April 1-3, 2026 | Gateway Hotel and Conference Center | Ames, IA
Why Attend the CBAN Spring Summit?
As competition and chaos intensify in many broadband communities, exceptional customer experience has become the defining competitive advantage for community-focused operators.
Join us for two (or three) days of learning and connecting with other CBAN members around the challenges facing local providers navigating real operational challenges, evolving customer expectations, and the practical realities of translating new technologies into meaningful customer experiences.
The CBAN 2026 Spring Summit delivers valuable, actionable strategies to improve:
- Technical Excellence
- Customer Care Excellence
- Operational Excellence
Our Keynote Speaker
Join Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, as he makes the case for why customer experience excellence isn't optional anymore – it's essential for survival. Drawing from industry research and real-world success stories, Gary will explore how community providers can transform high take rates from a reason for complacency into a platform for continuous improvement.
Gary's key takeaways:
- Understanding the real competitive threats beyond price and speed
- Building systematic CX excellence that scales with your operation
- Converting satisfied customers into community champions
- Creating competitive advantages that billion-dollar companies can't replicate
NEW IN 2026!
April 1, Pre-Conference: OSS/BSS Spotlight
Operations Support Systems (OSS) and Business Support Systems (BSS) showcase event allows broadband providers to evaluate the specialized "engines" that drive their network performance and customer-facing operations. In 2026, these events are critical as providers shift from basic infrastructure buildouts to managing complex "living networks" powered by artificial intelligence.
Last year, our first Spotlight was so successful that this year it gets its own full day! CBAN's OSS/BSS Spotlight event brings together seven of the industry's top OSS/BSS providers in one space, offering presentations, personal demos, and general provider education. Lunch is provided at no cost. The day concludes with the Wednesday Night Windup social, sponsored by Open Country.
To attend the Spotlight, which takes place one day prior to the full conference, simply check "I plan to attend the OSS/BSS Spotlight Pre-Conference" when registering.
April 2, Tech Track: Presented by the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities (IAMU)
A full day of hands-on learning for broadband technicians, call desk professionals, any broadband employee who works directly with customers. Improve the experience for every customer, from installation to support and retention. Powered by Calix.
- Session 1: Start at the Beginning
- Session 2: After the Install
- Session 3: Advanced Troubleshooting
- Session 4: Winning CX with Intelligent Wi-fi Solutions
2026 CBAN Spring Summit Schedule
Schedule subject to change, new sessions will be added as they're confirmed.
April 1, 2026: Pre-Conference OSS/BSS Spotlight
CBAN's OSS/BSS Spotlight event brings together seven of the industry's top OSS/BSS providers in one space, offering presentations, personal demos, and general provider education. Lunch is provided at no cost.
To attend the Spotlight, which takes place one day prior to the full conference, simply check "I plan to attend the OSS/BSS Spotlight Pre-Conference" when registering.
| 8:30 AM | Registration |
| 9:00 AM | COS Systems |
| 10:00 AM | CHR Solutions |
| 11:00 AM | MACC |
| 11:50 AM | Lunch |
| 12:30 PM | Vision by Fibersmith |
| 1:30 PM | Inteligrate by ETI |
| 2:30 PM | Innovative Systems |
| 3:30 PM | Camvio |
| 5:00 PM | Spring Summit Wednesday Wind-Up, sponsored by Open Country (Iowa Stater Bar and Restaurant) |
April 2, 2026
KEYNOTE: The "CX Factor:" Why Customer Experience is Your Competetive Moat in the Battle for Broadband
Gary Bolton, President and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association. His talk will be followed by a fireside chat with CBAN's Deb Socia and Jon Willow.
Gary makes the case for why customer experience excellence isn't optional anymore – it's essential for survival. Drawing from industry research and real-world success stories, Gary will explore how community providers can transform high take rates from a reason for complacency into a platform for continuous improvement.
7:30 AM
Registration and Breakfast
Lobby, Garden Room
8:30 AM
Welcome and Keynote Introduction
Garden Room
8:40 AM
KICKOFF KEYNOTE: The "CX Factor:" Why Customer Experience is Your Competitive Moat in the Battle for Broadband
Gary Bolton, President and CEO, Fiber Broadband Association
Garden Room
9:10 AM
Fireside Chat & Q&A
- Gary Bolton, Fiber Broadband Association
- Deb Socia, CBAN Board President
- Jon Willow, CBAN
Garden Room
10:00 AM
AI and Data Centers and Broadband - Oh My!
- Moderator: Jon Willow, CBAN
- Mitch Shapiro, CBAN Distinguished Fellow
- TBD
Garden Room
The rise of data centers presents a mixed impact on local broadband providers, creating significant opportunities for new infrastructure but also challenges through increased competition and potential strains on shared resources like power grids. Jon Willow, CBAN co-founder and Michigan State University's 2025 REI Innovation Fellow, joins CBAN Distinguished Fellow Mitch Shapiro and panelists TBD for a lively discussion of what it all means.
Tech Track Session 1, powered by IAMU
Start at the Beginning - Excellence in Installation
Calix Team
Cardinal and Gold Rooms
Kick off the CBAN Spring Summit Tech Track with a crucial look at the foundation of subscriber satisfaction in "Start at the Beginning: Excellence in Installation." Presented by IAMU and led by the customer experience experts at Calix, this session demonstrates why the installation process is far more than a technical necessity—it is the pivotal moment that defines the provider-customer relationship. Attendees will learn how delivering a high-quality, seamless installation experience builds immediate trust, reduces future support calls, and secures long-term loyalty in today’s competitive broadband landscape.
10:50 AM
Community Broadband Marketing for the Win
- Moderator: Doug Adams, Broadband Marketers
- Heidi Griffin, ICAN Advertising
- Jordan Oja, Mi-Fiber
- Rachel Rowe, Fort Dodge Fiber
Meadows Room
In an increasingly competitive landscape, how do local providers cut through the noise to drive subscriber growth? This dynamic panel discussion brings together diverse perspectives from the front lines of connectivity to answer that question. You will hear real-world success stories alongside expert insights on targeted digital strategy. Join us as the group dissects the perfect mix of grassroots community engagement and digital precision needed to capture market share and secure the win for your network.
Tech Track Session 2, powered by IAMU
After The Install - Supporting The Customer
Calix Team
Cardinal and Gold Rooms
Building on the foundation of a great installation, the second session of the Tech Track, "Supporting the Customer After the Installation," shifts the focus to long-term subscriber satisfaction. This session provides customer care and help desk teams with the strategies and tools necessary to effectively troubleshoot and resolve issues that arise post-deployment. Attendees will explore best practices for diagnosing connectivity problems, communicating complex technical solutions to end-users, and turning potential service frustrations into opportunities to reinforce trust and reliability.
11:50 AM
Lunch
Garden Room
12:20 PM
PLENARY: "CBAN State of the Bridge"
- Curtis Dean, CBAN Executive Director
- Deb Socia, CBAN Board President
- Jon Willow, CBAN
Garden Room
Join Curtis Dean, Jon Willow, and CBAN Board President Deb Socia for our annual address to members. It's been a challenging year for everyone in broadband, including CBAN. We'll reflect honestly on the obstacles we've faced together, celebrate the resilience of our network, and share our vision for the road ahead. This is about community—where we've been, where we are, and how we'll continue supporting each other as we navigate what's next.
1:00 PM
Exhibitor Floor Opens
Prairie Room
2:30 PM
Cloud DOCSIS and PON: What You Need to Know
Joe Ross, Harmonic
Craig Huegley, AMT
Tim Walker, AMT
Meadows Room
As broadband demands accelerate, maintaining separate hardware silos for DOCSIS and fiber is becoming unsustainable. Discover a unified path forward: the power of network virtualization. This session explores how AMT and Harmonic's collaborative solution allows operators to manage both legacy coax and next-gen fiber (PON) from a single, software-based platform—drastically reducing headend power, cooling, and hardware costs.
Tech Track Session 3, powered by IAMU
Advanced Troubleshooting
Calix Team
Cardinal and Gold Rooms
Take your diagnostic capabilities to the next level in the third installment of the Tech Track, "Advanced Troubleshooting." While many connectivity issues can be resolved remotely, complex scenarios often require a deeper dive to identify the root cause. The Calix team will guide attendees through sophisticated troubleshooting techniques and introduce advanced tools designed to isolate and resolve persistent service interruptions in both residential and business environments. This session equips technical teams with the expertise to tackle hard-to-solve problems, minimize repeat truck rolls, and restore optimal performance for high-value subscribers.
Controlling The Narrative
- Moderator: Jon Willow, CBAN
- Cassidy Ward, Waterloo Fiber
- TBD
Garden Room
Bad things can happen to good broadband providers, from unavoidable rate increases to construction delays and community unease. Join our panelists to learn how transparency, timely communication, and a well-aligned internal team can be your bridge over troubled waters and actually deepen your community connection.
3:30 PM
When It Rains, It Pours: SMU and the Flood of 2024
Adam Warren, Spencer Municipal Utilities
Garden Room
In June 2024, the Little Sioux and Ocheyedan Rivers rose to unthinkable levels, submerging two-thirds of Spencer, Iowa, and bringing the floodwaters directly to the doorstep of Spencer Municipal Utilities' (SMU) primary operations centers. In this powerful case study on resilience, SMU staff will share their firsthand account of the disaster that simultaneously threatened the city's electric, water, and fiber infrastructure. This session moves beyond theory to examine real-time crisis management: the immediate steps taken to mitigate catastrophic damage, the strategic decisions required to prioritize public safety, and the massive effort to bring a devastated community back online.
Tech Track Session 4, powered by IAMU
Winning CX with Intelligent Wi-Fi Solutions
- Invited: Calix, Aprecomm, Nokia
Cardinal and Gold Rooms
Your fiber is fast, but is your WiFi smart? In this session, we explore how Intelligent WiFi solutions are the new frontier for Customer Experience. Learn how AI-driven insights, self-healing networks, and subscriber-facing apps can drastically reduce support costs, increase NPS, and turn your internet service into an indispensable utility. Stop troubleshooting routers and start delivering a seamless digital life.
4:20 PM
Exhibitor Hospitality Reception
Prairie Room
8:00 PM
Broadband Trivia
Garden Room
Join MC Curtis Dean for a rollicking evening of broadband trivia. Show off your nerd IQ, win prizes, and meet up with your conference pals!
April 3, 2026
7:30 AM
Breakfast Buffet
Garden Room
8:30 AM
Morning Plenary: The Past, Present, and Future of ICN
Moderator: Curtis Dean, with Ryan Mulhall, Iowa Communications Network
Garden Room
From its origins as a pioneering distance learning tool to its current role as the secure digital backbone of Iowa's critical infrastructure, the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) continues to evolve. This session traces that journey, moving from the network's historic 1990s launch to its modern reality as a high-capacity carrier for public safety, healthcare, and government operations. Join ICN leadership for an inside look at the strategic roadmap for 2026 and beyond, covering recent 100GB core upgrades, advanced cybersecurity initiatives, and the future of public-private partnerships in keeping Iowa connected.
9:00 AM
CX Stories: Tales from the Trenches
Discussion Leader: Lance Baker, Huxley Communications
TBD
Garden Room
10:00 AM
The Need for More Carrier Neutral IXP's
Brent Legg, Connected Nation
Garden Room
While broadband access is expanding, the physical infrastructure that routes internet traffic remains heavily centralized in a few major metropolitan hubs. This centralization forces data to travel long distances, increasing latency and costs for rural and secondary markets. In this session, Brent Legg makes the case for decentralizing the internet through carrier-neutral Internet Exchange Points (IXPs). Legg will explain how bringing the "edge" closer to the community transforms local connectivity. Attendees will learn how neutral IXPs keep local traffic local—reducing IP transit costs for ISPs, improving network performance, and fostering a more competitive and resilient broadband ecosystem.
NICP TV - A New Option for Video
- Gary Peterson, NICP
- Aaron McCartan, NICP
- Josh Gillen, Innovative Systems
- Jean Edhlund, CNS
Meadows Room
For broadband providers tired of the operational headaches associated with traditional video services, NICP TV offers a powerful new alternative. Join representatives from Northern Iowa Communications Partners (NICP) as they introduce this turnkey, white-label solution that allows you to offer a robust cable TV product without the burden of negotiating programming agreements or managing complex headend technology. Learn how this cooperative model handles the heavy lifting—from software to contracts—enabling you to deploy a fully co-branded, app-based video service that is already available in all Iowa DMAs.
11:00 AM
Closing General Session
Surviving and Thriving in the Era of $50 Starlink
Curtis Dean, CBAN
Garden Room
For years, community broadband providers relied on a comforting assumption: Starlink was a "boutique" solution for the hard-to-reach, too expensive to threaten our core residential markets. In 2026, that assumption is obsolete. With the launch of the $50 "Residential 100" tier and aggressive new hardware bundles, the satellite giant has pivoted from a rural gap-filler to a direct, price-competitive threat against Main Street fiber and FWA. In this urgent strategy session, we will break down the new Starlink pricing ecosystem and unveil a specific, 3-step playbook for community providers to defend their turf. Join us to learn how to stop competing on speed and start winning on what satellites can’t deliver: stability, local economic impact, and the "human premium."