Broadband Communities Regional Conference Comes to Chicagoland
Roxana Ryan
Published: July 1, 2013
Broadband Illinois Named Conference Co-Host, Offers Early-bird Discount Code Through July 11
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, July 1, 2013 -- Broadband has played a key role in the innovation-driven economic rebound in Illinois and the role of high-speed internet will be front and center at an upcoming event on economic development in Chicagoland.
Broadband Communities Magazine, known for their national conferences aimed at building a fiber-connected world, is partnering with Broadband Illinois and the Rural Telecommunications Congress (RTC) in hosting the Economic Development Conference on November 5-7, 2013 in Tinley Park, Illinois.
To ensure that the conference is accessible to all, Broadband Illinois and RTC are offering an early-bird registration rate of only $95 through July 11, 2013. Registrants should visit bbcmag.com/chicago and enter code “RTC2013” to secure this rate.
"Broadband Illinois has helped unite the Land of Lincoln around a vision of Better Broadband, Better Lives," said Drew Clark, Executive Director of the non-profit State Broadband Initiative entity that has set the standard for engagement between communications providers and users of broadband services.
Building on the work of the Broadband Deployment Council established by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, Broadband Illinois has promoted expanded internet coverage in rural areas, and deepened the understand and usage of technology in urban areas.
The conference, chaired by noted telecom attorney Jim Baller, will focus on the relationship between high-speed broadband and community economic development, particularly in the midwest.
Event organizers cite Chicago as an ideal conference location due to the transformative, leading-edge broadband projects, including the Illinois Gigabit Communities Challenge awardees, Southland Fiber Network and others.
The conference brings together a comprehensive audience from all parts of the broadband, economic development and public service spectrum including: public officials, regional agencies and authorities, community leaders, cable, telecom and broadband providers, broadband activists, real estate developers, health-care providers, non-profit organizations, representatives of community anchor institutions like schools and libraries, Chamber of Commerce representatives, consultants, vendors and many others.
Attendees can expect to learn from many communities with fiber networks, including Chicago’s Southland Fiber Network, Gigabit Chicago, Auburn Ind., Champaign-Urbana Ill., Chanute, Kansas, Illinois’ Cook County, and many more.
Key topics and themes will include: developing fiber-based broadband strategies for the knowledge economy, Learning how to foster collaboration with economic development agencies, and differentiating your community with advance broadband connectivity.
Attendees will also see sessions on creative financing, lessons from Kansas City, attracting and supporting small business and taking charge of adoption.
To learn more about the conference and to register using the “RTC2013” promotional code, visit bbcmag.com/chicago.
Broadband Illinois is also offering sponsorship opportunities. To learn more about becoming a sponsor, email sponsorship@broadbandillinois.org.
To download the PDF flyer below, click here.
