Joseph Franell is currently the Director of Information Technology for the City of Ashland in Southern Oregon. His position includes responsibility for the Ashland Fiber Network (AFN), a municipally owned and operated broadband telecommunications company.

Mr. Franell graduated from College in Texas and then joined the Army where he served for 10 years. Mr. Franell left the Army as a Captain after receiving significant experience in communications, operations, and logistics.

He came to the City of Ashland after working for almost 10 years in the telecommunications industry in the Southeastern United States and is currently active with the National and Oregon Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors; The League of Oregon Cities Telecommunications Committee; and has just been appointed by the Governor to the Oregon Telecommunications Coordinating Council. Prior to coming to Ashland, he was the Senior Manager of Operations for Knology Broadband of Florida.