Welcome to Cities Connect, where we discuss issues that matter. Recognizing that local leaders bear a responsibility to make broadband permitting processes as efficient as possible, this episode features a panel discussion designed to help you as city officials better understand the differences between federal, state and local permitting processes for broadband providers, along with what you can control at the local level and best practices that cities can be used to streamline permitting processes will be shared. The panel is moderated by Becky Taylor of the GMA staff with panelists representing federal, state and local government, including Amanda Pereira with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Michael Bell with Georgia 811 and James Laplander with the city of Savannah.