In this episode of the podcast, Chris reconnects with Jason Mittler, manager of FPUAnet at the Fort Pierce Utilities Authority, for a two-year update on the city’s smart city broadband strategy.

Since their last conversation, Fort Pierce has continued expanding its municipally operated fiber network — now passing thousands of parcels and accelerating construction toward a long-term goal of serving its electric territory. 

Jason shares how the phased, measured deployment approach has allowed the utility to learn, refine operations, and balance broadband expansion alongside major infrastructure investments like a new wastewater treatment facility.

The episode dives into Fort Pierce’s Lincoln Park Smart Neighborhood initiative, where fiber deployment, public Wi-Fi, and community partnerships aim to close persistent digital equity gaps. 

While subscription take rates have proven challenging in lower-income areas, expanded free Wi-Fi in public housing and parks has delivered immediate access benefits. 

Jason also explains how owning the fiber backbone enables Fort Pierce to support police cameras, smart grid infrastructure, and municipal networking at lower long-term cost.

Beyond infrastructure, the conversation highlights the broader value of municipal broadband: local technical expertise, collaborative planning with city and county partners, and reinvesting revenue back into the community. 

The episode closes with a notable milestone — FPUAnet recently lowered its broadband rates, reinforcing its commitment to affordability while continuing steady network growth.

This show is 32 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed. 

You can also check out the video version via YouTube.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

In this episode of the podcast, Chris is joined again by Doug Dawson and Sean Gonsalves for a fast-moving discussion of the latest developments reshaping the broadband landscape. 

The trio unpacks a wave of major telecom mergers, including AT&T’s acquisition of Lumen assets and Frontier’s consolidation, and what growing market power means for prices, competition, and consumers.

They dig into new research from Chattanooga showing the long-term economic and community benefits of municipal fiber, alongside a major California Public Utilities Commission study revealing how lack of competition drives higher broadband prices—especially for low-income households. 

Doug explains how ISPs increasingly use neighborhood-by-neighborhood pricing tactics, leaving long-time customers paying the most for the slowest speeds.

The conversation also revisits Starlink’s controversial demands to rewrite BEAD program rules, the uncertain future of non-deployment funds, and why satellite solutions continue to fall short of their promises. 

Rounding out the episode, the group explores emerging pressures from AI-driven bandwidth demands, consolidation in wholesale fiber markets, and troubling legal trends that raise questions about accountability, regulation, and consumer protections.

This show is 51 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed. 

You can also check out the video version via YouTube.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

In this episode of the podcast, Chris is joined by Doug Adams, head of Broadband Marketers and writer at Broadband.io, and Karl Bode for a wide-ranging discussion on recent developments reshaping federal broadband policy.

The conversation centers on Starlink’s latest efforts to reshape BEAD program requirements through confidential riders sent to state broadband offices—requests that would dramatically reduce accountability, alter performance standards, and deliver large sums of public funding upfront. 

Doug breaks down what states are being asked to accept, why NTIA has reportedly warned states not to sign on, and how these demands differ from the obligations placed on fiber and fixed wireless providers.

Chris and Karl place the moment in historical context, comparing it to past telecom subsidy failures and raising concerns about affordability, capacity limits, consumer protections, and long-term resilience. 

The discussion also touches on broader themes: the erosion of federal oversight, the future of municipal broadband, how ARPA funds are still quietly delivering results in states like New York, and why community-driven fiber networks may once again become the fallback as federal promises falter.

The episode closes with reflections on accountability, public trust, and the real-world impacts of policy decisions on rural communities.

This show is 50 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed. 

You can also check out the video version via YouTube.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

In this episode of the podcast, Chris and Sean Gonsalves are joined by Brendan Kelly, founder of REVinternet, a new Internet Service Provider focused on bringing better connectivity to manufactured housing communities. 

Brendan shares how years working inside large telecom companies—and later with smaller ISPs—revealed just how consistently these communities are overlooked, locked into aging coaxial networks, and offered little incentive for upgrades.

The conversation explores why manufactured housing parks present unique challenges for broadband deployment, from private land ownership and outdated infrastructure to stigma and lack of competition. 

Brendan explains REVinternet’s service-agnostic approach, combining fiber, fixed wireless, and other technologies to deliver affordable, reliable Internet while working directly with park owners and residents.

Chris, Sean, and Brendan also dig into the role of digital equity, customer support, and trust-building—discussing everything from payment flexibility and digital navigation to partnerships with municipal networks. 

The episode offers a thoughtful look at how targeted, community-centered broadband strategies can succeed where one-size-fits-all policies have failed, and why manufactured housing residents deserve the same quality connectivity as any other neighborhood.

This show is 28 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

You can also check out the video version via YouTube.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

In this episode of the podcast, Chris is joined by CBN colleagues Ry Marcattilio, Sean Gonsalves, and Christine Parker for a lively conversation about what they expect to shape broadband and technology policy in 2026. 

The team shares forecasts on everything from how many new municipal networks may come online to which states will keep building with local funding even as federal programs remain uncertain.

The discussion digs into the ongoing turbulence surrounding BEAD, including shifting rules, state-level roadblocks, and growing concerns that more communities could be left waiting yet another year for funding to arrive. 

They also debate the rise of fixed wireless access, the risks and limits of satellite connectivity, and why long-term infrastructure decisions can’t ignore real-world constraints.

Beyond broadband, the group explores the growing backlash to AI and data centers, questions about trust in government and Big Tech, and why digital skills and media literacy may become even more essential in daily life.

This show is 45 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

You can also check out the video version via YouTube.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

In this episode of the podcast, Chris is joined again by Doug Dawson for a candid conversation about where U.S. broadband policy stands as 2026 begins—and where it’s falling short.

The discussion takes a hard look at BEAD implementation delays, how uncertainty at the federal level is reshaping ISP behavior, and why many communities still struggle to plan amid shifting rules and political pressure. 

Doug explains what he’s hearing directly from providers on the ground, including concerns about overbuilding, affordability gaps, and the long-term sustainability of different network models.

Chris and Doug also explore the limits of satellite and fixed wireless solutions, the continuing importance of fiber infrastructure, and why policy debates often miss the practical realities of deployment and operations. 

The episode offers a grounded, experience-driven perspective on what communities should realistically expect in the coming years—and what questions they should be asking now.

This show is 41 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

You can also check out the video version via YouTube.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

In the first episode of the new year, Chris is joined once again by Blair Levin to unpack what 2025 delivered and what 2026 may hold for broadband, media, and technology policy.

The two revisit last year’s predictions on tariffs, deportations, BEAD implementation delays, and federal broadband investment, assessing where expectations aligned with reality — and where they didn’t. 

The conversation also explores deeper structural issues facing the broadband ecosystem: the growing affordability crisis after the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program, the long-term implications for universal service, and the emerging tension between fiber, fixed wireless, and satellite competition. 

Looking beyond broadband, the episode tackles the rising backlash against Big Tech and AI, the expansion of online gambling, consolidation in media ownership, and what Blair calls the shift from free markets to a “market for political affection.” 

The discussion closes with reflections on what it will take to rebuild trust, competition, and accountability in an era where policy, power, and technology are more intertwined than ever.

This show is 51 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

You can also check out the video version via YouTube.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

In this special year-end episode of the podcast, Chris is joined by Community Broadband Networks colleagues Jordan Pittman, Sean Gonsalves, Jess Auer, Christine Parker, Ry Marcattilio, and DeAnne Cuellar for a wide-ranging and candid review of 2025’s biggest broadband developments.

The team revisits their predictions from the start of the year, unpacking what they got right—and where reality proved far harsher than expected. 

The conversation dives deep into the troubled rollout of the BEAD program, including delays, shrinking ambitions, and the growing uncertainty facing rural and Tribal communities. 

They also explore the fallout from the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program, the chilling effect on state affordability efforts, and the broader consequences of federal inaction on digital equity.

Along the way, the group highlights important bright spots, including Tribal Nations securing BEAD awards, new municipal networks coming online, and continued local leadership in states like New York and California. 

At the same time, they grapple with rising broadband prices, consolidation in the telecom industry, stalled competition policy, and what it means when Internet access continues to fall off the national priority list.

Tune in for thoughtful reflection, sharp analysis, and a clear-eyed discussion of what 2025 taught us—and what communities should be watching as the fight for fast, affordable, and accountable Internet access continues into 2026.

This show is 51 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

You can also check out the video version via YouTube.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

In this episode of the podcast, Chris sits down with telecom veteran Richard Shockey to unpack one of the biggest shifts happening quietly inside America’s communications networks: the death of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). 

Shockey explains why the traditional phone system is collapsing, how the FCC has failed to prepare the country for an all-IP future, and what this means for 911, rural access, and the millions of Americans still dependent on copper networks.

They dive into corporate consolidation, the disappearance of regulatory oversight, the national security risks of unmanaged VoIP systems, and why carriers are allowed to walk away from universal service obligations without a plan to replace them. 

Shockey makes the case that policymakers are sleepwalking into a telecommunications crisis — and communities need to push for resilience, public oversight, and real investment before the cliff becomes unavoidable.

This show is 60 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

You can also check out the video version via YouTube.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

In this episode of the podcast, Chris and ILSR Senior Researcher Jess Auer talk with David Kulp, a broadband advocate in Western Massachusetts, about one of the most ambitious rural fiber projects in the country. 

They trace the story of how more than a dozen tiny hill towns—some with only a few hundred residents—banded together to form the Wired West cooperative, organize hundreds of volunteers, and push the state to invest in real last-mile infrastructure rather than “good enough” service.

David shares how the project survived shifting state priorities, skepticism from policymakers, and repeated attempts to push towns into private broadband deals. 

The group discusses construction challenges, the crucial role of Westfield Gas & Electric as an operational partner, and why locally owned networks now enjoy take rates as high as 80–90 percent. 

Check out Jess's report on Western Massachusetts here.

This show is 35 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

You can also check out the video version via YouTube.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license