Jeff Jones

Jeff is a Senior Consultant at Sand Cherry Associates with over 20 years of experience in broadband network infrastructure planning, engineering, construction, operations, technical evaluation, and product management.  Jeff is an integral part of our firm's ongoing success in the design and delivery of strategic infrastructure customer-centric initiatives.

Jeff has led many large-scale infrastructure programs within the telecommunications sector, bringing broadband and associated value-added services to market over fiber, wireless, and copper-based technologies.  The respective programs focused on defining and implementing high speed broadband services incorporating market planning, business case and budget development, permitting, easements, infrastructure deployment and construction, and vendor management.  Most recently, Jeff co-developed and implemented multiple state broadband infrastructure program plans administering grant funds to enable high speed internet access, middle mile and Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) solution to unserved areas.  Jeff also served as the broadband technology, engineering, and construction subject matter expert while assisting with the federal Captial Project fund and Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program's planning and implementation, including regulatory and permitting requirements at the state level.  

Prior to Sand Cherry Associates, Jeff was the Director of Small Business and consumer Product Management at Lumen Technologies having responsibility for the broadband infrastructure services and voices services portfolios.  Jeff also led the company's multi-year, multi-billion-dollar Connect America fund Phase II (CAFII) program to achieve the federal broadband deployment requirements across a 33-state footprint.

• Large Scale Program and Product Management: Company lead for a multi-billion-dollar broadband and voice services portfolio encompassing profit and loss, revenue and unit forecasting, lifecycle management, product definition, business case development and revenue attainment responsibilities.  Developed new products and revenue streams and completed business process re-engineering to reduce operational costs through new technology selection.
• Rural Broadband Enablement: Co-developed and implemented multiple state broadband plans enabling broadband, middle mile and Internet Exchange Point (IXP) to primarily rural unserved areas.  Led the multi-year-multi-billion-dollar capex intensive Connect America Fund Phase II (CAFII) program for a service provider to enable higher speed broadband in rural geographies.  Developed and measured program key performance indicators while leading a core team to achieve functional discipline objectives across planning, engineering, construction, regulatory, strategy, finance and reporting organizations.  Ensured functional stakeholders completed operational objectives while regularly informing senior executives of program status, key deliverables, program risks and next actions.
• Process Development: Directed numerous process developments and re-engineering efforts focused on creating or improving order flows, repair functions and installation procedures to remove inefficiencies, improve customer experience and reduce overall portfolio costs.  Developed and implemented process improvements through cross functional teams which were aligned with respective executive stakeholders.
• Broadband and Value-Added Services Technology Evaluation: Partnered with technical teams to assess viability of new technology capabilities, ability to meet business requirements, anticipated cost per unit, operational impacts to existing organizations and processes, and overall investment needed to operationalize solutions.
• Business Case Development: Led a team of product managers assessing market opportunities, defining products, creating forecasting and costing models leading to financial evaluation of product line enhancements.  Secured funding approvals from senior executives representing cross-functional disciplines for each infrastructure business case including upgrades to middle mile solutions impacting new market builds.
• Strategy and Portfolio Roadmap Development:  Developed strategies and associated roadmaps for future broadband infrastructure, advanced data and value-added services solutions to increase revenue and reduce operational costs within product lines.  Created and updated multi-year product roadmaps and associated delivery schedules.