Chip Spann joined the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in August 2022 as the federal program officer (FPO) for the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the state of West Virginia. In this role, Chip coordinates partnerships and outreach with the state and local governments, community groups, and other entities with a vested interest on NTIA’s high-speed internet grant programs and policy issues. Prior to joining NTIA, Chip served as the Vice President of Engineering and Technical Services for Connected Nation where he directed outside plant audits of broadband networks in Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas (and other states). In the past 40 years, Chip has worked in the cable television, cellular telephone, fixed and mobile wireless, non-profit, and rural electric cooperative sectors. He has worked directly with broadband providers in 19 states and Puerto Rico as part of broadband mapping projects, provided broadband grant review assistance to the states of Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, and Tennessee (and other states), and facilitated Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant programs with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). Chip also managed mobile drive testing projects from Alaska to the Northern Mariana Islands for the Mobility Fund Phase I and Tribal Mobility Fund Phase I under the guidance of the Universal Service Administrative Company.