The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors’ efforts to bring affordable high speed “broadband” Internet to every resident and business will take a major step next week during the county’s first Rural Broadband Technology Solutions Summit.

The supervisors appointed the Botetourt Broadband Advisory Commission earlier this year, and the group quickly turned to the idea of getting as many people and companies associated with Internet services together “in one room” to see if there are opportunities to collaborate on what could be a “next step.”

The 11-member commission is headed by Valley District Supervisor Mac Scothorn. Other members come from business and personal backgrounds where high speed Internet and dependable wireless phone service are important components of their businesses and in their homes.

The two-day summit is Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 25 and 26 at Greenfield Education and Training Center.

“Broadband for All” is the theme with the goal of having Botetourt stand out in the crowd of communities around the country that are also clamoring for broadband service.

“The Rural Broadband Summit provides a connective path to the implementation of advanced, affordable, high capacity internet for all Botetourt County, in the near future,” the summit website says. “This means that every aspect, technology, methodology and resource as it applies to broadband for the benefit of residents and businesses in the county is up for discussion and consideration.”

The summit has attracted regionally and nationally recognized authorities and advocates in broadband for rural communities.

The summit begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. with networking, introductions and presentations that start with Botetourt Director of Economic Development Ken McFayden’s address about The State of Broadband in Botetourt County.

That’s followed by “How Halifax Connected: An Interview by Dr. Betty Adams with Kimley Blanks”; a presentation on “Why Fiber Matters – Yes, In Rural Areas!” with Heather Burnett Gold; “Health Care for the Masses – The Promise of Technology” by  Brandon Evens; “Look to the Future – Real Applications for Well-being,” a panel with Amy White, Susan Goad, Nicol Turner-Lee, Brandon Evans, and moderated by Dr. Betty Adams.

“Broadband and Business of Tomorrow,” another panel that includes Michelle Crook, Meredith Hundley, Kimley Blanks, Walter Grigg, Kit Hale, will be moderated by Sheri Winesett.

“Tech Talk – Leading Technologies – Eminent Usesand& Solutions,” includes panelist Anthony Smith, Mark Johnson, Bob Bailey, Josh Hoyle, Eddie Miller, Joe Reeser and Manny Fernandez. It is moderated by David Smith.

“Defining Rural Broadband Projects and the Path to Federal Funding” will be presented by Richard Jenkins

The presentations will be followed by a social time at Ballast Point Brewery.

A Table Top Tech Expo opens the summit on Wednesday morning.

That includes poster presentations by Virginia Western Community College students who have been working on ideas for specific broadband solutions in the county.

Wednesday morning sessions continue with “How Botetourt County Can Assist Providers and What Botetourt County Expects,” with Botetourt County Administrator Gary Larrowe.

James Baller, known as the “Community Broadband Visionary,” will present the keynote speech.

“Education in Action – Rural Broadband Concept Solution: Presentation by Poster Presentation” follows with the winning team from VWCC. There will be scholarship awarded following those presentations

“In the Thick of It – Why is Rural Broadband So Hard?” will be presented by Steve Sandy and Matt Rowe.

“Funding Broadband – The DHCD is a Resource,” will be presented by Tamarah Holmes; and “Community Collaboration in Support of Economic Development” will be presented by Frank Smith; with “Challenges From The Carrier Perspective: Panel” presented by Diego Anderson, Bill Gilliam, Anthony Smith and others, moderated by Meredith Hundley

The afternoon session includes “Rural Broadband: The Importance of Partnerships and Overcoming Barriers,” a group discussion led by Ray LaMura, with Duront Walton and Craig Smith. “TV White Space 101” will be presented by Bob Bailey.

Walid Saad, Ph.D., is the featured speaker and he will talk about “Connectivity from the Sky – Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for Wireless Access in Rural Environments.” “Legalese, Regulations, and the Role of Politics in the Deployment of Rural Broadband” will be a panel discussion with Jim Baller, Joe Lerch and Mike Lockaby. It will be moderated by Jean Plymale.

“Roanoke Valley Broadband Authority (RVBA) – From Inception to Operation” will be presented by Robert Picchi, Eric Price, Bryan Edwards and Frank Smith; “Mid-Atlantic Broadband – Fiber Backbone Matters” will be presented by Dave Keller; “Local Broadband – Take Control of Your Future!” will be presented by Chuck Kirby; and “The Importance of Broadband to Rural America” will be presented by Don Williams, Ph.D.

“The Process for Broadband Success – Advice from the Experts” will be a panel discussion with Don Williams, Chuck Kirby, Ray LaMura, Duront Walton and Dave Keller, and moderated by Jim Baller.

For information about registering for the summit and details on the summit presenters, visit http://www.bocosummit.com/