***Media Advisory***
Next Century Cities to Host Financing for Next-Generation Broadband Event in Lexington, KY
Half-Day Workshop During Broadband Communities Conference to Offer Financing Lessons
Lexington, Kentucky–Next Century Cities, a bipartisan city-to-city collaborative of over 100 mayors and city leaders committed to ensuring next-generation Internet access for their residents, will host Financing for Next-Generation Broadband next Thursday, September 17th, in Lexington, Kentucky. The four panel, half-day event will share practical advice from city officials, business leaders, and other experts on how to approach financing broadband projects, one of the most important aspects for communities working to build such critical infrastructure.
The discussions will kick off with a remarks from Mayor Jim Gray of Lexington, Kentucky and Kentucky Finance & Administration Cabinet Secretary Lori Flanery as part of a panel to discuss how the state of Kentucky has teamed up with private partners to build KentuckyWired, the statewide fiber network.
Next Century Cities will hold this event as a special workshop at Broadband Communities Magazine’s Fiber for the New Economy Conference, taking place at the Hilton Lexington Downtown from September 15-18th.
WHAT:
Financing for Next-Generation Broadband
WHEN:
12:15pm-6:00pm EDT
Thursday, September 17
WHERE:
Hilton Lexington Downtown (Bluegrass Room)
369 West Vine Street
Lexington, Kentucky 40507
WHO:
Mayor Jim Gray, Cabinet Secretary Lori Flanery, Other Elected Officials and CIOs, Business Leaders, and Community Members from Kentucky and Across the Country
Note: While the event will not be live streamed, Next Century Cities can share a post-event audio recording. In addition, Next Century Cities Executive Director Deb Socia and event panelists will be available for interviews regarding the event.
Full Event Agenda:
12:15-2:15 pm: Opening Remarks & Keynote Panel
Lexington: The Next Gigabit City
Mayor Jim Gray, City of Lexington, KY
Aldona Valicenti, CIO, City of Lexington, KY
The Kentucky Wired Story
Moderator: Aldona Valicenti, CIO, City of Lexington, KY
Speakers:
Secretary Lori Flanery, Office of the Secretary, Kentucky Finance & Administration Cabinet
Mike Lee, COO, First Solutions
Nicholas Hann, Senior Managing Director, Macquarie Capital/Macquarie Group Ltd.
Mike Hayden, Executive Director, Kentucky State Government, Kentucky Emerging Technology
Steve Rucker, Deputy Secretary, Kentucky State Government, Kentucky Emerging Technology
2:45-3:45 pm: Achieving The Last Mile
Moderator: Chris Mitchell, Policy Director of Next Century Cities
Speakers:
Deborah Feinen, Mayor, City of Champaign, IL
Aldona Valicenti, CIO, City of Lexington, KY
Dr. Robert Wack, City Council President, Westminster, MD
Jody Wigington, General Manager, CEO, Morristown Utility Systems
Mark Erickson, EDA Director, City of Winthrop, MN
3:50-4:45 pm: Broadband Financing: Exploring Options and Approaches
Moderator: Scott Shapiro, Senior Advisor, Lexington, KY
Speakers:
Tom Coverick, Managing Director, Public Finance, KeyBanc Capital Markets
Lev Gonick, CEO, OneCommunity
Nicholas Hann, Senior Managing Director, Macquarie Capital/Macquarie Group Ltd
Joanne Hovis, President, CTC Technology & Energy
5:00-5:55 pm: Broadband Financing: Federal & State Support
Moderator: Hilda Legg, Former RUS Administrator, Vice Chair, Broadband Communities
Speakers:
Andrew Garfinkel, Federal Grant Management Expert, Keller McIntyre & Associates
Mark DeFalco, Telecommunications Initiative Manager, Appalachian Regional Commission
Kenneth Kuchno, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Policy and Outreach, USDA Rural Utilities Services
5:55-6:00 pm: Closing Remarks
Deb Socia, Executive Director, Next Century Cities
Tom Coverick, Managing Director, Public Finance, KeyBanc Capital Markets
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Next Century Cities is a city-to-city initiative founded to support communities and their elected leaders, including mayors and other officials, as they seek to ensure that all have access to fast, affordable, and reliable Internet. As innovative municipalities across the country recognize the importance of leveraging gigabit level Internet to attract new businesses and create jobs, improve health care and education, and connect residents to new opportunities, Next Century Cities will celebrate these successes, demonstrate their value, and help other cities to realize the full power of truly high-speed, affordable, and accessible broadband. For more information, visit www.nextcenturycities.org.