Elizabeth Bowles Joins Industry Leaders to Help Expand Broadband Access at WISPAPALOOZA 2026
Aristotle CEO Elizabeth Bowles participated in WISPAPALOOZA 2026, the annual conference for Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs), held November 2–5 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Bowles participated in two sessions addressing important issues facing internet providers, including expanding broadband access, navigating federal funding programs, and helping providers compete and grow as the industry evolves.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Getting Infrastructure Where It's Needed: Permitting and Regulations in the Age of BEAD
As states move forward with the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, getting broadband networks built quickly and efficiently remains more important than ever. This roundtable brought together state broadband officials, internet providers, and policymakers to discuss ways to reduce red tape, lower construction costs, and overcome obstacles that can slow broadband expansion.
Panelists:
- Claude Aiken – Nextlink Internet
- Chad Bolling – Wyoming Business Council
- Rachel Hack Merlo – GFiber
- Elizabeth Bowles – Aristotle Unified Communications
As states move forward with the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, addressing permitting challenges and other regulatory barriers will be increasingly important to getting broadband infrastructure built and connecting underserved communities.
Elizabeth's participation reflects her continued leadership and advocacy for policies that support broadband expansion and help ensure rural and underserved communities have access to reliable, high-speed internet.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5
Thriving Without Subsidies: Strategy After the BEAD Wave
With federal funding helping expand broadband networks, internet providers face new challenges and opportunities, including those who did not receive BEAD funding. This session explored strategies for competing and growing in changing markets, including choosing the right communities to serve, managing costs, building partnerships, and finding ways to stand out through better service.
Panelists:
- Fred Campbell – Wireless 20/20
- Matt Larsen – Vistabeam
- Elizabeth Bowles – Aristotle Unified Communications
About the Event
About Elizabeth Bowles
A passionate advocate for the expansion of affordable broadband services in rural and underserved areas, Elizabeth has testified before Congress and the FCC and is currently serving as Chair of the FCC’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee, which is an independent advisory body tasked with making policy recommendations for eliminating the digital divide. A past President of the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA), Elizabeth currently serves on WISPA’s Policy Committee and is its Arkansas State Coordinator.
Elizabeth is licensed to practice law in Washington, D.C. and Arkansas, as well as before the Supreme Court of the United States and a number of U.S. Courts of Appeals. Prior to joining Aristotle’s leadership team in 2000, Elizabeth was an attorney with the Washington, D.C. law firm of Arnold & Porter, where she practiced in the fields of intellectual property and commercial litigation with an emphasis on international and technology law.
Elizabeth graduated summa cum laude from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a B.A. in International Studies and obtained her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1993, where she graduated first in her class, Order of the Coif, and was awarded the Founder’s Medal. Elizabeth also received the top score on the 1993 bar exam.
Elizabeth has served on numerous boards and committees, including the Arkansas State Bank Board, Better Business Bureau of Arkansas (past President), Rotary Club 99 (Communications Chair), Central Arkansas Executives Association, City Year Little Rock/North Little Rock (Founding Board Member), YPO Chapter Chair and Regional Education Chair, Arkansas’ Quality Digital Learning Study Committee, the Arkansas Broadband Council, and Arkansas’ FASTER committee.