The 2022 Rural Wireless Infrastructure Summit continues to receive overwhelmingly positive feedback for its varied and valuable content, substantial networking results, and top-notch organizations. Attendees appreciated the size of the conference because it allowed substantial opportunities for making quality connections and creating fresh business opportunities. RINA and RWA members valued joining forces for increased content and participation and cross pollination of their ongoing efforts to advance opportunities for rural mobile and fixed wireless providers.

Here’s what participants had to say about the 2022 Summit

• “Great content and location…I felt like the combination of RINA/RWA was an excellent mix of content and people brought to the meeting.  The speakers and content were not the same as most industry events small rural carriers attend, and that was refreshing.  I would attend again if in the same location with a similar format.”
• “Great gathering of wireline and wireless Operators.  Great networking event.”
• “Overall I felt this was a fantastic event.  Very educational and excellent networking opportunities.”
• “It was just great to mingle with people and meet new people. The networking was the most important to me.”

Chairwoman Rosenworcel and all three FCC Commissioners addressed Summit attendees. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel started Day 1 with her heartwarming message to Summit attendees. She discussed broadband deployment in rural America, federal broadband programs, FCC auctions, 5G security, and complimented RWA’s initiative to develop an Open RAN Resource Guide for small rural providers. 

Listen to Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s remarks.

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks kicked off Day 2 with his Regulatory Keynote, highlighting two policy priorities in which rural carriers are at the front lines: advocating for accessible and affordable broadband and ensuring the security of the Nation’s networks reminding attendees of the workshop that helped launch the FCC’s Secure Networks Reimbursement Program that will serve to remove unsecure ZTE and Huawei equipment from US communications networks.

Commissioner Stark’s speech is available here.

Presentation slides from several of our sessions are provided below.

Industry Keynote:  5G, 6G and Beyond!
Caroline Chan, VP and GM, 5G Infrastructure Division, Intel

Realizing the Benefits of Open RAN in Rural Markets
Presenter: John Hoadley, VP of Sales Engineering, Technical Solutions & Architecture–N. America, Mavenir

Industry Keynote:  Deploying 5G and Private Networks to Revolutionize Opportunities for Rural Markets
Keynote presenter:  Allen Salmasi, CEO, Veea, Inc.

Convergence: Wireless Needs Wires and Wires Need Wireless
Presenters:  Anthony Marcello, Metaswitch; Zach Boeckman, Principal Sales Manager-N. American Carriers, ADTRAN; Javier Irizarry, Sr. Director for Sales and BD, Ceragon

Industry Hot Topic Open Forum
Hosts:  Carri Bennet, General Counsel, RWA; Jeff Smith, Vice President of Public Policy & Advocacy, Vantage Point; Mike Lasky, Principal, Widelity; Stephen Sharbaugh, Legislative Counsel, RWA

Show Me the Money: Federal, State, and Local Broadband Funding Opportunities
Presenters: Jeff Lanning, Of Counsel, Womble Bond Dickinson [Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program]; Lynn Merrill, President, Monte R. Lee & Associates (RUS Reconnect Program); Rebecca Dilg, Broadband Center Director, Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (State Program)

Next Generation Wireless Solutions Enabling the Last Mile(s!) for Rural Communities
Presenter:  Zak Raley, President/SVP/Advisor to CEO, Amphenol Corporation

Infrastructure Roundtable
Moderator:  Michael Kletchko, Regional VP Sales, West Region, Adtran
Panelists:  Alok Sarsidharan, Vice President, Specialized & Asset Management Procurement, MacQuarie; Chris Memmott, Rocky Mountain Regional Ambassador, NATE; American Tower

Watch the Patriotic Tribute that opened the Summit event!

Stay tuned for information on the Summit 2023!