Utah Broadband Alliance

Broadband Alliance

May 14, 2025

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C Y B E R T H R E A T I N T E L L I G E N C E

STACKS SOFTWAR

Contains copy write and and trademarked material. Not to be shared without prior consent

SECURITY COVERAGE

Web

Malicious url detection

Mac / Linux / Windows

Malicious compiled binary analysis

STACKS SOFTWARE

Image Analysis

Fake/modified Image analysis

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Doc Analysis

Embedded malware detection

SECURITY COVERAGE

Web

Trained on URL datasets, looking for hosted malware

Mac / Linux / Windows

Trained zero days, n days, ransomware and pentesting tools like metasploit

STACKS SOFTWARE

Image Analysis

Face swapping, face generation, and modification

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Doc Analysis

CVE-2019-7089, CVE-2018-4993, CVE-2017-10951

+ . RCE exploits

Introduction

STACKS SOFTWARE

HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=D0IYMUUCJXK

SIGNAL OVER NOISE

The quality of your reactions/detection's are limited to the quality of your actionable inte ligence. Gold in, gold out. Bad intel creates false positives and in worse case scenarios, false negatives.

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Forensic investigations are not easy, this position requires years of training. Training our tools wi l reduce the time to train a threat analyst and forensic investigator. Removing the amount of data we need to analyze and by removing complexities to make quicker more informed decisions.

STACKS SOFTWARE

Introduction

STACKS SOFTWARE

DEFENDER FP

DEFENDER FP

WORST CASE SCENARIO

STACKS SOFTWARE

PERIMETER DEFENSE

Malicious compiled binaries used in (LFI attacks)

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Malicious remote code accessed via URL (RFI attacks)

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Social engineering via email and social media

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STACKS SOFTWARE

Introduction

Opical fiber

painted

on pavement

Introduction

The Problem:

Burying Fiber

• Unpredictable damage to existing utilities

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• Slow install taking weeks to months

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• Expensive, disruptive, & destructive

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• Unpredictable costs

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• Road closures and delays

The Solution:

FiberTRAX^®

Painted Fiber

onto Paved Surfaces

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• Inlays fiber onto paved surfaces

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• Rapid install at 1,000 feet (305 meters) per hour

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• No damage road and existing utilities

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• Predictable costs

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• Affordable, versatile, and quick

FiberTRAX Transitions

One example of a transition shown Numerous other transitions possible

TRAX

| CROSS-SECTION |

Protective Top Coat^™

Jacket, Kevlar, Steel Armor, & Tube

Overlay

Width: 50 mm

Channel

Width: 8 - 20 mm

Depth: 8 - 20 mm

Payloads

Diameters: 3 - 9 mm

Fiber count 2 - 96+ Microducts Conductors

Optical Fibers

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*FiberTRAX shown

POWDER Platform and Ecosystem

– Quick Update –

Kobus Van der Merwe

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NSF awards:

# 1827940

# 2232463

# 2346555

# 2417934

The POWDER Ecosystem

Center for Innovation in

Wireless, Spectrum and Connected Services*

* Invited to submit a full proposal (due on July 9th 2025)

Kobus Van der Merwe (kobus@cs.utah.edu)

Engineering Research Center (ERC) Solicitation/Proposal

• NSF 24-576
• Cross disciplinary, multi institutional
• 10 year vision (funded 5 + 5 years)
• “Compelling new ideas”, “high societal impact”
• Something that needs an ERC
• Advancing fundamental engineering knowledge
• Has an “engineered system” component
• Proven through proof-of-concept testbeds
• “Advanced wireless” is in listed of-interest topic
• Four components to ERC:
• Convergent Research, Workforce Development, Culture of Inclusion, Innovation Ecosystem

Primary challenge: spectrum scarcity

• Wireless spectrum is a finite resource
• Historically been allocated in a fixed “same-rules-everywhere” manner

Vision

• Highly flexible spectrum use
• Equipment and software that can adapt to such a dynamic environment
• Services and applications that can easily adapt to variable environment

Intersection wireless technology, spectrum sharing and connected services

Leadership Team

* Currently stepped away because of serving in General Counsel Office of President of Navajo Nation

Team and Context

Partner institutions:

• University of Utah (lead), New Mexico Tech (core), North Carolina State University (core), University of Southern California (core), University of Notre Dame, University of Colorado - Boulder, University of Pittsburgh, Blackwater Consulting

Partner testbeds:

• POWDER (UofU), AERPAW (NCSU), PRTC (NMT)

Multidisciplinary:

• Wireless Communications, Spectrum Management, 5G/NextG, Signal Processing, UAV, Connected Vehicles, Connected Services, AI/ML, RF Propagation, Non Terrestrial Networks, Wireless Testbeds, Wireless Security
• Spectrum regulation, Political economy, Self/natural resource governance, Federal Indian Law, Techno-economic Analysis, Economic Development, Optimization & Resource Conflict Resolution

Testbeds

POWDER

AERPAW

PRTC

Intersection wireless networking, spectrum sharing, connected services

Specific example: Passenger Drones

• Connected service
• Operator controlling UAV from ground
• Wireless network
• Need reliable wireless network coverage…
• Network-supported service (NSS) operation
• Network infrastructure to provide
• Spectrum sharing
• Flexible-use spectrum
• Existing mobile network used to provide coverage

Intersection wireless networking, spectrum sharing, connected services: UAS Sandbox

Intersection wireless networking, spectrum sharing, connected services: Rural Sandbox

Innovation Ecosystem: Center Stakeholder Plan

Plan:

• Stakeholder Advisory Boards
• Advise/influence center direction/objectives
• Collaborative partners
• Shape research/workforce development direction
• Sponsored research
• Partner directed projects/prototyping
• Student research fellowships
• Partner directed research
• Workforce recruitment
• Internships/recruiting
• Access to testbeds/labs
• Center professional staff

Key aim over next month/two:

• Establish core partners
• Help us shape what center Innovation Ecosystem might look like
• Questions:
• What should this look like for you/your organization to want to be involved?
• What organizational constraints might get in the way?
• How does that translate to a membership model?

Perhaps:

• Tiered center membership
• Different membership benefits at different tiers
• Collaboration agreements
• Pursuing funding opportunities together
• Joint initiatives
• Workshops, training
• Partner on capstone deployments

1. Who We Are
2. What We Do
3. Market Insights
4. State of Internet in Utah — Value, Speed, Cost
5. Q&A

Agenda

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Proprietary & Confidential

HighSpeedInternet.com

Who We Are & What We Do

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Proprietary & Confidential

People, more than ever, rely on fast, reliable, and affordable internet. HighSpeedInternet.com helps users compare, choose, and switch providers with confidence.

The Smarter Way to Internet

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Proprietary & Confidential

About Us

1,700 Providers in Our Database

HighSpeedInternet.com

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52M Completed Speed Tests

64K Customer Reviews

Proprietary & Confidential

Compare Providers

Products & Services

Troubleshoot Problems

Understand Your Options

Speed Up Your Internet

What We Do

Get the speed you need—download our app or take a quick speed test.

Our experts explain fiber, cable, DSL, and more—so you get the right internet, hassle-free.

Frustrated with your Wi-Fi? Let us help you get back to full speed.

See the best internet providers in your zip code—instantly.

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Proprietary & Confidential

Market Insights

How Consumers Think About Internet in 2025

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Proprietary & Confidential

85%

of Americans consider the internet a utility.

How Consumers Think About Internet in 2025

Market Insights

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54%

of survey respondents didn’t know that internet comparison sites exist.

20%

of people cannot go more than 1 hour without needing internet access.

Proprietary & Confidential

State of Internet in Utah

Connecting Utah to Better Internet

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Proprietary & Confidential

Utah Internet Report

2025

A look at the cost of, speed of, and access to internet across 87 Utah cities.

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Proprietary & Confidential

Utah Compared�to the U.S.

Average

Speed

Average

Cost

Utah Internet Report

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Proprietary & Confidential

Which Cities Get the Most Value?

A Cost and Speed Analysis

Utah Internet Report

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Proprietary & Confidential

Which Cities Get the Fastest Speeds?

Average Download Speeds

Utah Internet Report

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Proprietary & Confidential

Which Cities Pay the Most or Least?

Average Cost per Month

Utah Internet Report

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Proprietary & Confidential

Helpful Tools and Resources

Resources

HighSpeedInternet.com

• Utah Internet Trends Report
• Internet Service Providers in Utah
• Internet Speed Test
• How Much Internet Speed Do You Need?
• Annual Internet Service Provider Review 2025

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Proprietary & Confidential

Q&A

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Proprietary & Confidential

Thank You!

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Proprietary & Confidential

• Amanda Heinritz – Director of Channel Enablement
• Jim Ackerman – Director of Strategic Planning

We are a regional facilities-based Middle Mile Service Provider, who works in partnership with our Member Companies, as well as Channel & Agent Partners, and many others to enable broadband growth through collaboration and last-mile innovation.

Who is Syringa Networks?

What does Syringa Networks do?

• Operate a ubiquitous all-fiber network across Idaho, Utah, and connectivity to the world
• Deliver high-performance business-grade services
• Dark Fiber, Waves, Ethernet (EPL, EVPL), DIA, Voice, etc.
• We serve Public Sector, School Districts, Healthcare, Military, as well as Wholesale/Carrier & Commercial/Enterprise
• We are collocated in strategic Third-Party Collo Data Centers across the country to extend our national and international reach.
• We build fiber to low-density underserved rural areas, like the current NTIA Project we are building for 7 communities in the West Treasure Valley.
• We extend our footprint and capabilities through Brokered Solutions via Agent and Sub-Agent Channels, and partner with local providers.

What are Syringa’s

Technical Capabilities?

• 100G/400G High-Speed Backbone
• Over 2,000 Miles of Owned Fiber
• Over 1,400 Miles of Partner Fiber
• Over 500 Cell Towers served
• ~2,200 On-Net Buildings
• ENNIs with dozens of carrier partners
• IPv4 & IPv6 IP Blocks
• Business-grade Network Reliability & Availability.
• Conduit & Fiber IRUs/Partnerships

Present By : Tamara Valente

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COMPASS AI�SMARTER BROADBAND EXPANSION PLANNING STARTS HERE�Turning Insights Into Opportunities With GIS And AI

COMMON NETWORK EXPANSION CHALLENGES

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Built on the powerful Esri ArcGIS platform, COMPASS AI uses advanced analytics, predictive modeling, and AI-driven automation to turn complex maps into clear, actionable insights.

• Pinpoints High-opportunity Areas For Expansion
• Cuts Costs Through Automation And Improved Accuracy
• Accelerates Deployment With Streamlined Workflows
• Formalizes Strategy And Identifies Potential Funding Paths
• Eliminates Guesswork And Manual Data Crunching

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Real Results with COMPASS AI

Broadband Investment Strategist

ISP Navigating Funding Options for Expansion

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Utility Provider Grant & Bid Strategy Team

Profile:

• Internal Funding Team Generating BEAD Bids To Expand Telecom Offerings Using Power Backbone.

Challenges:

• Gathering And Validating Accurate, Up-to-date Data
• Ensuring Information Integrity Throughout The Process
• Streamlining Operations To Scale Efficiently And Move Faster

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Take A Look At How Our COMPASS AI Toolkit And Data Science Team Have Tackled Real-world Challenges—transforming Complex Project Requests Into Smart, Strategic Outcomes.

Profile:

• Advisors Generating Feasibility Reports For Clients In The Private Equity And Engineering Space.

Challenges:

• Fine-tune The Design To Ensure Optimal Coverage Across All Potential Serviceable Locations
• Identify Cost-saving Opportunities By Analyzing Different Route Options
• Quickly Make What-if Adjustments To Explore Alternate Paths Or Technologies Using Greenfield And Brownfield Network Options

Profile:

• ISP Bidding For BEAD Funding To Expand Their Footprint.

Challenges:

• Internal Resources Have A Lack Of Knowledge To Identify And Design Fiber Networks For Bidding
• Ability To Work With UDOT To Understand Middle Mile Options
• Ability To Create And Understand Actionable Insights To Guide Their Strategic Direction.

Utility Provider Grant & Bid Strategy Team

Challenges:

• Gathering And Validating Accurate, Up-to-date Data
• Ensuring Information Integrity Throughout The Process
• Streamlining Operations To Scale Efficiently And Move Faster

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OVERCOMING THESE CHALLENGES

• SPA Insights
• Subscriber Insights
• High Level Costs / Revenue
• Value Scoring

Pre-Loaded Data, Maps, and Insights

Competitive Analysis

Demographics and Fiber Spine

Broadband Investment Strategist

Challenges:

• Fine-tune The Design To Ensure Optimal Coverage Across All Potential Serviceable Locations
• Identify Cost-saving Opportunities By Analyzing Different Route Options
• Quickly Make What-if Adjustments To Explore Alternate Paths Or Technologies Using Greenfield And Brownfield Network Options

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OVERCOMING THESE CHALLENGES

• Minimum Fiber Network
• Soil Analysis / Build Complexity
• High Cost Areas

Soil Analysis

Tuning and High Cost Area Analysis

Greenfield vs Brownfield

ISP Navigating Funding Options for Expansion

Challenges:

• Internal Resources Have A Lack Of Knowledge To Identify And Design Fiber Networks For Bidding
• Ability To Work With UDOT To Understand Middle Mile Options
• Ability To Create And Understand Actionable Insights To Guide Their Strategic Direction.

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OVERCOMING THESE CHALLENGES

• Pro Forma
• Fiber Project Costing
• Cap Ex / Op Ex
• Custom Cost Factors

Pro-Forma with Cost Projections

Custom Cost Factors

Real Results with COMPASS AI

Broadband Investment Strategist

ISP Navigating Funding Options for Expansion

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Utility Provider Grant & Bid Strategy Team

COMPASS AI:

• Combined Network, Financial, And Regulatory Data To Deliver Critical Insights—covering Competitiveness, Costs, Fiber Backbone, And Overall Financial Outlook.
• Enabled The Team To Stay Focused On Strategic Planning By Eliminating The Burden Of Data Wrangling And Interpretation.

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How Did COMPASS AI Help Overcome Their Challenges?

COMPASS AI:

• Integrated Customer Network And Brownfield Data Into The Analysis.
• Our Data Science Team Delivered KMZ/KML And Other Output Files For Seamless Use.
• Offered Flexible What-if Scenarios To Support Predictive Modeling And Customer Insights.

COMPASS AI:

• Delivered Strategic Bid Recommendations That Identified Costly Or Low-value Locations, Helping Reduce Unnecessary Spend.
• Enhanced Planning With Real-time, Location-based Intelligence.
• Supplied Customized Pro-forma Financials Using Client-specific Parameters To Shape Targeted Outcomes.

Thank you!

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Want to find out more about how COMPASS AI can help you succeed with your Network Expansion projects?

CommSoft

www.commsoft.net

Utah Broadband Access Grant Update

Broadband Alliance

May 14 2025

Presented by: Lindsey Thurgood

May 14, 2025

Digital Access Update�

Broadband Alliance

May 2025

BIG BEAD & Broadband Updates

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Broadband Alliance

May 14 2025

Early Data from Round 1 (still in curing process)

Included here:

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• Minimum 25% match
• BEAD outlay under $100k
• Removed duplicates and incorrect submissions

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*For competitive UPFAs, average request was used

UBC Resource Directory

Eligible Participants:

● Internet service providers and telecommunications carriers

● Local and regional governments

● Tribal governments

● State agencies

● Nonprofits

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Submit to UBC before June 30, 2025 - sooner preferred

Submit to FCC if still showing on latest map version before June 30 2025

https://business.utah.gov/broadband/grants/ [BEAD Eligible Locations]

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Non-BEAD Locations Submissions

1. Utah Broadband Center moving July 1 to UDOT
1. Taylorsville State Offices

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• Website changing to: Connecting.utah.gov
• broadband.utah.gov

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• BEAD Updates with NTIA
• Washington DC/Republican Gov’s/ & Western Gov’s
• Letter from Gov Cox to US Commerce Sec Lutnick
• Policy change June/July

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• Digital Equity Act (DEA) Updates

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Visit: broadband.utah.gov

Use: UBC Resource Directory

Email: connectingutah@utah.gov

Monthly: Connecting Utah virtual call, Third Wednesday @ noon

Quarterly - Utah Broadband Alliance (hybrid, August 20)

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THANK YOU