Deep in the heart of Texas, a who’s-who of state and local broadband leaders will take center stage at Connected America in Irving on April 14-15, the event’s organizers announced. The Irving Convention Center will host the gathering, which is expected to feature a broad array of Texas-based insights into digital infrastructure and workforce development.
Key Texas figures on the speaker list include Bryan Clayton, head of the Texas Broadband Development Office, alongside representatives from the City of Fort Worth, the Deep East Texas Council of Governments, the City of Irving, Seguin, and Lewisville. Fort Worth will be represented by two prominent voices on the program: Lillian Painter, the city’s broadband manager, and Kevin Gunn, the chief technology officer.
Austin will also be in attendance, with Steven Apodaca, chair of the city’s technology commission, slated to join a Day 2 panel on Building digital skills for the AI-driven economy. Additional Texas-based speakers come from North Texas Fiber (Bobby Vassallo), Nextlink Internet (Cameron Kilton), and NOVOS FiBER (Rob Johnson), underscoring a robust local presence on the agenda.
On Day 2, panel discussions will explore how Texas cities are leveraging smart infrastructure to improve transportation, energy, and safety, while also examining how mid-sized communities can replicate larger-city innovations in a cost-effective way. The Texas Quantum Initiative and the Texas Quantum Corridor will be highlighted by Rashmi Varma, a managing partner at VAJR Capital, who will present on the quantum technology landscape in the state.
Attendees can review the complete Connected America 2026 agenda online and view a full list of key speakers. The event is also an opportunity for attendees to subscribe to Broadband Communities’ newsletter to receive updates and resources related to Texas broadband leadership and digital-economy initiatives.
