The fifth and final session of ARC’s Broadband Bootcamp 2.0 series will wrap up by focusing on the different funding opportunities that entities throughout Appalachia can tap into to help fill the gaps in funding their broadband programs.
Beth Sanner, Broadband Program Manager at the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), will walk session attendees through ARC’s various broadband funding initiatives and activities by exchanging in a structured dialogue with moderator Alex Kelley of the Center of Rural Innovation (CORI). Session attendees will come away with a better understanding of how ARC works in connection with Appalachian communities to support broadband service procurement, digital equity planning or implementation, broadband infrastructure, as well as other eligible activities and how to get involved.
Center of Rural Innovation
Alex Kelley
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Alex Kelley is the Director of Broadband Consulting at the Center on Rural Innovation. His team
specializes in helping rural communities get funding to close their broadband gaps, and build public
private partnerships that result in world class, affordable, community-driven networks.
Appalachian Regional Commission
Elizabeth Sanner
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Elizabeth is a multidisciplinary data, geospatial, and broadband analyst, whose extensive academic background spans geography, environmental policy and justice, and political science. She holds a Master’s Degree in GIS/Geography from the University of Kansas. Throughout her career, Elizabeth has applied her diverse expertise within the broadband sector, starting as a network designer for a Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) consulting firm. She has played a pivotal role in advocating for and supporting rural electric cooperatives across the United States in their development of FTTH networks.
Elizabeth’s professional career has also included serving as a Grant and Funding Data Manager, where she addressed issues of digital inequality and technological disparities, particularly in traditionally marginalized communities. Currently, as the Broadband Program Manager at the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), she continues this work, advising on, guiding, and solving strategic challenges to enhance broadband connectivity throughout the Appalachian region. Her role emphasizes leveraging her geospatial and analytical skills to direct improvements in broadband infrastructure and advocate for equitable access.
Elizabeth is an accomplished analyst with a multidisciplinary background in data, geospatial analysis, and broadband technologies. Her educational foundation includes a Master’s Degree in GIS/Geography from the University of Kansas, supplemented by studies in geography, environmental policy and justice, and political science. Elizabeth’s career has been marked by significant contributions to the broadband sector, beginning with her role as a network designer for a Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) consultancy.
She has been instrumental in supporting and advocating for rural electric cooperatives across the United States, assisting them in deploying their own FTTH networks. Her commitment to addressing digital inequality has led her to focus on technological disparities affecting traditionally marginalized communities. In her position as a Grant and Funding Data Manager, Elizabeth further honed her expertise in managing data-driven projects aimed at enhancing digital access.
Currently, as the Broadband Program Manager at the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), Elizabeth strategically guides efforts to improve broadband connectivity across the Appalachian region. Her role involves advising on policy, guiding development initiatives, and providing expert problem-solving to enhance infrastructure and promote equitable broadband access. Her work is crucial in shaping the future of broadband in one of the most diverse and challenging landscapes in the United States.
