BABL AI, a leader in responsible AI governance and auditing, will be featured at the NTCA AI Summit on Friday, January 30, 2026, where its Vice President of Sales, Bryan Ilg, will join a panel of experts to help rural broadband providers navigate AI adoption with confidence and compliance.
Hosted by NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, the virtual half-day event is the first of its kind to focus solely on the operational, technical, and ethical implications of AI for small and mid-sized broadband providers. The summit will explore real-world use cases and deliver practical solutions across customer service, business operations, content creation, and network infrastructure.
Ilg will speak on the panel “AI Governance for Community Broadband Providers,” moderated by Michael Vallejo, NTCA’s Chief Information Officer. The session will focus on building governance capacity in lean organizations, understanding regulatory risks, and managing vendor AI tools in the face of rising shadow AI concerns. Fellow panelist Justin Mescher, VP of Strategy Management at ePlus, will bring additional industry perspective.
AI governance is the next critical compliance activity for companies to prioritize,” said Bryan Ilg, VP of Sales at BABL AI.
“It’s challenging for leaders to understand how to manage AI systems if they haven’t been focused on it, which is causing companies to slow down adoption. The good news is there are structured frameworks that allow any sized organization to adopt the technology responsibly, unlocking innovation. I’m thrilled to bring BABL AI’s research on the topic to rural broadband providers and other SMBs—it’s important that all levels of business understand the mechanics of AI management system frameworks to unlock the benefits of innovation and growth with AI.”
BABL AI’s participation reflects its continued mission to demystify AI risk and make scalable governance systems accessible to organizations of all sizes. The company offers education, assurance, and audit services tailored to the unique challenges facing public and private sector clients as AI rapidly evolves.
The NTCA AI Summit is open to rural broadband professionals nationwide and will include live Q&A, peer-led case studies, and sessions on AI’s potential to transform healthcare, education, and agriculture in rural communities.
For more details and registration, visit:
🔗 https://www.ntca.org/learn/events/ai-summit
About BABL AI:
Since 2018, BABL AI has been auditing and certifying AI systems, consulting on responsible AI best practices and offering online education on related topics. BABL AI’s overall mission is to ensure that all algorithms are developed, deployed, and governed in ways that prioritize human flourishing.
About NTCA:
NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is building a better broadband future for rural America. Proudly representing about 850 independent, family-owned and community-based telecommunications companies, NTCA helps members build and deliver broadband connectivity and operate essential services in rural and small-town communities across the U.S.
