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[Tech glitch zapped the last 25 min. We're going to have a do-over and record that part again.]\n\nThere\u2019s a lot going on in\xa0broadband in Oregon. Communities such as Sandy are upgrading their\xa0infrastructure significantly, or planning their initial networks. Co-op\xa0are\xa0energized and several of them are planning to launch broadband initiatives. The rural telephone companies are providing creative solutions that are getting communities connected.\n\nJoseph Franell, General Manager and CEO of Eastern Oregon Telecom, discusses some of the opportunities and the challenges that communities face here in the state. Gigabit Nation is broadcasting live from the Oregon Connections Telecommunications Conference, which draws statewide attendees to share ideas, experiences and knowledge about telecommunications.\n\nFranell and Gigabit Nation host Craig Settles highlight:\nsome of the challenges with bridging the broadband divide in education;addressing the urban/rural divide;what is the "right" model to deploy gigabit networks in rural markets;how has the USF/ICC reform impacted rural carriers and how are they moving forward;what are\xa0the pluses and minuses of the Google Fiber model.\nSandy, OR\u2019s move\xa0to gigabit broadband is one of the many case stories in Settles\u2019 new book, Building the Gigabit City, Vol. 2.