Rural Market Expansion: Challenges and Opportunities

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

1:00 PM - 1:40 PM CT

Location: Bayou CD

Moderator(s)

Brad J. Randall (he/him/his)

Editor
Total Telecom
Kingston, Massachusetts, United States

Panelist(s)

Ryan B. Elswick (he/him/his)

CEO
FiberWise
Kingsport, Tennessee, United States
Jim Stegeman (he/him/his)

CEO
CostQuest
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Bill Brungardt (he/him/his)

Telecommunications Vice President
BHC Engineering
Overland Park, Kansas, United States
Matilda Van Duyvendyk (she/her/hers)

Director of Customer Experience
Vitruvi Software, Alberta, Canada

Deploying fiber outside of the urban areas can run into numerous issues, including the lack of middle-mile connectivity, overly expensive middle-mile services due to backhaul and/or IXC issues, and low housing density per mile. But being the “first with the best” fiber service can produce significant customer loyalty and position rural providers as economic engines for attracting new businesses.