Small Broadband Provider Organizations Partner to Host 2024 CyberShare Summit

Arlington, Va., (October 15, 2024)— CyberShare: The Small Broadband Provider ISAC today announced ACA Connects, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association (NTCA), the Rural Wireless Association (RWA) and WISPA–The Association for Broadband Without Boundaries will co-host the 2024 CyberShare Summit during Cybersecurity Awareness Month. CyberShare has collaborated with industry partners for the past three years to provide a forum to discuss cybersecurity best practices and the latest vulnerabilities facing network operators. The summit, like CyberShare itself, is administered by NTCA and is open to any small facilities-based broadband provider, regardless of association membership or technology used to connect customers.

The CyberShare Summit will take place October 27-29 in Louisville, Ky. The summit will kick off with remarks from software engineering expert and author Marianne Bellotti and Backdoors & Breaches, an incident response tabletop exercise. The program will also include sessions on the cybersecurity regulatory environment, risk management, insider threats and the role of AI in cybersecurity scams.

“The safety and security of networks, data and customer information is a top priority for small broadband providers,” said NTCA General Counsel and Vice President of Policy Jill Canfield. “CyberShare and the CyberShare Summit exist to encourage providers to share threat information and best practices with peers, helping to strengthen the cybersecurity postures of all participants. Each and every one of us brings a unique perspective to the table, which is why we are excited to once again host the CyberShare Summit with our partners from across the broadband industry.”

“Broadband providers are on the frontlines of cyberwarfare, guarding our nation’s networks from bad actors and cybercriminals operating on a global scale,” said ACA Connects President and CEO Grant Spellmeyer. “The CyberShare Summit is the place for smaller providers to unlock the tools and gain the knowledge to keep pace with growing risks, recognize vulnerabilities to their operations, defend against cyberattacks, and take steps to combat future threats. ACA Connects is excited to join with our partners on this conference that serves as an invaluable resource in helping create and maintain a safe, secure, and resilient broadband infrastructure.”

“As cybersecurity threats evolve, so must our capabilities to defend against them,” said NRECA Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Connor. “Electric cooperatives are laser-focused on delivering affordable and reliable power, keeping the grid secure and bringing high-speed broadband to rural America, all of which requires vigilance and collaboration with industry and government partners. The CyberShare Summit is an important forum for sharing best practices and keeping abreast of emerging threats.”

“As the number of cyberthreats grows every day, it is critical that small broadband providers have access to the information and resources necessary to help keep their networks and customers’ information safe,” said NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield said. “NTCA is proud to co-host the CyberShare Summit again this year during Cybersecurity Awareness Month to provide participants with a forum to learn from experts and one another. We will continue working to provide NTCA members with resources to enhance their cybersecurity posture and educate consumers on how to stay safe online.”

“Given the increase in cyber-attacks on small rural broadband networks, it is even more critical to provide RWA members with the resources to combat and better secure their networks,” noted Carri Bennet, general counsel to the Rural Wireless Association. “The CyberShare Summit is a great opportunity to provide resources and further educate our smaller rural wireless members about these threat actors, and RWA is pleased to co-host this important event for the third year in a row.”

“Millions of Americans get their broadband service from small, community-based WISP operators,” said Louis Peraertz, vice president of policy for WISPA – The Association for Broadband Without Boundaries. “These largely rural, under-resourced and Tribal networks need to be as secure as their urban counterparts, so we’re proud to co-host the CyberShare Summit and help our members get the latest cybersecurity know-how to keep their vital lifelines open and impervious to cyber shenanigans and malicious actors.”

For more information about the CyberShare Summit and to register, click here.