Sector Partnerships
Ready.net
Cumming, Georgia, United States

Panelist(s)

Taylre Beaty

State Broadband Director
Tennessee Economic & Community Development
Sally Doty (she/her/hers)

Director
Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi - BEAM
Jackson, Mississippi, United States
Devon Braunstein (she/her/hers)

Director
Illinois Office of Broadband
Andrew Butcher (he/him/his)

President
Maine Connectivity Authority
Portland, United States

The digital divide cuts across all state demographics making it an impossible task to find a “one-size fits all” approach to close it for all of each state’s citizens. Urban density, suburban sprawl and rural roads all lead to unique approaches to ensuring every home is connected. During this panel comprised of leaders from state broadband offices, the challenge of reaching every home, in every community will be discussed, best approaches shared, and how each state office is overcoming the unique challenges they are finding as it administers BEAD grants to grantees.