Community Broadband Bits
630 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 25 ratingsShort interviews with people doing interesting things to expand broadband networks that put community needs first.
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Episodes
MN BEAD Labor Requirements: More Problems Than Solutions? - Episode 602 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
May 28, 2024 16:19 - 27 minutes - 15.2 MBIn this episode of the podcast, Chris discusses the challenges of prevailing wage laws on small broadband providers in Minnesota with Brent Christensen and Jill Huffman. They explore the administrative and financial burdens these regulations impose and their impact on broadband expansion in rural areas. Tune in for insights on balancing fair labor practices with practical broadband deployment. ★ Support this podcast ★
The Success of Urbana-Champaign's Broadband Revolution - Episode 601 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
May 21, 2024 16:52 - 31 minutes - 20 MBJoin Chris as he talks with Paul Hixson and Mike Smeltzer about the UC2B (Urbana-Champaign Big Broadband) project, which has revolutionized internet access in Champaign-Urbana, IL. They discuss the project's origins, its impact on local broadband competition, and the successful public-private partnership driving its expansion. Learn how UC2B is bridging the digital divide and setting a model for community-driven broadband initiatives. ★ Support this podcast ★
The Power of Empowering Marginalized Communities - Episode 600 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
May 14, 2024 18:43 - 26 minutes - 18.1 MBOn the 600th episode of the podcast, Chris talks with Dwayne Douglas from The Quilt Corporation about bridging the digital divide in marginalized Chicago communities through innovative solutions like mesh Wi-Fi and point-to-point fiber connections. Dwayne highlights the importance of digital literacy and community engagement in creating new opportunities for growth. ★ Support this podcast ★
Discussion on the Black Brilliance Research Project with Shaun Glaze and Chris Webb - Episode 599 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
May 07, 2024 19:43 - 26 minutes - 24.1 MBIn this special edition, we showcase the latest episode of our biweekly podcast, the Building for Digital Equity Podcast, featuring Dr. Shaun Glaze and Chris Webb from the Black Brilliance Research Project in Seattle. They discuss the project's origins after George Floyd's tragedy, emphasizing their unique research approach blending traditional methods with community activism to tailor solutions for digital equity. ★ Support this podcast ★
Middle-Mile Madness - Episode 598 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
May 01, 2024 20:29 - 52 minutes - 120 MBTune in to this week's special edition of the podcast as we revisit a dynamic discussion from our biweekly livestream, Connect This! Co-hosts Christopher Mitchell and Travis Carter, along with guests Doug Dawson, Kim McKinley, and Doug Maglothin, explore the state of middle-mile infrastructure in the US and strategies for enhancing connectivity between cities and towns. ★ Support this podcast ★
Wired for Good: Exploring Rural Connectivity in West Virginia - Episode 597 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
April 23, 2024 18:57 - 35 minutes - 20 MBIn this latest episode of the podcast, Chris and Derek from Hardy Telecommunications discuss the cooperative's journey since 1953, expanding from phone to broadband services, vital for rural areas. They share the challenges of being a small provider, the impact of federal funding, and emphasize the importance of partnerships and ongoing support for rural broadband access. ★ Support this podcast ★
Debunking Municipal Broadband Myths - Episode 596 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
April 17, 2024 19:01 - 31 minutes - 18 MBIn this latest episode of the podcast, Chris and Sean explore the arguments against municipal broadband, addressing claims made by opponents and highlighting success stories of community-owned networks. They emphasize the importance of local autonomy in broadband decisions, advocating for solutions that meet each community's needs. ★ Support this podcast ★
A Deep Dive into Iowa Broadband: Challenges, Solutions, and Collaboration - Episode 595 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
April 02, 2024 14:19 - 29 minutes - 17.7 MBIn this latest podcast episode, Christopher and Curtis Dean from the Community Broadband Action Network (CBAN) discuss the state of broadband in Iowa. They highlight the challenges faced by local providers, emphasize the importance of local control, and announce upcoming events like the CBAN Spring Summit, fostering collaboration for equitable broadband access. ★ Support this podcast ★
The Question of Internet Affordability Beyond ACP - Episode 594 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
March 26, 2024 15:50 - 25 minutes - 15.1 MBIn the latest podcast episode, Christopher, Ry Marcattilio, and Sean Gonsalves discuss the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and the urgent need for sustainable internet affordability solutions in the U.S. They highlight successful models of community-owned broadband networks from Pharr, Texas, to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and provide updates on FCC broadband definitions, Longmont's municipal network expansion, and an upcoming episode covering the Tribal Broadband Bootc...
Unlocking Community-Driven Broadband Initiatives with Brian Snider - Episode 593 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
March 19, 2024 22:48 - 40 minutes - 23.5 MBIn this podcast episode, Christopher speaks with Brian Snider, founder of Lit Communities, discussing his extensive experience in the broadband industry and the importance of community-driven broadband initiatives. They emphasize the need for innovative business models to bridge the digital divide and highlight the significance of education and workforce development in shaping the industry's future. ★ Support this podcast ★
Data Challenges for Equitable Broadband Access In Fresno, CA and Beyond - Episode 592 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
March 12, 2024 14:03 - 43 minutes - 24.6 MBIn this podcast episode, Christopher speaks with Philip Neufeld, Executive Officer for Information Technology at the Fresno Unified School District, about the vital role of data in addressing broadband challenges in low-income areas. They discuss Neufeld's proactive data collection efforts, stress the importance of using this data for advocacy, and highlight the need for collaborative solutions to bridge the digital divide. ★ Support this podcast ★
Without Political Power, There is No Path to Digital Equity - Episode 591 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
March 05, 2024 19:32 - 1 hour - 85.2 MBEpisode 591 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast features a panel from Net Inclusion that Christopher Mitchell moderated entitled, "Without Political Power, There is No Path to Digital Equity." In it, panelists raise difficult questions for the digital equity movement about whether they are on track to achieve their goals - whether the main strategies used today can result in digital equity or are destined to fall well short. ★ Support this podcast ★
Lincoln Park and Smart City Initiatives in Fort Pierce with Jason Mittler - Episode 590 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
February 27, 2024 20:55 - 29 minutes - 17.4 MBIn this podcast episode, Christopher and Jason Mittler discuss the Fort Pierce Utilities Authority Network, a fiber optic network in Fort Pierce, Florida, highlighting its diverse applications in providing Internet, utility services, smart grid solutions, and smart city services. They also touch on the Lincoln Park Smart Neighborhood project, addressing low broadband adoption rates by offering 100 Mbps symmetrical service at $31 per month, with additional services for higher speeds....
People Over Profit: DigitalC's Mission to Connect Communities in Cleveland- Episode 589 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
February 20, 2024 18:44 - 38 minutes - 26 MBThis week on the podcast, Christopher talks with Joshua Edmonds, CEO of DigitalC, a nonprofit in Cleveland, Ohio, dedicated to bridging the digital divide. DigitalC provides fast, affordable internet at $18/month, along with digital literacy training and device deployment. They've recently secured a $20 million contract from the city to expand their infrastructure, aiming to connect 23,000 households in 18 months. Christopher and Joshua stress the importance of prioritizing people o...
Planning is Good, but Pivoting is Better in Fort Collins, Colorado - Episode 588 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
February 14, 2024 20:19 - 38 minutes - 21.1 MBThis week on the podcast, Christopher is joined by Chad Crager, Broadband Executive Director at City of Fort Collins, to talk about the rapidly maturing city-owned network they call Connexion. From a feasibility study in 2018 to the lion's share of construction completed today, Connexion's story illustrates the value of being nimble when expectations meet reality. ★ Support this podcast ★
Connecting the Last Twenty Percent in Newark - Episode 587 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
January 31, 2024 21:26 - 28 minutes - 16 MBNewark, New Jersey has been operated a dark fiber network for more than a decade. In recent years, the city has expanded its efforts to leverage those assets in an incremental effort to improve connectivity and competition for local business and residents, while also building out a robust Wi-Fi network. The goal: build a portfolio of approaches to connect the last twenty percent of the city that doesn't have access today. ★ Support this podcast ★
Bridging Bytes: Empowering Communities Through Local Broadband Growth - Episode 586 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
January 25, 2024 23:26 - 38 minutes - 21.9 MBIn this latest podcast episode, Christopher and Sean discuss the remarkable growth of municipal broadband networks in the U.S., noting the establishment of 47 new networks since 2021, bringing the total to over 400. The conversation explores diverse network models, challenges faced by municipalities, including opposition from major ISPs, and underscores the importance of community support. They also highlight the crucial role of data from schools and organizations in understanding b...
Predictions for 2024 - Episode 585 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
January 17, 2024 22:10 - 48 minutes - 27.1 MBThe fading sound of holiday bells and soft stillness that comes with plunging temps can only mean one thing; it's January again, which means it's time to break out the crystal ball and have a conversation about the year to come. Joining Christopher in the recording booth are a slew of CBN staffers new and veteran to join in the collective task of putting words to feelings both foreboding and optimistic about the year to come. ★ Support this podcast ★
Navigating the Broadband Horizon and ACP's Future - Episode 584 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
January 10, 2024 14:12 - 44 minutes - 23.4 MBThis week on the podcast, Christopher explores the broadband and telecommunications landscape with Blair Levin, anticipating its significance in 2024. They delve into crucial FCC issues, including the ACP and the future of Title II, while also addressing industry mergers, the evolution of fixed wireless and fiber networks, and ongoing challenges in achieving universal service and closing the digital divide. ★ Support this podcast ★
Fiber Fusion: Navigating Municipal Fiber Networks with Traverse City Light and Power- Episode 583 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
January 03, 2024 19:46 - 34 minutes - 20.7 MBThis week on the first podcast of the year, Christopher chats with Scott Menhart, CTO of Traverse City Light and Power, delving into the history of TCLP and the advantages of constructing a municipal fiber network for Traverse City, Michigan. Despite challenges from major corporations, they underscore the significance of persistence and meticulous planning in developing successful broadband networks for local communities. ★ Support this podcast ★
Year in Review 2023 - Episode 582 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
December 19, 2023 22:12 - 49 minutes - 28.3 MBThis week on the final podcast of the year, the team reflects on the 2023 broadband landscape, covering topics such as the BEAD rollout, municipal fiber projects, the FCC's new commissioner, and noteworthy broadband "scandals." Tune in for insights and a look back at the accuracy of last year's predictions. ★ Support this podcast ★
The Future of LTE - Episode 581 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
December 14, 2023 21:58 - 1 hour - 154 MBIn this special Connect This! edition of the podcast, co-hosts Christopher Mitchell and Travis Carter, along with guests Doug Dawson, Kim McKinley, and special guest Mike Dano (Light Reading), revisit the future of mobile wireless and LTE networks, exploring their evolution and addressing key topics such as rural mobile wireless, market dynamics, and the 5G hype. ★ Support this podcast ★
Catalyzing Connectivity: Triumphs and Trials in Community Broadband Initiatives - Episode 580 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
December 05, 2023 21:10 - 41 minutes - 95.2 MBIn this special podcast edition, local leaders from East Carroll Parish, Louisiana, share their triumph over expensive and inadequate broadband service despite resistance from a regional monopoly provider. The discussion explores grassroots efforts to overcome obstacles and misleading data, providing insight into successfully enhancing internet access for their community. The episode concludes by revisiting a 2014 Community Broadband Bits podcast, where Christopher and Lisa perform ...
Chattanooga Leads with Innovative Services and Pioneering Programs for Low-Income Individuals - Episode 579 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
November 28, 2023 22:04 - 38 minutes - 21.3 MBThis week on the podcast, Christopher talks with Deb Socia and Geoff Millener from the Enterprise Center in Chattanooga. They discuss the HCS ED Connect program, which provides free home Internet to low-income students, its positive impact on education, and tech initiatives like the Orchard Knob project and Tech Goes Home benefiting underserved communities. Emphasizing the role of partnerships, they stress the need for universal broadband access as a driving force for positive commu...
Building and Expanding a Tribal Network for Northern Idaho and Beyond - Episode 578 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
November 21, 2023 18:25 - 22 minutes - 13 MBThis week, Christopher talks with Valerie Fast Horse, IT director and creator of Red Spectrum, a broadband company serving the Coeur d'Alene Reservation in North Idaho. They delve into Red Spectrum's history, infrastructure upgrades, and challenges in expanding services, highlighting the importance of community involvement, local talent, and overcoming funding obstacles in the pursuit of success. ★ Support this podcast ★
Universal Service Fund Reform and Long-Term Affordability Solutions - Episode 577 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
November 14, 2023 20:31 - 35 minutes - 20.8 MBThis week on the podcast, Christopher is joined by Angela Siefer and Greg Guice to explore the crucial topic of Universal Service Fund (USF) reform in bridging the digital divide. The podcast delves into the challenges of the overcommitted USF, emphasizing the need for modernization and expansion, and the permanence of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in achieving national equity and inclusion goals. ★ Support this podcast ★
Cities Like Syracuse Surge Ahead while the FCC and NTIA Take Baby Steps - Episode 576 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
November 07, 2023 17:33 - 32 minutes - 19 MBThis week on the podcast, Christopher is joined by Sean Gonsalves to talk about a bold new wireless deployment in Syracuse and unpack whether recent federal action will make a difference with looming deadlines on the horizon for both the Affordable Connectivity Program and BEAD. ★ Support this podcast ★
Wireless Mesh Brings Durable Change in Rhode Island - Episode 575 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
October 31, 2023 20:11 - 32 minutes - 19.5 MBAfter three years and half a million dollars in capital costs, the nonprofit-run ONE|NB Connects network in Providence, Rhode Island has improved its wireless service to 100Mbps symmetrical speeds, and enabled thousands of unique users per month access reliable connections for as long as they need. CEO Jennifer Hawkins and Christopher talk about the challenges and rewards of transforming a gap network into durable change, from streamlining operational costs, to finding sustainable p...
The Burden of Proof - Episode 574 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
October 23, 2023 20:54 - 36 minutes - 20.2 MBMapping is hard. You know it, and so do we. Despite that reality, it looks like the FCC has spent the entirety of this decade avoiding the hard decisions necessary to make sure precious federal dollars are wisely used and the data that drives our policy is easily accessible and faithful to reality. This week on the podcast, Christopher is joined by Tom Reid to talk about what his firm has been doing to help local governments get around this persistent problem. ★ Support this pod...
West Des Moines, Iowa is a Model for Open Access Conduit Networks - Episode 573 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
October 17, 2023 14:00 - 36 minutes - 19.4 MBA little more than three years ago, the city of West Des Moines, Iowa announced that it would build a citywide open access conduit system to lower the cost of new broadband deployment to facilitate better connections at lower costs for residents. With four providers licensing space and a portfolio of smart-city and governmental uses planned, the city's forward-thinking investment looks to be paying dividends already. ★ Support this podcast ★
Wading Through Federal Funding Streams - Episode 572 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
October 10, 2023 11:56 - 32 minutes - 19 MBThis week on the podcast, Christopher speaks with Brent Christensen, President and CEO of the Minnesota Telecom Alliance (MTA). The MTA is a trade association that currently represents 41 holding company members operating over 70 companies across the state, including cooperatively-owned, family-owned, and publicly-traded Internet Service Providers. Most are rural broadband providers. Chris and Brent dive into a discussion about the Enhanced Alternative Connect America Model (Enhanc...
Net Neutrality and the Regulatory Theater of the FCC - Episode 571 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
October 03, 2023 21:21 - 37 minutes - 23.2 MBThis week on the podcast, Christopher is joined by Karl Bode, a returning guest who has long covered tech and the telecommunications industry. They talk about the history of net neutrality, the landmark decision by the Commission in 2015, the states that stepped in to fill the void, and the likely consequences of a return in 2023. ★ Support this podcast ★
Hope and Change (Redux) - Episode 570 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
September 26, 2023 18:58 - 48 minutes - 112 MBThis week on the podcast we bring back a fan favorite that feels particularly relevant. Christopher is joined by Harold Feld, Senior Vice President at Public Knowledge. The show takes on a reflective nature, as they talk about theories of change in the context of doing broadband policy today. ★ Support this podcast ★
A Scattering of Wonks - Episode 569 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
September 19, 2023 21:37 - 1 hour - 181 MBThis week on the podcast, we bring over a conversation from our Connect This! Show, where Christopher is joined by a ground of policy experts to talk about why we don't see more cities doing deals with entities like Google Fiber, what we can expect now that Anna Gomez has been confirmed to the FCC, and what it means for BEAD grantees if the Affordable Connectivity Program goes away. ★ Support this podcast ★
A Stately Tour of BEAD Plans - Episode 568 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
September 12, 2023 22:03 - 37 minutes - 21.4 MBThis week on the show, Christopher is joined once again by Sean Gonsalves. After a short stop to talk about the establishment of a new municipal network in Timnath, Colorado, Christopher and Sean get down to talking about the BEAD 5-Year Plans that states are filing with NTIA to get their hands on the first tranche of what will be an historic pot of federal funds for new broadband investment. Some states, like Maine and Vermont, Sean shares, are doing lots right. Others, like Pennsy...
Mona Thompson Reflects on a Career of Visionary Work in Tribal Telecommunications - Episode 567 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
September 05, 2023 16:59 - 26 minutes - 17.5 MBThis week on the podcast, Christopher speaks with Mona Thompson, General Manager at the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Telephone Authority (CRSTTA). CRSTTA serves the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in North Central South Dakota, which includes 20 communities dispersed across nearly 3 million acres. Chris and Mona discuss the history of CRSTTA and the Telephone Authority’s efforts over time to upgrade its infrastructure and continue to offer residents high-quality connections – transi...
Loveland’s Municipal Network is Scrappy and Driven to Serve its Community - Episode 566 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
August 22, 2023 14:33 - 25 minutes - 21.6 MBThis week on the podcast, Christopher speaks with Brieana Reed-Harmel, Municipal Fiber Manager for the City of Loveland, located in Colorado’s Northern Front Range about an hour north of Denver. The city is home to over 80,000 residents as well as a municipal fiber broadband network called Pulse. Chris and Brieana discuss Loveland’s population expansion over the past few years and Pulse’s resulting plans to extend beyond city limits into the “urban fringe,” which is more difficult...
Digital Equity Starts in Our Cities and Towns - Episode 565 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
August 15, 2023 14:14 - 20 minutes - 20.4 MBThis week on the show we're featuring an episode of our Building for Digital Equity podcast, with Brandon Forester - the National Organizer for Internet Rights at Media Justice - joining Christopher to talk about helping communities build more agency over how technology shows up in their neighborhoods and among the digital communities they create for themselves. ★ Support this podcast ★
The Last Train - Episode 564 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
August 08, 2023 16:38 - 39 minutes - 22.2 MBWe're more than 15 years and a hundred billion dollars into the alphabet soup of federal broadband infrastructure subsidy programs, and millions upon millions of households are stuck on deteriorating connections and capacity-constrained technologies. This week on the podcast, Christopher is joined by Jonathan Chambers, partner at Conexon, to talk about how the BEAD program is our last chance. ★ Support this podcast ★
Doubling the Number of Municipal Networks in the Next Five Years - Episode 563 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
July 31, 2023 14:50 - 46 minutes - 26.4 MBMay 2022 witnessed something remarkable: the birth of a new nonprofit advocacy organization whose sole purpose was to speak up for the hundreds of communities that have built municipal broadband networks, and the thousands more that want to but don't know where to start. Now, the American Association for Public Broadband has named as its Executive Director as Gigi Sohn, former Biden nominee to the Federal Communications Commission. And she's ready to get to work. ★ Support this ...
A Challenge A Day Will Make BEAD Go Our Way - Episode 562 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
July 25, 2023 21:47 - 36 minutes - 21.5 MBThis week on the podcast, Christopher is joined by Christine Parker (Senior GIS Analyst at ILSR), and Meghan Grabill (Geospatial Analyst at the Maine Connectivity Authority) to run through the recently announced NTIA location challenge process for the upcoming BEAD program and talk about how state processes can adjust eligible technologies and location types, shift of the burden of proof to the IPSs, allow of more flexible speed test data, and include the ability to add community an...
Wolves in Sheep's Clothing, Trojan Horse Networks, and Flowering BUDs - Episode 561 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
July 18, 2023 14:27 - 38 minutes - 22.7 MBThis week on the podcast, Christopher is joined by Sean Gonsalves to chat about the astroturf anti-municipal misinformation campaign being run by the Utah Taxpayer's Association, how a city negotiated a capital fee it's using to build its own network and get out from under Comcast's thumb, and the growing momentum behind Maine's Broadband Utility Districts (BUD) and their quest to improve competition and Internet access for residents. ★ Support this podcast ★
Mason PUD 3 is Snaking Its Way Through the Unserved and Underserved Parts of Washington State - Episode 560 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
July 11, 2023 20:08 - 27 minutes - 15.8 MBThis week on the podcast, Christopher is joined by Justin Holzgrove and Mike Rientjes from Mason County Public Utility District 3 in Washington State. The PUD provides electric service to more than 35,000 households across an area the size of Rhode Island, and began connecting its grid infrastructure to fiber in the late 1990s. Since 2003, it has operated an open access ftth network for households; an endeavor that has sped up since 2015, when residents began clamoring for more. To...
How Rural Internet Access is Being Transformed by Electric Cooperatives - Episode 559 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
July 05, 2023 21:12 - 25 minutes - 18.5 MBElectric cooperatives overwhelmingly serve regions that face population density challenges and income disparities as compared to their urban counterparts, as well as all of the other challenges that go with it: declining populations, hospital closures, increasingly frequent extreme weather events, and more. This week on the podcast, Christopher is joined by Brian O'Hara, Senior Director of Regulatory Issues for Telecom and Broadband at NRECA, to talk about how more than a quarter of...
The Public Utility District Taking on the Olympic Peninsula - Episode 558 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
June 27, 2023 20:53 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MBThis week on the podcast, Christopher is joined by Will O'Donnell, Broadband and Communications Director at Jefferson County Public Utility District in Washington State, to talk about the Herculean task facing the PUD: how to deploy an open access fiber network to the utility's 21,000 meters in some of the least-dense parts of the state. ★ Support this podcast ★
Demand Driven by the People in Kitsap County, Washington - Episode 557 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
June 20, 2023 20:15 - 29 minutes - 19.1 MBThis week on the podcast, Christopher is joined by three members from the Kitsap Public Utility District's open access FTTH team in Washington state to talk about the formation of Local Utility Districts, managing an open access network seeing increased demand, and the value of increased choice and competition for residents and businesses. ★ Support this podcast ★
How the Core Values of Small ISPs Contribute to Internet Access and Digital Equity for All - Episode 556 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
June 13, 2023 14:00 - 34 minutes - 23.9 MBThis week on the podcast, Christopher is joined by Angela Siefer (Executive Director, National Digital Inclusion Alliance) and Matt Larsen (CEO, Vistabeam) to talk about connecting the unconnected and doing digital equity work as a small Internet Service Provider (ISP). In a marketplace that heavily favors the largest cable and telephone providers, they share the ways that they participate in grant programs and how they actively build peer networks to exchange knowledge and make sur...
This Is Not the National Broadband Map We Were Promised - Episode 555 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
June 08, 2023 19:20 - 40 minutes - 22.6 MBIt's strange to see the FCC continually patting itself on the back for releasing a new national broadband map. Spend just a little bit of time with it, and the cracks and holes quickly show themselves. This week on the podcast, Christopher is joined by Christine Parker, Senior GIS Analyst at ILSR, and Alexis Schrubbe, Director of the Internet Equity Initiative at University of Chicago. They do a deep dive into the many, many problems that persist - and what we can do to fix them. ...
Filling in Connectivity Gaps with Open Access Fiber - Episode 554 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
May 30, 2023 17:22 - 18 minutes - 13.3 MBThis week on the podcast, Christopher speaks with Keith Quarles, President and CFO of A2D, a fiber-based, open access competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC). A2D stands for ‘Analog to Digital,’ and as Keith explains, represents the infrastructure transition from analog to digital communications. Chris and Keith discuss A2D’s business model, which focuses on filling in the gaps – serving communities where connectivity is unaffordable or the incumbent has chosen not to upgrade it...
Approaches to Digital Equity Work in Cleveland and Detroit - Episode 553 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
May 23, 2023 19:44 - 28 minutes - 20.4 MBThis week on the podcast, Christopher speaks with Joshua Edmonds, CEO of DigitalC, a nonprofit technology social enterprise in Cleveland. DigitalC offers affordable wireless service for $18/month, as well as a co-working and collaboration space for the community. Joshua served as Detroit’s Digital Inclusion Director for four years before heading DigitalC, and he and Christopher discuss Joshua's coalition-building work in Detroit. They compare his experience working under the city ...