AGENDA

STAY RELEVANT – AND AHEAD IN A CHANGING MARKET

September 21, 3:00pm – September 23, 12:00 PM
Omni Hotel – Downtown Austin, Texas

Competition is increasing and pricing pressure is real. National providers, wireless carriers, and satellite are reshaping the market – but local, member-owned providers still have the advantage.

STAR 2026 is focused on turning that advantage into action – helping you stay ahead, better serve your members, and grow through new services, smarter strategies, and evolving capabilities.

Featuring Technology Leaders
Connect with leading technology partners including Calix, Voyant Solutions, HP Poly, Tarana Wireless, and many more – showcasing the latest solutions and innovations shaping the future of broadband.

Agenda

MONDAY (Opening Night)
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM	Registration Opens
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM	Turn It Up: Demo Lab & Welcome Reception Kick off STAR 2026 with an evening of connection, conversation, and discovery. Enjoy food and drinks while exploring partner solutions and engaging with peers in a relaxed, hands-on environment.
TUESDAY (Day 1)	General Session:
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM	Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM	Opening Session: Welcome Derrick Mottern, President, CSSA Roger Perlsen, VP of Operations and Business Development, CSSA
9:00AM - 10:00 AM	Keynote Session – Coming Soon
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM	Partner Spotlight: Soundcheck Sessions Quick. Focused. Informational. A fast-paced look at partner solutions, updates, and ideas - designed for easy discovery between sessions.
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM	Vesper Connect: Launch-Ready Communications Platform
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM	Midday Mix: Demo Lab and Lunch An interactive deep dive. Explore partner solutions in a live environment, test capabilities, and engage directly with experts.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM	Track 1 How Cooperatives Win: Competing against national and emerging competitors.	Track 2 AI for ISPs: Practical use cases for efficiency and growth.
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM	Soundcheck: Partner Demo Lab A quick, focused opportunity to explore partner solutions, ask questions, and discover what you may have missed earlier in the day.
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM	Track 1 Beyond Broadband: New revenue and deeper member value.	Track 2 Cybersecurity: Simplifying Security and Compliance.
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM	Modern Voice Strategy: From Legacy Decline to New Opportunity.	Retention in a Competitive Market: What drives member loyalty today.
6:00 PM	Meet in the Lobby
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM	Evening Event at Punch Bowl Social Austin Kick back with food, drinks, bowling, and karaoke in a lively, social setting – and connect with fellow members, partners, and the CSSA team to keep the conversations going. See more information below.
WEDNESDAY (Day 2)	General Session:
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM	Networking Breakfast
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM	Track 1 Fiber vs Fixed Wireless vs Starlink: Positioning your network to win.	Track 2 Simplifying Product Strategy: Fewer plans, stronger positioning.
8:45 AM - 9:30 AM	Winning the Business Market: Connectivity, Voice, and Managed Services.	Lean Teams, Big Impact: Operating for optimal efficiently.
9:30 AM - 10:15 AM	Preparing for Multi-Gig Demand: Balancing investment, demand and timing.	Partnering for Growth: Leveraging the right technology to expand capabilities.
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM	Last Call: Partner Demo Lab Wrap Up Your last chance to connect with partners, revisit key solutions, and get final questions answered before the conference concludes.
10:45 AM - 11:30 PM	Final Set: Closing Session / Prize Drawings

More Details Coming Soon

Additional speakers and experiences will be announced in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

Join Us for an Evening at Punch Bowl Social

September 22 | 6:30–8:30 PM

Join fellow STAR attendees for a lively night at Punch Bowl Social in downtown Austin, featuring great food, drinks, bowling, karaoke, and games in a fun, laid back atmosphere – perfect for relaxing, connecting, and keeping the conversations going.