Patrick Reams
Vice President of Technology & Communications, Irby
Mandated to serve rural areas, utilities often add fiber to their rural infrastructure to help monitor and control their equipment, and support critical communications. Some utilities have explored the opportunity to monetize this asset by offering broadband service to consumers, and the math may make sense for more utilities as BEAD funding comes into play. This panel will explore the role of utility infrastructure in closing the digital divide, and will consider the ways this trend can impact the wireless infrastructure industry.
