Spokane, Washington · September 29, 2026 · Free to Attend
Keep It Local, Keep It Here.
The first 50 registrants receive a gift. #OpenAccessDay2026
What Open Access Day Looks Like
Peer conversations, direct panel formats, and a community that keeps the night going. Highlights from Open Access Day 2026.
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: To be announced
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: To be announced
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: To be announced
17:10 – 18:50
Mingle & Speed Dating
Structured one-to-one sessions between Open Access network operators and ISPs and key industry vendors. Register your available time slots on the event page — the other party accepts or declines.
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 Should Attend
This is where the people building connected communities compare notes — wherever you’re from, whoever you serve.
PUDs & Municipal Networks
ISPs — Established & New Entrants
Local Government & Policy
Technology & Equipment Partners
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
Open Access Day Partner
Add-On Sponsors
Interested in sponsoring? View sponsorship opportunities.
Watch 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. The first 50 registrants receive a gift. Space is limited, so register early.
Where is the event?
The event takes place September 29, 2026 in Spokane, Washington at Broadlincs 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?
After the panels, the program moves into structured one-to-one sessions between Open Access network operators and ISPs. Attendees register available time slots on the event page — the other party accepts or declines. Time slots with sponsors are also available. It is the operational matchmaking the earlier panels set up.
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.
Attendance Is Free.
Space Is Limited.
Open Access Day: The Public Broadband Edition — Spokane, Washington, September 29, 2026.
The first 50 registrants receive a gift. Organized by COS Systems.
Questions? Contact Adam Puckett
