Intro: The following program is brought to you by the Tennessee Broadband Association.
Lead Tennessee Radio, conversations with the leaders moving our state forward.
We look at the issues shaping Tennessee's future: rural development, public policy, broadband,
health care, and other topics impacting our communities.
Carrie Huckeby: Hello everyone.
I'm Carrie Huckeby, executive director of the Tennessee Broadband Association.
My guest on this episode of Lead Tennessee Radio is one of my favorite people in the industry, Tyler Campbell.
He's the executive director of Kentucky Rural Broadband Association.
Welcome, Tyler.
Tyler Campbell: Hey, thank you for having me, Carrie.
It's always fun to be on this podcast with you.
Carrie Huckeby: Well, I'm glad you had time this morning.
We each just wrapped up our annual meeting for the association, it seems.
And here we are, three months away from the Kentucky Tennessee Fall Conference.
It's October 21st through the 23rd, and we're back at the Franklin Cool Springs Marriott.
This will be our second year, and I here we are celebrating a big anniversary.
How many years?
Tyler Campbell: Yeah, this is our 30th.
This will be our 30th joint fall conference.
So, it's a big time to celebrate a great partnership between Kentucky and Tennessee companies and coming
together, bringing folks from across the industry and across both of our great states to come together and
discuss issues for the rural broadband industry.
So, yeah, this is a celebration of year number 30.
So great time to celebrate, and it's a big milestone, I think, for both of our associations.
Carrie Huckeby: It is. And it goes by fast too, I imagine.
Tyler Campbell: Yes it does. It's hard to believe that I've already been here over nine years now.
It doesn't seem like it's been that long since I've been involved in the industry, but it's went by quick.
It's certainly is a great time for our industry.
I think there's, you know, a lot of changes on the horizon, but a lot of opportunities as well.
So I think heading into the fall conference, we'll have plenty to discuss and plenty to talk about as it relates to our industry
moving forward.
Carrie Huckeby: I'm sure. How do you imagine the conference has changed in, you know, from that very first one to,
you know, the one that we'll hold in October?
What kind of changes do you think that the associations have seen?
Tyler Campbell: Yeah, I think probably who the conference appeals to in terms of attendees.
I think that at one time this conference probably focused more on the technical side of telephony of the business.
Now, I think it runs the gamut of what we could talk.
You know, there are folks there that represent companies from the marketing side, you know, the financial
side in addition to the, you know, your engineering and outside the plant operators.
So I think at one time it was really geared and focused more on probably the engineering and technical side of the industry.
And I feel like as the conference has grown, and we have seen more and more people wanting to be a part of it, we've expanded
our agenda. We've expanded the focus of the conference, not just to focus on the technical side, but, you know, to talk about
national issues, whether it's political or industry related.
And then also, like I said, expanding the topics that we cover from, you know, cybersecurity information technology,
in addition to, you know, marketing, financial, regulatory matters.
So I really do think the focus of the conference has probably changed over the years in terms of the content.
And also, just again, the folks at the conference appeals to because of that.
You know, I think when this conference started, you know, 30 years ago, you probably had a couple hundred people there from,
you know, both states.
And, you know, I think last year we hit almost, what, 450 people, I think that attended over the course of three days.
So I look for a similar crowd to join us again in Franklin this year.
And, you know, certainly the number of vendors that we've had over the last couple of years continues to increase as they see
the value in this conference.
So I think that's going to continue.
I think that we've put together a quality conference over the course of 30 years, and I think it's really only gotten better
over the last few years.
Carrie Huckeby: I agree, and I think we've worked hard to include as many disciplines as we can in those conferences so that,
you know, we can keep everyone informed because it is important.
You know, we talk so much about departments not being in silos.
And this is a good way for them to hear lots of aspects of what's going on in the industry.
And speaking about that, we sent out those speaker proposal requests last week and asked for those to come back in by
August 16th.
What kind of topics do you expect for us to get back?
And you know, what do you think we're going to hear more about at the conference?
Tyler Campbell: I think honestly, we'll hear, you know, of course, BEAD is still going to be top of mind.
I think that both of our states have probably went through the challenge process phase for our states regarding the federal BEAD
program. So I think we'll certainly, you know, have conversations as it relates to BEAD and where both of our states
stand right now.
Kentucky's actually just getting ready to enter the pre-application phase.
So for those companies that may be interested, they'll certify their application and actually put in and submit
applications to areas of the Commonwealth where they're thinking about applying.
So that process will be ongoing.
And by the time we enter the conference season in the fall in October, we'll be about ready to actually have the full
application process.
And I'd say that will be fully underway, and they'll be gearing up toward that application process.
So I certainly think the federal BEAD program is still going to be top of mind.
But I also think you're going to see topics ranging from the importance of how we look at AI, artificial intelligence.
You know, in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, we actually have a task force that's solely dedicated to looking at AI across
multiple sectors of government and business.
So I think that that's certainly going to be a topic.
Obviously, there are great advantages with AI and how companies, including our telcos, can use that for a wide range
of services and, you know, customer service, marketing.
However, you know, I there's also the downside of it.
What risks that can AI pose to our companies?
So I think you'll see conversations surrounding artificial intelligence and their various uses.
I also think cybersecurity is going to be top of mind, not only for the federal programs that are coming down, but, you know, as
we talk more and more about misinformation and disinformation campaigns as we enter the political season, you know, that that's
always a topic of conversation, how people can use, you know, AI and other other measures to generate, you know,
deepfakes and, you know, things of that nature.
So I think cybersecurity and staying vigilant with our networks is going to be a top of mind as well, and how those can
interact with one another, you know, social media.
And then I think, you know, the normal topics that we could probably have, you know, what?
We're going to have conversations about the latest and greatest in technology and what our vendors across the spectrum are doing
on a wide range of issues.
So I think that we can have a topics ranging from that, you'll see engineering like we have in the past.
What grant process updates on federal programs.
But then, like I said, I think there's going to be a real focus on the federal programs of BEAD as we're in, you know, full march
into that later this fall.
And then cybersecurity and AI are going to be top of mind.
Carrie Huckeby: Yeah, I agree, I know there's a lot of discussion there.
And you want to use AI, but then you also worry about the cybersecurity part of how much you're using each one.
But you know, they'll also be I know, workforce development conversations, digital opportunity and literacy
programs that go along with BEAD and funding.
And then I know supply chain always shows up in the showcase and discussions there, how that's going to
run as these state and federal programs' grants are awarded.
Tyler Campbell: Yeah, I certainly think you hit on a great topic of workforce development.
You know, I think both of our states are, you know, every states competing with each other to an extent on the, you know, the next
economic development project.
But, you know, obviously, I think Kentucky and Tennessee both done really well over the last few years in focusing on, you
know, various aspects of their economy.
And so, you know, I know, Kentucky obviously is a heavy automotive manufacturing area.
We're heavily invested in now looking at opening two electric vehicle battery plants.
And so as they ramp up for a workforce for both of those plants, I think in our state, you know, workforce development is going
to be paramount to whatever we do.
So, you know, you have the workforce development side for some of these other industries that are coming in.
And then just our industry alone, you know, as in Kentucky, we're going to have $1.1 billion come into the
state through the federal BEAD program.
And so we're going to need more construction workers and services.
As you know, these broadband networks are deployed.
We're going to need more service technicians, fiber splicers.
You know, so where are these where are these workers going to come from?
How are we going to get them in the state?
How are we going to get them to stay?
Those are all going to be questions, and I think we'll have, you know, discussions on all of those issues at the fall conference.
Carrie Huckeby: Oh, I do too.
And at our June conference, the TCAT students came in and toured the showcase, and there was such good feedback from
them because I think our conferences serve that purpose of showing them the innovation, but also what career
opportunities are out there.
And, you know, there's so many.
So it really opens their eyes when they get a chance to come in and talk and talk to the vendors and things like that.
So we really play a role there, I think, in education and workforce development.
Tyler Campbell: Yeah, I agree, I think a lot of our telcos at a, you know, at a local level, they engage
with, you know, their local chambers of commerce.
They engage with, they have, you know, a community and technical college nearby, a local high school, vocational programs.
You know, we have members that, you know, have invested in their local high school vocational programs.
And, you know, it's a great way for them to work with those students and show them, you know, career pathways, that you
know, a four year degree may not be for everybody.
And there's great opportunities working for your local telephone cooperative or local telco.
And you know, there's a number of careers that could be available there.
So I think we have some folks that do a great job of that now.
And I only see that role expanding in the future as we're talking about what we need to do to create another new wave of
local workers as these broadband networks are deployed over the next five, six, seven years.
Carrie Huckeby: Yeah, 100% agree there.
Networking is such a big part of the conference.
And we always hear every year, we need more networking time.
What kind of opportunities will there be for the members this year on the program where they'll
get that networking time?
Tyler Campbell: Oh, yeah. Well, I think every year, one of the most popular events that we always have is our joint golf scramble.
And that that first day where people can come in, they can play golf or interact with folks over at the course.
So you'll have an opportunity to network there.
We'll have the welcome reception that opening night, which is always very popular.
And then, like I said, there's no greater opportunity to interact with folks than actually registering and attending the
conference, going to the sessions.
As I said before, you know, between our two telcos or, I'm sorry, our two associations and all the telcos that are
represented there, you know, I'm not overstating.
I think we have 225-250 different telco representatives there at any given time.
So if you're a vendor, an associate member of either Kentucky or Tennessee and are interested in networking, there's no greater
opportunity than registering for the conference, taking advantage of the golf scramble, the welcome receptions, the
dessert receptions that we have, and then actually attending the sessions.
Because you're going to be in and out of general sessions, the business luncheon that we have, the breakout sessions.
Like I said, you're going to have over 250 telco representatives from GM, CFOs to outside the plant and
engineers. All of those individuals attend this conference.
So if you're trying to appeal to chat with any one of those individuals, you're going to have a lot of opportunities over the
course of three days to do so.
Carrie Huckeby: I agree, and I think both of our associations our members or telco members, and they do a really good job supporting
us and sending their employees, their key key players of management team and all to our meeting.
So there's a whole lot of networking that goes on in the hall.
You know, the in between breaks and those chats and as you said, on the golf course and everywhere else.
Tyler Campbell: Well, and that's not even counting the, you know, the actual supplier showcase that we hold on the last day of the conference.
You know, we had over, I think, 100 vendors there last year.
And, you know, we opened up that hall and I mean, we had over, you know, 350 people outside of the vendors last year that
attended that showcase.
So, you know, you're going to have time on the floor with them on that last day of the supplier showcase.
But they're going to be great opportunities, as you said, to just stop and chat with people in the hall, the breakout
sessions. I really feel like one of the benefits of this is just the amount of face time that you can get with people, if you
invest in the conference and are willing to show up and take part.
Carrie Huckeby: I agree, and speaking of golf, you mentioned that at the Towhee Club out at Spring Hill.
Is there going to be cornhole this year?
Tyler Campbell: Yeah, I think we're planning on doing that too.
That's pretty popular with some folks that aren't really into golf.
So we got a couple other activities for people that want to show up, have lunch, and we'll do a cornhole toss tournament.
That whole first day is really just a fun day.
It's a networking day.
That's what I refer to it as, actually.
You're talking about networking. I refer to it as the networking day.
You can come in and have lunch.
It's a very casual day, and you don't have to be a great golfer to enjoy golf.
And if you don't want to golf at all, we'll have cornhole there for you out at Towhee Golf Club.
And it really is just a great way to introduce yourself to folks at the conference.
And again, I think it's a very relaxing day, a very social casual day.
And it's a great way to introduce yourself to everybody who's at the conference.
Carrie Huckeby: Yes. And it's a beautiful course.
And they're really good to us out there.
The weather has cooperated the last few years, so fingers crossed that we have beautiful October weather as
well.
Tyler Campbell: That's what I'm hoping. We've been able to get golf in the last few years and haven't had to dodge, you know, buckets of rain or
had to deal with 100 degree temperatures.
So hopefully, late – it's a little later in October, but hopefully we're still looking at some beautiful fall weather.
Carrie Huckeby: Yeah, yeah, I'm sure talk a little bit about the sponsorship opportunities, because we do have those for our vendors
and getting their brand out there during the conference.
So touch on that a little bit.
Tyler Campbell: Well, I think that's one of the great thing about this conference.
You know, depending on what you want to do, there's a sponsorship level for everybody that wants to be involved.
I think we have golf hole sponsors that go for a couple hundred dollars to you can sponsor the business luncheon for, you know,
$2,500 to $5,000 as a platinum sponsor for various events, our desert reception sponsorship.
So I mean it those sponsorships range from a couple hundred dollars for a golf hole sponsorship, up to a $5,000 platinum
sponsorship for certain events.
So it really is something for everybody, how invested you want to be to get your name, ID, and
marketing out there.
But that's one thing I do love about the conference.
There are so many opportunities for folks to interact with one another to sponsor certain events.
So if you are interested, those sponsorship opportunities are certainly going to be there.
And so I'm always excited to see what vendors, you know, obviously we share a lot of associate members and we actually
share a few telco members as well that serve on both of our boards.
This is one of my favorite events of the year.
It certainly is just a great time to get together.
I feel like it's a great way to celebrate the successes of both of our associations and our members, but it's a great opportunity
if you're an associate member or a vendor that's looking to make your mark in marketing to get your name out there.
There are certainly a sponsorship that's available to you if you want to partake.
Carrie Huckeby: Yes, we try to make it that way for sure.
The plan is to open registration next week.
I'm working on that registration page now, hoping to launch that this weekend.
The hotel block link will be on that page.
And then we also try to put that on our website.
We do have the main hotel block.
And then if that does fill up as it did last year pretty quick, we have another block at the Marriott
Courtyard if we happen to need that.
So lots of stuff going on, getting ready, waiting on those speaker proposals to come back in, and then we'll make
decisions about that.
Tyler Campbell: I will say, if you have members that listen to this podcast, I will say, get your room blocks early, because they sold out
really fast last year.
Carrie Huckeby: They did.
Tyler Campbell: Earlier than they ever did before.
So I would if your members are listening to this, and I will certainly relay that to some of my members as well, get your
rooms early.
Carrie Huckeby: Don't delay. And speaking of that, the booths, we will have about 100 to 105 booth spaces for the
showcase. And they sold out pretty quick last year, too, probably about six weeks before the conference.
Do I remember that correct?
Tyler Campbell: That's correct.
Actually, last year was the earliest we had ever sold out.
And then we ended up actually trying to expand the area a little bit, and we were able to do that as more and more
people, as more and more people expressed interest in exhibiting, we were able to move a few out of the conference
space into the foyer area.
But don't wait to register, because there's still even though we were able to expand last year, there is a finite amount of space.
And you are correct, we sold out well over a month in advance last year, which was the most boost we'd ever sold for this
conference.
Carrie Huckeby: And I think our associations, both of our associations, have been very fortunate that we continue to add new members.
And when we add those new members, one of the things they do is get a booth space.
So, you know, that's why we keep expanding the space and adding those booths.
So they do sell out fast.
Tyler Campbell: Yes they do. Again, if you're a member that's listening, get your hotel room, but also register early and lock up your
booth space, your sponsorships, those things that you want to do because they will go fast.
Carrie Huckeby: Well, thank you, Tyler, for talking to me this morning and taking the time.
I look forward to seeing everyone at the convention and look forward to working with you to get things scheduled and
get the information out there.
Is there anything else you want to add before we wrap it up?
Tyler Campbell: I just want to say thank you for the opportunity to be on here again.
I always enjoy working with you as we head in toward the the conference.
And I know, a 30th year celebration for this joint fall meeting.
I know we're going to have an informative meeting and just really put together a dynamic a few days down in Franklin.
So I'm looking forward to working with you and looking forward to interacting with all of our members once again.
I think it's going to be a great time down in Franklin and look forward to celebrating our 30th joint fall conference together.
Carrie Huckeby: Same here.
I think we need cake.
Maybe we need an anniversary cake in there somewhere.
Tyler Campbell: We can put a special logo on the cake.
Carrie Huckeby: Right? Sounds good.
Well, my guest has been Tyler Campbell, the executive director of the Kentucky Rural Broadband Association.
And you've been listening to Lead Tennessee Radio, produced by the Tennessee Broadband Association, cooperative and independent
companies, connecting our state's rural communities and beyond with world class broadband.