Recently, NCTA hosted a screening of the new docufilm “Every Last Mile” immediately followed by a panel discussion about lessons learned building broadband networks in rural areas. Panelists included: Tom Larsen, Senior Vice President, Government & Public Relations at Mediacom; Jeff Merritt, Market Vice President at Cox in Roanoke Virginia; and Jennifer Nelson, Senior Director, Rural Affairs at GCI.
The panel represented each of the network operators highlighted in “Every Last Mile” which follows crews in northern Minnesota, the desert of Arizona, and Alaska’s Aleutian Islands as they do the hard work of extending broadband networks across challenging terrain in rural areas.
Discussion touched on topics like the importance community relationships and partnerships, unexpected challenges on site, workforce development and retention, utility pole attachments, and beyond. To learn more, be sure to check out the panel discussion, and don’t forget to stream “Every Last Mile.”