Mark Pearson | Broadband Coordinator
Communities Unlimited

Mark Pearson, Broadband Coordinator, Communities Unlimited

Mark Pearson serves as Broadband Coordinator for Communities Unlimited, a nonprofit community development organization serving across the Southern US (AL, AR, LA, MS, OK, TN, TX).  CU’s Broadband Team helps local communities to understand broadband access and needs, the historic investments underway, and to prepare for deployment, internet adoption and digital literacy opportunities in order to fully realize the local value of these investments.   Prior work for CU includes supporting small, rural community basic water infrastructure funding, project finance with the Texas Water Development Board, as operations/finance director for a local non-profit in Waco, TX, and lecturer in Economics, Baylor University.   BA, MS Economics, Baylor University

Appearances:



Day One Wednesday @ 15:15

Rural Roots, Big Results: How Bastrop County Won $47M for Broadband Connectivity

  • How a volunteer-led task force used data mapping to challenge FCC data and unlock the largest BOOT II grant awarded
  • The human impact behind the data: lessons learned from COVID-19 isolation and underserved residents losing access to critical care
  • Building a complete solution — from securing funding to delivering free bilingual digital literacy classes and devices

Day Two Thursday @ 10:50

Community Broadband: Built With and By Local Leaders

  • How local governments, utilities, and co-ops are structuring deals and partnerships
  • Financing models that put community priorities first
  • How to secure funding and build ownership for projects
last published: 22/Jun/26 13:35 GMT

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