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Welcome to the series finale and the grand conclusion to the Fiber Broadband Association’s "Where's The Funding?" series. 

<p>Anyone planning to apply for BEAD grants should attend. Specifically:</p><ul><li>Rural Electric Cooperatives (RECs) pursuing BEAD grants solo or with an ISP</li><li>Local and Regional ISPs</li><li>Municipal entities pursuing BEAD for open access or leased access broadband</li><li>State broadband office teams looking to attract a broad range of applicants</li></ul>

Where's The Funding?

<h2><strong>WTF's epic conclusion has arrived!</strong></h2><p>Welcome to the final episode of the Fiber Broadband Association’s "Where's The Funding?" series. WTF is a 12-part webinar series to help members understand, navigate, and obtain matching funds for broadband grants.</p><p>Over the past year, Where's the Funding? has explored a full spectrum of topics, ranging from Letter of Credit requirements to the unique challenges faced by tribal groups applying for funding.</p><h2><strong>What you'll learn</strong></h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">During this episode, attendees will hear from surprise special guests on the role of matching funds, including</span> <a href="https://broadband.money/broadband-grant-terms/performance-bonds-for-bead-grants" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">performance bonds</a><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">, in the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, as well as other federal and state broadband funding programs.</span></p><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">And you won't want to miss a special announcement regarding ISP performance bonds in lieu of Letter of Credit for BEAD grants.</span></p>

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During this episode, attendees can expect to learn the intricacies of matching funds for Tribal entities. While there is overlap between Tribal and non-Tribal matching funds, there are nuances specific to Tribal matching funds that applicants must understand to successfully apply for BEAD funding.

<h2><strong>Welcome!</strong></h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Welcome to the Fiber Broadband Association’s "</span><i>Where's The Funding?" series. </i><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">WTF is a free-to-attend 12-part webinar series to help members understand, navigate, and obtain matching funds for broadband grants.</span></p>

<h2><strong>What you'll learn</strong></h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">During this episode, attendees can expect to learn the intricacies of matching funds for Tribal entities. While there is overlap between Tribal and non-Tribal matching funds, there are nuances specific to Tribal matching funds that applicants must understand to successfully apply for BEAD funding.</span></p><h2><strong>Our special guests</strong></h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Before leading Tribal Ready, Joe served as the executive director of the Native American Contractors Association (NACA). He also served as the managing director of VAdvisors, LLC, a specialty advisory firm in Washington, DC, and as the chief of staff for the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), a federal regulatory agency with Indian gaming oversight responsibilities.</span></p><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Joe has served in senior executive roles in private and public sectors, including as a board member of numerous companies in multiple industries. Using his collective experiences in government, business, and gaming, Joe has launched ventures uniquely focused on the technological development, marketing, and deployment of products and services designed to benefit Native Nations.</span></p><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Jennifer Weddle is the co-chair of the GreenbergTraurig's American Indian Law Practice and has wide-ranging experience in complex regulatory and jurisdictional issues, with a focus in Indian law, handling a variety of matters for tribal and non-tribal clients. She has a dynamic, inter-disciplinary practice that centers on providing strategies for resolving complex jurisdictional problems. Much of her practice focuses in the areas of tribal economic development and natural resources development.</span></p><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Jennifer has wide-ranging project siting experience, including the application of NEPA, NHPA, and other environmental laws on tribal and public lands, including with respect to large linear multi-state energy and infrastructure projects.</span></p>

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During this episode, attendees can expect to learn the about the opportunities afforded to rural providers who successfully attain matching funds, and what that can mean for the communities they serve.

<h2><strong>Welcome!</strong></h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Welcome to the Fiber Broadband Association’s "Where's The Funding?" series. WTF is a free-to-attend 12-part webinar series to help members understand, navigate, and obtain matching funds for broadband grants.</span></p><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Episode 10 of "Where's the Funding?" will be a special one! While the first 30 minutes will follow our typical programming schedule, Episode 10 will run for an additional half hour, with an abridged "Ask Me Anything!" with Amperage Infrastructure Corporation CFO, Jack Lawrence.</span></p>

<h2><strong>What you'll learn</strong></h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">During this episode, attendees can expect to learn the about the opportunities afforded to rural providers who successfully attain matching funds, and what that can mean for the communities they serve.</span></p><h2><strong>Our special guest</strong></h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Jack Lawrence is CFO and founding member of Amperage Infrastructure Corporation.</span></p><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Prior to Amperage, Jack was vice president at Priority Technology Holdings (PRTH) and oversaw the Priority Technology Ventures portfolio. Prior to joining Priority, he was CFO and CAO of Finxera, Inc which was acquired by Priority.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Jack has more than 35 years of experience in telecommunications, financial services, consumer products and entertainment industries. He has served as CEO, COO and CFO for both public and privately held venture-back companies throughout his career.</span></p><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Jack holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Georgetown University, an MBA in Accounting and International Business from Seton Hall University, and an Executive MBA from Rutgers University.</span></p>

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Don't get lost in the fog of BEAD matching funds. Learn how to identify the potential pitfalls before it's too late.

<h2><strong>Welcome!</strong></h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Welcome to the Fiber Broadband Association’s "</span><i>Where's The Funding?" series. </i><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">WTF is a free-to-attend 12-part webinar series to help members understand, navigate, and obtain matching funds for broadband grants.</span></p><h2><strong>What you'll learn</strong></h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">The NTIA has made it clear that both a Letter of Credit and Matching Funds will be required to qualify for BEAD funding. In this episode, we'll talk about the challenges and stressors applicants could face, how they could impact the application process, what this means for applicants, and the avenues applicants should take to maximize theirs odds of success. This episode will teach you everything you'll need to know on the matter.</span></p>

<h2><strong>Our special guest</strong></h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Jochai Ben-Avie’s career has been centered at the intersection of technology and human rights, as a leader in global policy, advocacy, and philanthropy. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Connect Humanity, a nonprofit fund which provides access to capital and knowledge to underserved communities enabling them to build their own internet infrastructure and take control of their digital futures. He is also a Truman National Security Fellow, a Non-Resident Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s DFR Lab, a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, and a Code for Science &amp; Society Board Member. He was previously Mozilla’s Head of International Public Policy and led the Firefox maker’s open source funding arm, where he spearheaded Mozilla’s work on connectivity around the world. Before Mozilla, he was the inaugural Policy Director at Access Now, which under his leadership grew to become one of the largest global digital rights organizations. Earlier in his career, Jochai worked in educational policy, affordable housing, terrorism and reconciliation, and as an advisor to some of the largest foundations in the world. He was privileged to receive his education at Bard College at Simon’s Rock where he graduated summa cum laude and at the University of Oxford’s Lincoln College.</span></p>

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Rural electric cooperatives may be eligible for a variety of financing options to help them expand their footprints These strategies provide access to BEAD matching funds, grants, and incentives that can help RECs grow and thrive in rural areas. By taking advantage of these strategies, RECs can help restore and revive rural communities.

<h2><strong>Welcome!</strong></h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Welcome to the Fiber Broadband Association’s "</span><i>Where's The Funding?" series. </i><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">WTF is a free-to-attend 12-part webinar series to help members understand, navigate, and obtain matching funds for broadband grants.</span></p><h2><strong>What you'll learn</strong></h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Rural electric cooperatives and telcos will be able to apply for matching funds during the implementation of BEAD, and will face unique circumstances and hurdles when it comes to doing so. Whether you represent an electric cooperative or do business with one, this episode will teach you everything you'll need to know on the matter.</span></p>

<h2><strong>Our special guest</strong></h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Darren has worked with electric cooperatives and telcos for more than 30 years. During that time, his work helped establish the Savannah, Missouri-based United Fiber as the first rural electric cooperative internet service provider in its region and to become widely recognized as one of the most successful of its kind. The company far surpassed its customer estimates, and now serves more than 30,000 customers.</span><br><br><a href="https://www.broadband.io/c/broadband-grant-events/ask-me-anything-with-darren-farnan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);"><u>Check out Darren's Ask Me Anything! from two years ago.</u></span></a></p>

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Interested in community ownership, now or later? Different kinds of public debt known as municipal bonds can offer a low cost of capital way to bring grant-funded broadband projects to life. 

<h3><strong>Welcome!</strong></h3><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Welcome to the Fiber Broadband Association’s "</span><i>Where's The Funding?" series. </i><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">WTF is a free-to-attend 12-part webinar series to help members understand, navigate, and obtain matching funds for broadband grants.</span></p><h3><strong>What you'll learn</strong></h3><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Interested in community ownership, now or later? Different kinds of public debt known as municipal bonds can offer a low cost of capital way to bring grant-funded broadband projects to life. Broadband grant applicants will learn the basics in this episode. Find out how municipal takeouts, and various kinds of “anticipation notes” work.</span></p>

<h2><strong>Our special guest</strong></h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">As the Managing Director of the Municipal Capital Markets Group, Chris works with a wide range of investor clients on capital market securitizations, private placement and other funding sources. He funds profiles from high-rated to non-rated. His deep knowledge of the evolving financial regulatory landscape has also benefited from federal lending programs, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service, and with non-profits. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder.</span></p><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Chris is a returning guest on the "Where's the Funding?" series, and was previously featured on </span><a href="https://www.broadband.io/c/broadband-grant-events/where-s-the-funding-episode-6">Episode 6: Securing Matching Funds Efficiently</a><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">.</span></p>

BEAD grant applicants can leverage the Capital Projects Fund to match resources from private sources. This approach allows organizations to maximize their funding potential, while ensuring that their project is able to move forward in an efficient and timely manner.

<h2><strong>Welcome!</strong></h2><p>Welcome to the Fiber Broadband Association’s "Where's The Funding?" series. WTF is a free-to-attend 12-part webinar series to help members understand, navigate, and obtain matching funds for broadband grants.<br>&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>What you'll learn</strong></h2><p>In this episode, you'll learn about how to leverage the Capital Projects Fund to match resources from private sources for BEAD grant applications. Chris Perlitz will explain how this allows organizations to maximize their funding potential, while ensuring that their project is able to move forward in an efficient and timely manner.</p>

<h2><strong>Our special guest</strong></h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">As the Managing Director of the Municipal Capital Markets Group, Chris works with a wide range of investor clients on capital market securitizations, private placement and other funding sources. He funds profiles from high-rated to non-rated. His deep knowledge of the evolving financial regulatory landscape has also benefited from federal lending programs, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service, and with non-profits. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder.</span></p>

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You've managed to land an offer for a Letter of Credit - now it's time to make the most of it. With matching funds, you can amplify the value of your Letter of Credit, leveraging your finances to unlock new opportunities. With matching funds, you can use the power of your Letter of Credit to access funds from lenders, giving you access to the capital you need to grow your business.

<h2>Welcome!</h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Welcome to the Fiber Broadband Association’s "</span><i>Where's The Funding?" series. </i><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">WTF is a free-to-attend 12-part webinar series to help members understand, navigate, and obtain matching funds for broadband grants.</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>What you'll learn</h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">In this episode, attendees will be able to get three perspectives on the Letter of Credit; they will be able to hear about the legal view from Philip J. Macres, they will get the point of view from ISPs through Elizabeth Bowles, and they can also get the perspective of banks through Pierce Verchick.</span></p>

<h2>Our special guests</h2><p>Philip has more than 25 years of experience in the telecommunications sector and during that time has seen over $100 million in funding awarded to his clients. He has participated in litigation and policy resolution at both the state and federal level, including in front of the FCC. He has experience working with RDOF, BEAD, NTIA's Middle Mile, USDA's ReConnect, Community Connect, Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan, and ARPA's SLFRF and CPF programs.</p><p>Elizabeth guides the strategic direction and vision of Aristotle's ISP division, Digital Product Development Lab division, and Digital Marketing Agency division. She plays an integral role in the development of Aristotle’s business relationships, including partnerships, investment strategies, and joint ventures. Elizabeth is currently serving a two-year term on the FCC’s newly established Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee.</p><p>Pierce has been with LiveOak Bank since 2015, and has overseen over $100 million in spall business transactions. He and his team are primarily responsible providing senior debt solutions to companies in the broadband, internet service and data infrastructure industries.&nbsp;</p>

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In this episode, broadband service providers will learn from Connect Humanity's Chief Investment Officer Brian Vo about many of the different sources of private capital they can use to expand their businesses. If you’re asking yourself what options you have when it comes to private sources of capital, then tune into this session of ‘Where’s the Funding?’ Be sure to stick around until noon for Office Hours with Brian!

<h2>Welcome!</h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Welcome to the Fiber Broadband Association’s "</span><i>Where's The Funding?" series. </i><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">WTF is a free-to-attend 12-part webinar series to help members understand, navigate, and obtain matching funds for broadband grants.</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>What you'll learn</h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">In this episode, broadband service providers will learn from Connect Humanity's Chief Investment Officer Brian Vo</span><strong> </strong><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">about many of the different sources of private capital they can use to expand their businesses. If you’re asking yourself what options you have when it comes to private sources of capital, then tune into this session of ‘Where’s the Funding?’</span></p>

<h2>Our special guest</h2><p>Brian Vo serves as Connect Humanity’s Chief Investment Officer in leading our investment efforts to structure the right type of financing solution that meets the needs of organizations advancing digital equity. He collaborates with Connect Humanity’s partners, communities and social enterprises alike, to understand connectivity barriers, local context and needs, and the implications on the appropriate blend of impact finance.</p><p>Previously, Brian was the Vice President of Social Investment and Innovative Finance at Pact, Inc., a global development NGO. He led the Pact Ventures team to deploy impact capital that accelerated Pact’s theory of change through creative financing vehicles, like market-based incentive structures, early-stage investments, and structured project-based financing that enabled evidence-based interventions. Prior to Pact, Brian was a director at Quantified Ventures, where he designed outcomes-based transactions for nonprofit and for-profit social enterprises.&nbsp;</p><p>Previously with McKinsey &amp; Company’s Strategy/Corporate Finance and Public/Social Sector Practices, Brian advised clients on a range of topics including economic development, growth strategies, capital allocation, operational turnarounds, and transaction structuring. He also worked with Macquarie’s Private Equity Group and Jefferies &amp; Company Investment Bank. Brian holds an MBA and BS from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.</p>

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You’ll learn how to identify the right sources of capital for your business and how to structure them to secure the necessary funding. We’ll even discuss the pros and cons of different sources of capital, so you’ll have all the information you need to make an informed decision. 
Broadband providers will leave Episode 3 of our “Where’s the Funding” series with better insights on how to structure the capital invested in your companies, and you’ll be empowered to make the most of your business opportunities. Join us to gain the insight you need to master the capital stack.

<p>Founded in 1896, ITC provides equity investments and professional management from within our own family of investors. Our mission is to invest in entrepreneurs with momentum whose ideas and values are consistent with our own helping them go further, faster. ITC has a long and storied track record of doing just that.</p>

<h2 style="margin-left:0px;"><strong>About Our Distinguished Guest</strong></h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">David is a serial entrepreneur who brings over 25 years of telecom experience to the role of President at ITC Holding Company. Prior to joining ITC, he was founder and CEO of Notora LLC. Notora is a services company that specializes in small cell and distributed antenna system networks for cellular, public safety, and private LTE networks. David sold Notora to Centerline Communications in 2019 and continued to run the company as CEO until 2021. Before Notora, David was a co-founder and General Manager of Connectivity Wireless where he helped grow the business from start-up to over 200 employees and 9 offices across the country. David has also served in various engineering and operations roles with mobile network operators (MNO) including Sprint, Nextel, and Powertel.</span></p>

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Discover what you need to know about the BEAD program’s matching funds requirements. Grant applicants must provide at least 25% of the cost of a project. Those who provide more may be more likely to win a grant. Can sources of matching funds come from other state or federal programs, such as ARPA, or the CARES Act? Find out directly from Evan Feinman, director of the NTIA’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Small and non-traditional providers should attend this session: Don't let this requirement be a deal killer and stop you from expanding your business footprint.

<p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">WTF is a free-to-attend 12-part webinar series to help members understand, navigate, and obtain matching funds for broadband grants.</span></p>

<h2>About Evan Feinman</h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Before joining the NTIA, Evan served the Commonwealth of Virginia as the governor's chief broadband advisor for nearly four years, from 2018 to 2022.</span></p><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">As the governor's chief broadband advisor, Evan was given the tasked with ensuring that Virginia met its ambitious goal of universal access to broadband by 2024.</span></p><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Virginia has laid a roadmap that many states have since sought to emulate. From developing a robust broadband map, to creating its broadband toolkit, Virginia's efforts helped to establish many of the policies and procedures that are now considered to be best practices in ensuring states are able to evaluate the scope of their served, underserved, and unserved populations.</span></p><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">During his time at NTIA, Evan has encouraged vigorous engagement between grantees and the communities they serve. He has made it clear that engaging stakeholder communities will directly contribute to the success (or failure) of an applicant's grant. He has also emphasized the importance of dialogues between internet service providers and state broadband directors. Under Evan's leadership, the NTIA has also appointed regional directors that can assist states and communities as they navigate the BEAD application process.</span></p><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">As Director of BEAD, Evan is the architect of the program's matching capital policies. How much funding needs to be matched? Are their requirements for the sources of matching funds? Can matching funds be waived? Evan is the one-stop-shop of all things related to matching funds.</span></p><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(25,40,58);">Evan's management and direction at NTIA has been critical for BEAD, and his experience will no doubt prove invaluable for the broadband community.</span></p><p><a href="https://www.broadband.io/c/get-broadband-grant-alerts-news/don-t-discount-america-s-power-to-do-extraordinary-things-including-ending-the-digital-divide-f9baaa" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:hsl(240,75%,60%);">Read Evan Feinman's profile here.</span></a></p>

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The first episode in the free-to-attend 12-part series to help members understand, navigate, and obtain matching funds for broadband grants.

<h2 style="margin-left:0px;"><strong>Series Overview</strong></h2><ul><li>Monthly Webinar hosted by Fiber Broadband Association, sponsored by <a href="https://broadband.money/">broadband.money</a></li><li><strong>Focus</strong>: broadband grant matching fund contributions: rules, sources, pitfalls, tips, and more</li><li><strong>Schedule</strong>: Each 30 minute show takes place the third Wednesday of the month throughout 2023 unless otherwise noted</li><li><strong>Shows</strong>: Each show includes an experienced industry expert covering a specific topic. Q&amp;A for some through the broadband community.</li></ul>

Events

Exclusive events with industry leaders to deliver you more information and context surrounding broadband grants.

Past Events

WTF: Series Recap & ISP Performance Bonds Announcement

Where's The Funding? Episode 11: Navigating Tribal Matching Funds

Where's The Funding? Episode 10: How Matching Capital Unlocks Major Broadband Grants

Where's the Funding Episode 9: The Challenges of Matching Funds

Where's The Funding? Episode 8: Matching funds for Rural Electric Cooperatives and Telcos

Where's The Funding? Episode 7: Tapping Municipal Markets

Where's the Funding? Episode 6: Securing Matching Funds Efficiently

Where's The Funding? Episode 5: Navigating the Letter of Credit

Where's The Funding? Episode 4: Partnerships, Alternative Sources & Pathways

Where's The Funding? Episode 3: Intro to the capital stack: How will you structure the capital invested in your company?

Where's The Funding? Episode 2: BEAD Matching Funds Deep Dive with BEAD Director Evan Feinman

Where's The Funding? Episode 1: Intro to BEAD Matching Funds

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