INCOMPAS News -- September 21, 2026

Vol. 22, No. 38

September 21, 2026

David Grain Announced as Keynote for The 2026 INCOMPAS Show

INCOMPAS today announced that David Grain, founder and CEO of Grain Management, will deliver a keynote address at The 2026 INCOMPAS Show, taking place November 1-3 at the Omni Nashville Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.

Grain, a nationally recognized leader in communications infrastructure investment, brings decades of experience scaling networks and directing capital across towers, fiber, and next‑generation platforms. His keynote on Monday, November 2, will anchor this year’s program with a strategic, investor‑driven view of where digital infrastructure is heading and what forces are reshaping the ecosystem.

“David Grain brings a uniquely authoritative perspective on where digital infrastructure is headed,” said INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering. “With decades of experience scaling major communications networks and directing capital across towers, fiber and next-generation platforms, he understands the forces reshaping our industry. From growing connectivity demand to long-term trends defining the industry’s future, his keynote will offer attendees a strategic view of where momentum is building and the opportunities that matter most for builders, operators and investors. We are honored to welcome David to the INCOMPAS Show stage for the first time and know our audience will benefit greatly from his perspective.”

Prior to founding Grain Management in 2007, Grain led Pinnacle Towers (later renamed Global Signal), transforming it into one of the largest independent wireless communication tower companies in the world. He previously served as senior vice president of AT&T Broadband’s New England Region and was an executive director in the High Yield Finance Department at Morgan Stanley. He is an independent director of Dell Technologies, director of New Fortress Energy and member of the Southern Company’s Board of Directors.

Grain’s session joins a robust lineup panel discussions, policy and marketing workshops, and presentations designed to help industry leaders navigate rapid change and position their organizations for growth.

Join us in Nashville and gain the strategic clarity you need to navigate what's coming next. Lock in your registration today.

Learn the Path to IP Modernization During September 30 TNS Webinar

For communications service providers (CSPs), the sunset of legacy switching isn't just a maintenance headache – it's a forcing function. The networks built to support decades of TDM traffic are reaching a natural limit, and the CSPs that treat that limit as an opportunity, rather than a deadline, are the ones positioning themselves for long-term success.

Join us for the webinar Rethinking the Network: A CSP's Practical Path to IP Modernization as Kyle Trullinger, product manager for Voice Services, Communications Market at TNS, breaks down what a well-planned IP transition actually looks like on the ground, including:

How to sequence the move away from aging, multi-vendor infrastructure without interrupting service
What carrier-grade security, high availability and dedicated resources should mean in practice when evaluating cloud-based architecture
How freed-up technical staff can be redirected toward the services customers are asking for, such as advanced voice, unified communications and cloud-based collaboration.

You'll also hear about the often-overlooked aspects of modernization, including maintaining trusted communications throughout the transition, addressing evolving regulatory requirements and building a flexible network foundation that simplifies operations, improves agility and supports long-term service innovation.

Leave with a practical framework for planning your own transition from TDM to IP, assessing priorities and managing risk.

Wednesday, September 30 | 1 p.m. ET

Advanced registration required.

Can't attend?

House Passes Ratepayer Protection Act

The House of Representatives passed the Ratepayer Protection Act in a 417-3 vote. The bill requires states to “consider” adopting a set of standards for loads larger than 100 MW, and is designed to prevent data centers and other large computational loads from shifting their grid and power generation costs onto existing customers. Because of the Senate’s compressed pre-midterm election calendar, the bill is unlikely to pass the Senate before they recess.

Senate Agriculture Committee Passes Farm Bill

The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry passed the Agricultural Act of 2026 (farm bill 2.0). Among other things, the bill:

Consolidates existing USDA broadband programs under a codified ReConnect program; provides an authorization of appropriations in the amount of $100 million each year through 2031
Streamlines the application process
Directs broadband funding to communities where 90% or more of residents lack access to speed of 25/3 Mbps services
Requires a minimum build-to-speed of at least 100/20 Mbps for new projects
Improves coordination with federal agencies and states to eliminate overbuilding.
Increases Community Connect Grant Program build-to-speed to 100/20 Mbps and directs funding toward areas where broadband service capacity is less than 25/3 Mbps
Extends funding through 2031 for middle mile infrastructure
Establishes a program to expand connectivity on farm and ranchland, supporting precision agriculture adoption

Reps. Peters, Evans Introduce Transmission Infrastructure Bill

Reps. Scott Peters (D-CA) and Gabe Evans (R-CO) introduced the bipartisan CLEAR Act, which would provide greater certainty around judicial review for certain DOE-coordinated transmission projects by clarifying the applicable Federal Power Act review framework. For members, the most important piece is that the bill focuses on the transmission infrastructure needed to deliver power to new data centers and AI facilities, and it’s an indication that there is bipartisan interest in narrower transmission and permitting reforms even as a broader package remains unresolved.

Rep. Pallone Bill Seeks Expansion of Secure Networks Act

Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) introduced a bill on Sept. 16, 2026, which would expand the coverage of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 and streamline its processes. Text of the bill is not yet available.

House Commerce Advances Broadband and Robocall Bills

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a markup of 16 bills, which were advanced to the full House for consideration. The bills include:

H.R. 2805, which would direct NTIA to develop a national strategy to close the digital divide
H.R. 4950, which would direct the FCC to incorporate into the National Broadband Map a layer that presents data on the location of agricultural areas
H.R. 6152, which would establish a taskforce on unlawful robocalls

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