NCSC Experts To Share AI, Economic Insights at Upcoming Telecom Events

As rural broadband providers continue to navigate economic uncertainty, workforce pressures and rapid technological change, NCSC subject matter experts are set to bring timely insight to upcoming telecom industry events, offering perspective designed to help providers plan, invest and adapt. 

Building the Workforce of the Future

At the NTCA Telecom Executive Forum on March 31, NCSC Director of Business Systems Operations Amy LaVigna will present on “Building the Workforce of the Future: Case Studies in Staff Development and AI Integration,” along with Nex-Tech Executive Assistant to the CEO Taryn Graham. The session will center on how telecom organizations can prepare their teams for evolving operational and technology demands, featuring two case studies.

LaVigna will focus on the NCSC’s journey with AI implementation and adoption through the lens of change management, including workforce considerations, return on investment and the guardrails telecom cooperatives may consider as they begin developing policies around new technologies. 

Following the presentations, LaVigna will join Graham on stage for a short Q&A.

Also catch LaVigna as she joins a panel of experts at WTA’s Spring Educational Forum in April, where she will present on “Integrating AI Across Your Organization: Transforming Your Operations.”

Macroeconomic Forces Shaping Rural Broadband

At the WTA Spring Educational Forum on April 14, NCSC Senior Economic Research Analyst Sam Kem will present “Building Through Uncertainty: Macroeconomic Forces Shaping Rural Broadband,” a session focused on how broader economic conditions are influencing decision‑making across the rural broadband sector. 

Drawing on developments in financial markets and the broader economy, Kem will connect today’s macroeconomic environment to the real‑world challenges facing small, rural providers. Her presentation will explore how factors such as interest rates, inflation trends, labor and construction cost volatility, and shifting capital markets affect how broadband projects are evaluated, financed and sustained, while maintaining a focus on delivering affordable, advanced connectivity in rural America. 

The session will also examine potential economic spillover risks tied to ongoing geopolitical tensions, including conflict in the Middle East, and what those risks could mean for infrastructure financing if conditions persist or escalate. 

Heading to one of these events this spring? Catch our presentations to gain practical insight on the forces shaping the industry, and make informed decisions as economic conditions and workforce expectations continue to evolve.