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Fast, affordable Internet access for all.
Great Lakes Connect: Fairlawn, Ohio, September 24th - 26th
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Whether or not you were able to get to Vail for Mountain Connect in June, the next conference bringing together leaders in broadband policy and implementation is shaping up. Great Lakes Connect will take place September 24th - 26th in Fairlawn, Ohio; register now for reduced rates.
Create and Compete
The theme of the conference is “Creating Intelligent Network Infrastructure to Compete in the Global Economy” and the event will occur at the Hilton and DoubleTree Hotels in Fairlawn. The agenda is still shaping up, but we know that our Christopher Mitchell will be there to present and likely lead a panel discussion.
From the website:
We will explore creative and collaborative community examples throughout the midwest as well as highlight the network infrastructure and economic achievement in Fairlawn. Our four Conference Tracks include:
- Community Development
- Intelligent Communities
- Telehealth/Education
- Wireless
The folks at Great Lakes Connect have also developed their mission statement:
The mission of Great Lakes Connect is to move our Midwestern communities forward by providing relevant and targeted content to help them make the most effective decisions as they build new or expand existing telecommunications infrastructure that enable the long-term vision of a community. We are agnostic of the technology that delivers broadband and as such, believe this provides a well-balanced foundation to make an educated and informed decision with input from industry and community leaders from across the US. Finally, we believe in looking forward and are inclusive of trending technologies that will shape our broadband future.
Fairlawn — An Obvious Choice
The city of Fairlawn has established itself as a success story in the region. When they invested in their fiber infrastructure just a few years ago, they were addressing a need for better commercial connectivity. The network, FairlawnGig, took off and soon residents also had access with Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Internet service. In addition to drawing in business, the local community is saving public dollars.
Recently, we reported that FairlawnGig and another publicly owned network, Medina County Fiber Network (MCFN), will be partnering to expand connectivity to more communities in the region.
We’ve spoken to Fairlawn’s Deputy Director of Public Services Earnie Staten, on the Community Broadband Bits podcast about the network. Take a few minutes to learn about the infrastructure, how they've grown, and to find out about the town that’s hosting this event.
Register for Great Lakes Connect and get a reduced room rate at the Hilton by signing up early. As the agenda for the event takes shape, we'll report back on panel discussions and scheduled presenters.
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