Letter from the New Chairman of the Board
The Evolution of Utility Broadband Deployment and the Role of UBBA in the Industry
The Utility Broadband Alliance (UBBA) has been enormously successful under the leadership of my predecessor Ali Mohammed, our Executive Director Bobbi Harris, and my wonderful fellow officers and Board-members. UBBA has served as a forum through which utilities have come to understand: the need for broadband, the options for broadband, and key information with respect to making a decision to move forward. And UBBA must continue to serve this function.
But as the industry evolves, so must UBBA. More and more, utilities have announced planned deployments of private broadband networks. They recognize not only the economic drivers, but moreover the cyber security imperative of moving in this direction. For its part, UBBA must evolve to become a resource to address new issues that are tied to ongoing deployment and post-deployment, e.g., AMI, Device Certification, Roaming, etc. As the new chairman, my commitment is twofold: to honor the legacy of the UBBA’s past leadership while charting a course for the future. The aim is to expand the alliance's impact and underscore the importance of private broadband networks in securing critical infrastructure.
Private broadband networks are no longer just an economic convenience, but a necessity for ensuring the resilience, efficiency, and security of modern utility operations. The role of broadband in critical utility infrastructure cannot be overstated. UBBA functions as a collaborative hub where industry leaders, technology innovators, and policy makers converge to shape the future of utility communications. The organization's focus on the advocacy, education, and adoption of wireless broadband solutions positions it to be at the forefront of an operational transformation that is both inevitable and essential.
Regards,
Michael
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