4 THE INCOMPAS SHOW I OCTOBER 24 - 26, 2022 www.bekabusinessmedia.com DAY 1 Y 2 (Continued from page 1) wholesale in the BEAD program, and we are already helping states unlock more money to build smarter, faster, more affordable networks for the future,” Pickering said. He added, “INCOMPAS is staying engaged with our members on the FCC’s broadband data col lection (BDC) and mapping efforts. This process must be completed first before deployment funding is awarded to the states. “We have encouraged our members to participate in the data collection process before the deadlines and to help share as much information as possible with the FCC. We believe the success of the BEAD program will depend on the accuracy of the FCC’s new maps and ensuring that the $42.5 billion in new broadband funding properly addresses the digital divide,” Pickering explained. From a business perspective, Pickering is encouraging states to “shop local” for their broadband building partners as INCOMPAS members represent leading local and regional fiber providers across the country. “We support an ‘all of the above’ approach to building broadband as our diverse membership delivers wired, wireless, 5G, satellite and beyond,” Pickering said. “Our members have been at the forefront of investing in and delivering broadband infrastructure throughout the U.S. in both the middle and last mile, from Sonic in Northern California to IdeaTek that brings fiber to the Flint Hills of rural Kansas.” He said INCOMPAS also represents DISH, which is deploying a firstof-its-kind, cloud native, virtualized Open-RAN 5G network; Amazon, which is deploying satellite broadband technology; and streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube. “Our members play roles in all parts of the broadband and internet ecosystem, and we look to be a valuable resource to help and partner with state and local leaders to tailor those solutions that best fit their communities,” Pickering emphasized. In the meantime, INCOMPAS is encouraging state broadband offices to plan for their longterm future, in terms of setting policies around bigger and bolder goals. “States shouldn’t be afraid to push for more competitive options in the marketplace,” Pickering said. “This is the people’s money and the people want more choices, better services and lower prices that best fit their budgets. “INCOMPAS is taking the initiative and meeting with state offices to advocate for competitive principles, including greater wholesale competition as part of their grants process and when awarding funding for deployment.” He added, “Implementing wholesale competition as part of the BEAD program will enable greater access to competitive providers, which also helps families save and small businesses grow. “Markets with multiple providers have faster speeds and the lowest prices,” Pickering continued. “It’s a great long-term affordability option that allows providers to connect to various schools, hospitals and other retail locations – such as banks, shops, restaurants, post offices – and gives those rural communities access to the best internet possible.” p Great Plains Communications (GPC), a Midwestern digital infrastructure provider with a growing, privately owned 16,500-plus mile fiber network reaching 13 states, announced it will be building a fiber-to-the-home and business network throughout the City of Chadron, Neb., expanding off the 10 fiber miles that exists in this GPC community. The overbuild will allow GPC to provide enhanced fiber-driven products and services including symmetrical gigabit-internet speeds throughout Chadron. The project will be funded completely by Great Plains Communications. Chadron Mayor Mark Werner said, “The city is excited to continue our long-standing technology partnership with GPC to bring fiberto-the-home and business to Chadron. This fiber network will enhance quality of life for our residents, extend the reach of businesses and aid in our ability to retain and recruit new residents and businesses. We appreciate the direct investment by Great Plains Communications to make this network happen.” The Chadron project will be completed in phases with construction beginning in the spring of 2023. This endeavor is one of many fiber-forward community projects that Great Plains Communications will begin in 2023 as it grows its network and extends broadband services to more urban and rural midwestern homes and businesses. “Chadron residents and businesses need access to the benefits and opportunities of a fast, reliable fiber-to-the-home and business network. As a trusted technology partner to this community for over 15 years, Great Plains Communications is pleased to answer the call and make this investment to position Chadron, Nebraska as a fiber-forward community,” said Todd Foje, CEO of Great Plains Communications. Here are the Great Plains Communications fiber-driven products available to Chadron customers: • Residential services: Symmetrical Internet speeds up to 1 Gbps, GPC iTV streaming video and GPC Whole Home WIFI powered by Plume Home Pass. • Business services: Symmetrical Internet with speeds up to 10 Gbps, managed Ethernet, GPC Cloud Connect, GPC Smarter Business Security, GPC Managed WIFI, multiple voice options, GPC Wireless backup, SD WAN and Unified Communications. View the evolution of the Great Plains Communications fiber network at https://vimeo. com/734861570/43a9fb4d0f p For more information, visit Great Plains Communications at the Deal Center Table 5 or go to its website www.gpcom.com. Great Plains Communications Expands Footprint Attendees meet, greet and mingle in the registration area.
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