CONFERENCE PROGRAM
Sessions and speakers are continuing to be updated, please check back often.
View Program by Track
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Room 276 Track: FTTx Networks (Fixed & Mobile) ![]() Approved by ETA Intl. - 2 hours Sumitomo Electric has been at the forefront of ribbon splicing technology since its inception. Learn from our splicing experts the best methods to ensure high quality, low loss mass fusion splicing. Featuring our latest models, attendees will get the chance to have hands-on demonstrations with expert supervision. Attendees will be able to: - Identify and define different types of ribbon fiber | Room 275 Track: FTTx Networks (Fixed & Mobile) ![]() Cost for this preconference workshop is $75.00. Register here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM | Room 286-287 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Janice Oliva - Endeavor Business Media (Panel Moderator) Kelly Bohlman - TDS Telecom Carrie Charles - BROADSTAFF Wendy Danielson - Norvado Terri Moore - GFiber Michelle Yirka - Chisholm Broadband Join us for roundtable discussions during a plated lunch focused on essential topics such as career advancement, work-life balance, diversity, well-being, leveraging AI as a professional tool, and personal branding. Following lunch get inspired by an engaging panel of accomplished executive women from the broadband industry. This insightful discussion will cover a range of relevant and timely topics, including:
The session will be followed by an interactive Q&A segment between the panel and audience and concludes with several high-end sponsored giveaways you don't want to miss! In addition, each attendee will receive a special inspirational gift. The WIT Luncheon is a $40 add-on and must be purchased as an addition to any ISE EXPO Attendee Pass.
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1:15 PM - 2:15 PM | Room 276 Track: Automation, AI, Reliability, Security & Network ![]() Approved by ETA Intl. - 1 hour Session Chair: Jerry Hogan - Solara Technical | Room 279/280 Track: Designing, Construction, Engineering & Operations ![]() Approved by ETA Intl. - 1 hour Session Chair: Marc Durocher - Verizon Communications McKinsey & Company found that construction remains one of the least digitized industries, costing the global economy $1.6 trillion annually. This session will explore how AI and digital innovations can reshape telecom network construction, enabling broadband providers to overcome traditional inefficiencies, delays, and high costs while enabling providers to scale projects faster and meet federal deadlines while maintaining quality. From AI-driven blueprinting to fully digitized workflows, this discussion will highlight technologies that will change how you look at your future deployment projects.
| Room 277 Track: Industry Outlook, Workforce and Leadership ![]() Session Chair: Francis Alueta - Altafiber/Hawaiian Telcom The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 projects that 35% of U.S. workers’ skills will be disrupted in the next five years, highlighting the need for upskilling in fast-changing sectors like telecom. This session gives leaders practical tools to upskill their team members using adaptive leadership strategies. These resilient, high-performing team members will be better equipped to build, maintain and scale today and tomorrow’s networks.
| Room 275 Track: Permitting, Regulation, BEAD ![]() Session Chair: Chris Bonavita - GTT
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2:30 PM - 3:30 PM | Room 276 Track: Automation, AI, Reliability, Security & Network ![]() Approved by ETA Intl. - 1 hour Session Chair: David Curran - Frontier Communications
| Room 275 Track: Designing, Construction, Engineering & Operations ![]() Approved by ETA Intl. - 1 hour Session Chair: Mike Meagher - Tempest | Room 279/280 Track: Designing, Construction, Engineering & Operations ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Ian Sinclair - AT&T (Panel Moderator) Chad Archer - AT&T Matt Jones - Ericsson Vicki Littlefield - AT&T Session Chair: Greg Harlan - HPT Communications Don’t miss this engaging panel discussion on the future of wireless connectivity. Network leaders will share their knowledge and the best practices for wireless modernization initiatives, including Open RAN, Cloud RAN, Site Digitization, and Automation. Gain valuable insights into how AT&T and Ericsson are leading the world and shaping the next generation of wireless telecommunications infrastructure.
| Room 281/282 Track: FTTx Networks (Fixed & Mobile) ![]() ![]() Unlock the power of automation and AI-driven analytics to transform network project management and decision-making. This session will show you how real-time BI tools, structured databases, and automated workflows can eliminate network inefficiencies, enhance data accuracy, and optimize resource allocation. This session will share actionable insights and practical strategies you can add to your current management framework that will elevate your project tracking and execution.
| Room 277 Track: Permitting, Regulation, BEAD ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Hayden Beeson - Endeavor Business Media (Panel Moderator) Will Miller - AFL Kevin Czaicki - Millennium Wilfred De Wildt - Yungo s.r.o As the BEAD program progresses through a new presidential administration, the process of planning some individual buildouts is well underway. Each state and territory has assigned a top broadband officer as the chief administrator, driving and overseeing the buildouts. With an administrative review pending and 56 separate states and territories at different stages of their projects—some have completed their ISP selection process while others have not yet begun theirs—there is no single point of progress for the nationwide BEAD program. This panel will take a deep dive into the results from a survey, carried out by Endeavor Business Media’s Digital Infrastructure Group and Endeavor Business Intelligence. The discussion project focuses on the complex future of BEAD projects from the state level. It will cover several aspects of broadband projects, including the status of ISP selection, plans for the use of various technologies (fiber, fixed wireless, satellite), supply-chain/fulfillment concerns, workforce and training outlook, and more.
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3:45 PM - 4:45 PM | Room 276 Track: Automation, AI, Reliability, Security & Network ![]() Session Chair: Francis Alueta - Altafiber/Hawaiian Telcom | Room 279/280 Track: Designing, Construction, Engineering & Operations ![]() Session Chair: Joseph Yeh - Verizon Wireless | Room 281/282 Track: FTTx Networks (Fixed & Mobile) ![]() Approved by ETA Intl. - 1 hour Session Chair: Steve Harris - Harris DigiTech Academy & Solutions/Learning Alliance Customer dissatisfaction due to the inherent limitations of wireless networks is a problem that annually costs fiber broadband carriers millions of dollars in customer support and goodwill. This session will introduce how a fiber alternative to augment wireless networks in the home can improve customer satisfaction at a price point comparable to a home Wi-Fi mesh node. You will learn how one network provider implemented FTTR and how it can improve customer satisfaction and reduce truck rolls. | Room 277 Track: Industry Outlook, Workforce and Leadership ![]() Session Chair: Hayden Beeson - Endeavor Business Media By embracing a more integrated industry approach, network providers can successfully navigate these complexities and drive innovation through the convergence of these essential disciplines. | Room 275 Track: Permitting, Regulation, BEAD ![]() ![]() Session Chair: Kevin Morgan - Clearfield | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM | Room 276 Track: Automation, AI, Reliability, Security & Network ![]() ![]() ![]() Session Chair: Jim Pelegris - SENKO Advanced Components Technological innovations in power and energy storage solutions allow operators to improve resilience in networks ranging from RAN to edge data centers, FTTx to Small Cells. Panelists will address questions such as: How do different network topologies cope with a fallible power grid? What solution best fits each application? How do we handle remote sites in distributed networks? How can we meet sustainability challenges and more? | Room 279/280 Track: Designing, Construction, Engineering & Operations ![]() Approved by ETA Intl. - 1 hour Session Chair: Joseph Yeh - Verizon Wireless NFPA 70®, National Electrical Code® (NEC®) is used extensively in joint-use agreements and regulatory rulings. It provides baseline minimum design criteria and is consistently updated to stay ahead of changes in technology and safety. This session will share the most recent updates that are important for communications industry professionals. Learn about the modifications to span powering rules 224B and 344 and the application to current powering architectures; NESC’s role in network reliability and resiliency; congestion and clearance issues around 5G wireless antennas/equipment location and use of Fault Managed Power Systems (FMPS). | Room 281/282 Track: FTTx Networks (Fixed & Mobile) ![]() Approved by ETA Intl. - 1 hour Session Chair: Greg Harlan - HPT Communications This session addresses the difficulties of deploying fiber cabling in brownfield MDUs due to structural inconsistencies, tenant occupancy, and aesthetic requirements. It expands the network engineer’s toolkit with innovative, forward-thinking approaches to simplify and accelerate these challenging installations. This session will broaden your perspective on viable design options for MDU cabling projects, share how to complete MDU installations more efficiently with minimal tenant disruption, and increase your confidence in addressing projects previously deemed unfeasible due to building constraints. | Room 277 Track: Industry Outlook, Workforce and Leadership ![]() Session Chair: Francis Alueta - Altafiber/Hawaiian Telcom Three-quarters of telecom companies identify the shortage of skilled workers as their primary challenge. Despite attractive salaries, this gap persists due to the generational preference for traditional four-year degrees over trades. Moreover, leaders of smaller workforces need to adapt to continual uncertainty while keeping teams engaged and high performing. This session will share a proven framework that empowers you to navigate change, build resilience, and confidently lead. Walk away with practical coaching techniques and adaptive leadership strategies to strengthen your team and drive results while maintaining your well-being as a leader. | Room 275 Track: Permitting, Regulation, BEAD ![]() Session Chair: Marc Durocher - Verizon Communications Pole attachment permitting and makeready engineering delays can prevent you from meeting deadlines and complying with regulations and contract obligations, resulting in construction delays and work stoppages. While speed to market helps grow your subscriber base, compliance with code and standards reduces potential network outages, improving reliability and customer satisfaction. Learn what pole owners and utilities expect on pole attachment or conduit licensing requests. Discover more about LiDAR, image recognition and how collecting field data using digital measuring technology can help minimize delays in application processing and improve construction practices. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM | Room 281/282 Track: Automation, AI, Reliability, Security & Network ![]() Session Chair: Peter Fretty - Endeavor Business Media
Attendee Learnings: | Room 276 Track: Automation, AI, Reliability, Security & Network ![]() Session Chair:William Kurtz - Norvado Inc.
| Room 279/280 Track: Designing, Construction, Engineering & Operations ![]() Session Chair: Dennis Pappas - NextLight | Room 277 Track: Industry Outlook, Workforce and Leadership ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Janice Oliva - Endeavor Business Media (Panel Moderator) Anis Khemakhem - Clearfield, Inc. Michael White - TAK Broadband Randall René - Esri Kevin Czaicki - Millennium Charles Harlow - Vitruvi Software Join Janice Oliva, Endeavor Business Media, as she moderates a lively panel discussion with telecom game-changing thought leaders and strategists. The session will dive into topics including: Key network growth drivers and headwinds, fiber capacity questions, converged/hybrid networks, bridging the digital divide with creative network solutions and BEAD realities. Sponsored by:
| Room 275 Track: Permitting, Regulation, BEAD ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Joe Baeumel - KGPCo (Panel Moderator) Lori Adams - Nokia Bill Brungardt - BHC Eli Coniglio - Eocene Environmental Group, Inc. Session Chair: Mark Boxer - Lightera | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | New Orleans Theatre C ![]() Verizon has a decades-long history of collaborating with partners across the telecom industry to deliver effective communication solutions that aid public safety, particularly during emergencies. By utilizing new technologies, developing innovative solutions, and partnering with industry, government, and community stakeholders, Verizon is committed to improving disaster preparedness and revolutionizing emergency management. Join Julie Slattery, Verizon Senior Vice President of Core Engineering & Operations for a discussion on Verizon’s disaster resilience approach that includes preparing for any situation, being ready to respond, providing post-disaster recovery assistance and using technology and learnings to mitigate potential future emergencies. The keynote will dive into the extreme lengths engineers go to run to a crisis and keep communities connected offering real-life anecdotes and learnings. The primary areas of focus will be on the importance of internal and external partnerships, leveraging emerging technologies including AI and highlighting key strategies that can be implemented in organizations of all sizes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday, July 31, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM | Room 276 Track: Automation, AI, Reliability, Security & Network ![]() Approved by ETA Intl. - 1 hour Session Chair:William Kurtz - Norvado Inc. | Room 279/280 Track: Designing, Construction, Engineering & Operations ![]() Approved by ETA Intl. - 1 hour Session Chair: Jim Pelegris - SENKO Advanced Components The fiber optics market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.70% reaching $43.02 billion by 2032. A key factor is the widespread adoption of 5G technology, which creates a demand for communication infrastructure that supports high-capacity and low-latency requirements. This session will cover the technological, logistical and cost benefits of using fiber in 5G deployments and help attendees understand how the shift will impact them by sharing deployment examples. | Room 281/282 Track: FTTx Networks (Fixed & Mobile) ![]() Session Chair: Kevin Borders - Borders & Associates, LLC | Room 275 Track: Permitting, Regulation, BEAD ![]() Approved by ETA Intl. - 1 hour Session Chair: Rob Laudati - Render Networks
| Room 277 Track: Permitting, Regulation, BEAD ![]() Session Chair: Ernest Gallo - NEBScore
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8:00 AM - 2:30 PM | Room 286-287 Track: Industry Outlook, Workforce and Leadership ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Steve Harris - Learning Alliance | Harris DigiTech Academy Fred Arnold - Learning Alliance Chris Disher - Cajun Broadband Bo Gresham - Dycom Thomas Tyler - CONNECTLA Pricing:
8:00-9:00 AM: State of the Industry Panel Discussion & Audience Q&A 9:15-10:15 AM: Best Practices: Training & Expanding the Broadband Workforce 10:30-11:30 AM: Executive Insights Closing Keynote: The Telecom Tipping Point 11:45 AM-1:00 PM: Lunch followed by Executive Fireside Chat & Audience Q&A (plated sit-down lunch, registration required + additional fee of $40)
1:00-2:30 PM: Sponsored Tech Training Tours on Exhibit Floor Sponsored by: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM | Room 276 Track: Automation, AI, Reliability, Security & Network ![]() Approved by ETA Intl. - 1 hour Session Chair: Hayden Beeson - Endeavor Business Media | Room 279/280 Track: Designing, Construction, Engineering & Operations ![]() Approved by ETA Intl. - 1 hour Session Chair: Tim Carli - Endeavor Business Media
| Room 281/282 Track: FTTx Networks (Fixed & Mobile) ![]() Approved by ETA Intl. - 1 hour Session Chair: Ryan Kudera - Finley Engineering | Room 277 Track: Industry Outlook, Workforce and Leadership ![]() ![]() Approved by ETA Intl. - 1 hour Session Chair: Sean Kelly, Light Brigade | Room 275 Track: Permitting, Regulation, BEAD ![]() Session Chair: Peter Beard - PPC Broadband | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | New Orleans Theatre C ![]() For more than a decade, Tom Maguire has championed modernization in the telecom industry — away from unreliable, costly copper networks to new, more resilient technology that easily adapts to innovation and consumer needs. We are now at a pivotal point when federal oversight is aligned, state-level changes are underway, the industry’s labor force is ready to execute, and scalable connectivity is possible. Copper is the past, and now is the time to embrace the future. When all the players in the industry work together the possibilities are infinite. |