It's A Wrap - 2018 IAMU Broadband Conference

The 8th annual IAMU Broadband Conference is in the books. 
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Over 140 people (attendees and vendor representatives) enjoyed two days of learning and networking at the Holiday Inn and Suites in Urbandale. 

Eric Lampland of Lookout Point Communications explains 5G wireless technology, with co-presenter Christopher Mitchell (seated)

A "meeting of the muni minds" during a break at the conference.

Presenting Sponsor Power & Tel was a hub of activity during the Vendor Show on March 22nd

38 vendors participated in the Vendor Show.

Broadband Vanguard Awards

 IAMU honored two individuals and one organization for outstanding support and service to municipal broadband during the inaugural Broadband Vanguard Awards held on Thursday, March 22, 2018. IAMU Executive Director Troy DeJoode presented each of the winners with a certificate during the awards ceremony.

Former City of Hawarden manager Bob Borchers was recognized for "blazing the trail" for municipal utilities to be able to becoming telephone providers. Under Borchers' leadership, Hawarden became one of the first municipal telecom utilities in Iowa. Then, when the Iowa Supreme Court threatened to block Hawarden's telephone rollout, he and his council (with the help of Ivan Webber, below) decided to fight the Court's decision and won.

Ivan Webber, who recently retired from the Ahlers Law Group in Des Moines, was instrumental in leading legal efforts to help Hawarden battle the Iowa Supreme Court for permission to be a phone company, for helping defend Spencer Municipal Utilities when it was taken to court to try to block its entry into telecommunications, and for general support and advice to all Iowa municipalities.

Cedar Falls Utilities, represented by Rob Houlihan, was recognized as being a "big brother" to Iowa's municipal broadband community. CFU's leadership by example and support for other communities has helped almost every Iowa municipal broadband company's efforts. That leadership continues today as CFU has opened its IPTV cable headend to co-ownership to Waverly Utilities, the City of Bellevue, and Indianola Municipal Utilities.