Spokane, Washington · September 29, 2026 · Free to Attend
Regional Open Access Day 2026: Public Broadband Edition
Keep It Local, Keep It Here.
Registration is closed. Really want to come? Email Maren at maren.buchmuller@cossystems.com and we’ll try to help.
What Open Access Day Looks Like
Peer conversations, direct panel formats, and a community that keeps the night going. Ninety seconds from Open Access Day 2026, and what is coming to Spokane Valley.
The Premier Event for Public Broadband Open Access
Open Access is growing in North America at a scale we haven’t seen before. It started here, with municipalities and utilities in Washington State.
Open Access Day: The Public Broadband Edition brings operators and ISPs together in the place where it all began. One day, one track, open to everyone.
The program focuses on what’s most relevant for public broadband:
- How does Open Access actually work outside major cities?
- What makes a network attractive for ISPs to onboard and stay?
- What do the operators who’ve been running these networks have to teach each other?
This is where the people building connected communities compare notes, and where broadband future gets shaped.
The Day at a Glance
September 29 · Spokane, WA · Free to attend
12:00 – 12:45
Welcome Lunch & Networking
Doors open at noon at Broadlinc. Light lunch and the first opportunity of the day to connect with operators, ISPs, vendors, and policy stakeholders before the formal program begins.
12:45 – 13:15
Keynote
A Vision for Open Access Outside Large Cities
What does Open Access look like when your service territory is a county, not a metro? The opening keynote covers the case for standardization in community Open Access networks: why common ISP onboarding frameworks matter, what closer collaboration between networks makes possible, and how the WA community is positioned to lead.
Speaker: Ariane Schmidt, Executive Director, Broadlinc
13:15 – 13:30
Coffee Break
13:30 – 15:00
Panel I
What Makes an Open Access Network Successful?
An operator-focused discussion on the functional pillars of a successful community Open Access network: BSS/OSS capabilities for multi-provider operations; ISP APIs and whether a marketplace model fits; customer self-service options; demand aggregation and when to start; who owns marketing and sales on a shared network; and whether auto-provisioning is necessary or optional.
Panelists: Jeff Erwin, Chief Operating Officer at UTOPIA Fiber · Drew Pappas, Bonfire Infrastructure Group · Claire Ward, Telecom Strategic Business Manager at Kitsap PUD · Kevin McKee, Telecommunications Engineer at Grant PUD · Shaye Ruitenbeek, Fiber Administrative Services Manager at Lehi City
Moderator: Keith Ponton, Broadband Delivery Director at Arcadis
15:00 – 15:30
Coffee & Beer Break
Grab a coffee or a cold beer. Sponsors and technology partners are in the room. Use the time to network and to get into specifics.
15:30 – 17:00
Panel II
The ISP Perspective: Getting On, Staying On
Locally established and external providers on what makes it easy or hard to operate on a community Open Access network: layer 2 vs. layer 3, IP management and troubleshooting access, billing integration, the greenfield vs. brownfield experience, and what level of operator involvement ISPs actually want in service delivery.
Panelists: Aaron Hildreth, Founding Member at Intellipop · David Burr, Founder and President at SumoFiber · David Child, Director of Market Development at Anthem Broadband · More panelists to be announced
Moderator: Ashley Poling, VP Business Development at COS Systems
17:10 – 18:50
Mingle & Speed Dating
Structured one-to-one meetings between network operators, ISPs, and key industry vendors. Participants tell us what they’re looking for; we build each personal meeting schedule and send it by email about a week before the event. Limited walk-up slots are available on site.
19:00 – Late
Open Access Bar
The unofficial evening hub for the Open Access community. The formal program is over; the conversations are not. Cornhole tournament. Free beer and non-alcoholic drinks. Music. The kind of conversations that actually matter. Who’s ever said no to any of that?
This is what the hype is about, and what will make the soccer World Cup fade: the Open Access Cornhole Championship.
Location: The Scalehouse Market
Who Is in the Room
Twenty-six organisations are confirmed for 29 September in Spokane Valley: network owners, internet service providers, technology vendors and engineering firms. Each one is listed here with its permission.
Network owners and operators
7 organisations
- Bonfire Infrastructure Group
- Broadlinc
- Kitsap PUD
- NoaNet
- Northern Wasco PUD
- Port of Whitman County
- UTOPIA Fiber
Internet service providers
8 organisations
- 509Fiber
- Anthem Broadband
- ClearBeam Networks
- GigSpeed
- Intellipop
- KnightCom
- SumoFiber
- Swell Internet
- SumoFiber
Technology vendors
6 organisations
- Calix
- Clad Inc.
- Nokia
- Utilities One
- VETRO
- WBE Technologies
Engineering and consulting
4 organisations
- Arcadis
- Coregroup
- ReadiTech Engineering
- RuCon Consulting and Engineering
Content and video partnerships
1 organisation
- DIRECTV
Organisations are named only where they opted in, so this is not the full attendee list.
From the Community
Highlights from the Open Access Day community.
Event Sponsors
Thank you to the organisations supporting Open Access Day: The Public Broadband Edition.
Open Access Elite Partner
Elite Partner
Elite Partner & HostOpen Access Day Partner
Day Partner
Day PartnerAdd-On Sponsors
Lunch Sponsor
Cornhole SponsorWatch Highlights & Insights
Panel highlights and key takeaways from Open Access Day 2026 in Kissimmee, Florida.
Open Access Day 2026 – Highlights
Keynote & Fireside – Highlights OAD 2026
Panel I – Highlights OAD 2026
Panel II – Highlights OAD 2026
Panel III – Highlights OAD 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Open Access Day: The Public Broadband Edition free to attend?
Yes. Attendance is free. Registration closed on 15 September 2026. If you still want to attend, email Maren Buchmüller at maren.buchmuller@cossystems.com and we will try to help.
Can I still register for Regional Open Access Day 2026?
No. Registration closed on 15 September 2026. If you still want to attend, email Maren Buchmüller at maren.buchmuller@cossystems.com and we will try to help. Regional Open Access Day returns in 2027.
Where is the event?
The event takes place September 29, 2026 in Spokane, Washington at Broadlinc’s offices.
Do I need to be based in Washington state to attend?
No. The event takes place in Spokane and draws on the WA Open Access community, but everyone interested in public broadband is welcome — regardless of where they’re based.
Who organizes Open Access Day: The Public Broadband Edition?
Open Access Day: The Public Broadband Edition is organized by COS Systems, a provider of BSS/OSS software for Open Access network operators, wholesale carriers, and retail ISPs in North America and Europe.
What topics does the program cover?
The keynote covers standardization and ISP onboarding in community Open Access networks. Panel I addresses the operational pillars of a successful community Open Access network: BSS/OSS, ISP APIs, marketplace models, demand aggregation, auto-provisioning, and marketing and sales responsibilities. Panel II is an ISP-perspective panel covering what makes it easy or hard to get onto and operate on a community Open Access network — including layer 2 vs. layer 3, billing integration, and the greenfield vs. brownfield experience.
What is the speed dating session?
The speed dating session runs 17:10 to 18:50, after the panels. It consists of structured one-to-one meetings between network operators, ISPs, and vendors. Attendees state what they are looking for at registration. In mid-September, everyone who opted in receives the confirmed attendee list and submits their picks. COS Systems builds the schedule, booking mutual requests first, and each attendee receives a personal meeting card by email about a week before the event. A limited number of walk-up slots are available on site.
Can I sponsor the event?
Yes. Sponsorship opportunities are available for technology vendors, equipment manufacturers, and OSS/BSS providers serving the community broadband market. See the sponsorship opportunities page for details.
What time does the event start and end?
The formal program runs 12:00 to 17:00. Mingle and speed dating run 17:10 to 18:50. The Open Access Bar begins at 19:00.
Registration Is Closed
Open Access Day: The Public Broadband Edition — Spokane, Washington, September 29, 2026.
Registration closed on 15 September. Really want to come? Email Maren Buchmüller at maren.buchmuller@cossystems.com and we’ll try to help. Regional Open Access Day returns in 2027. Organized by COS Systems.
Questions? Contact Maren Buchmüller
