In this episode of Unbuffered, Chris reconnects with Keith Hanson, former Chief Technology Officer for Shreveport, Louisiana, and current consultant at KeithHanson.io. The two dive into the practical realities, trade-offs, and systemic challenges local governments face when deploying smart city technology, public safety infrastructure, and community broadband.

The conversation begins with Keith's experiences leading technology initiatives in Shreveport, including the establishment of a civilian-led Real-Time Crime Center and the deployment of local camera systems. 

Keith explains why he opted to build low-cost, off-the-shelf camera systems rather than paying steep subscription fees to private vendors who harvest public data into centralized cloud databases. 

Chris and Keith discuss the privacy implications of mass surveillance, contrasting focused license plate readers (LPRs) with dragnet AI tracking systems, and examine why local governments should maintain strict control over municipal data.

From there, Chris and Keith turn to the operational and cultural barriers within municipal IT departments. Keith shares his perspective on navigating government bureaucracy, managing talent, and overcoming rigid HR policies that disincentivize innovation. 

They also discuss creative infrastructure solutions—such as using CBRS networks and library fiber to deliver low-cost connectivity, conducting Wi-Fi war driving via municipal garbage trucks, and exploring fiber-optic acoustic sensing for traffic management and leak detection—before reflecting on the political friction that can derail ambitious public technology projects.

Finally, Keith reflects on his transition back to the private sector and shares how modern AI coding tools and documentation agents are making it easier for lean municipal IT teams to build, maintain, and own custom technology solutions.

Throughout the episode, Chris and Keith connect local IT procurement and surveillance debates with broader questions about digital privacy, fiscal responsibility, and how local governments can foster genuine innovation.

This show is 56 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 (formerly Community Broadband Bits) or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Whitedrift for the song Operator, licensed Creative Commons Attribution (3.0).

In this episode of Unbuffered, Chris sits down with independent reporter Daniel Boguslaw to explore the growing friction between technology, privacy, and local governance. 

The conversation centers on Flock Safety—a network of automated license plate readers and surveillance cameras—and how it has sparked a nationwide debate over corporate surveillance, national databases, and civil liberties.

Chris and Daniel begin by exploring what Flock actually is—beyond simple traffic cameras—and how its centralized, network-wide license plate tracking creates massive databases of human movement. 

They examine how private surveillance data is increasingly bought, repackaged, and utilized by federal agencies to bypass constitutional protections, enabling broader dragnet tracking and political intimidation.

From there, the conversation turns to the growing grassroots resistance to mass surveillance. Daniel and Chris discuss how citizens across the political spectrum are exercising local civic power through city councils to cancel Flock contracts and reject ungoverned technology in their communities.

Finally, Chris and Daniel tackle the false choice between total surveillance and public safety, contrasting high-tech dragnet systems like Flock and ShotSpotter with proven, trust-building community policing strategies.

Throughout the episode, Chris and Daniel connect these local battles to broader questions about civil liberties, corporate power, and how everyday people can reclaim control over the technology in their lives.

This show is 55 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 (formerly Community Broadband Bits) or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Whitedrift for the song Operator, licensed Creative Commons Attribution (3.0).

In this episode of Unbuffered, Chris is joined again by Doug Dawson of CCG Consulting for a wide-ranging conversation about Fiber deployment, Starlink’s latest ambitions, and the changing role of the Federal Communications Commission.

Chris and Doug begin with some good news for Fiber builders, discussing a recent Seventh Circuit ruling in a dispute between CSX and Zayo over railroad rights-of-way. They explore why crossing railroad tracks has long been a costly and frustrating obstacle for broadband projects and how the decision could make it easier to deploy Fiber across railroad corridors if the ruling holds.

From there, the conversation turns to Starlink and its ambitions to become a mobile network operator. Chris and Doug examine what it would actually take for Starlink to compete with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, including the enormous number of cell sites, ground stations, Fiber connections, and other infrastructure needed to build a competitive mobile network.

Finally, Chris and Doug discuss the future of the FCC following recent court decisions that have reshaped the authority of federal agencies and the president’s ability to remove commissioners. They consider what those changes could mean for the FCC’s independence, its ability to set communications policy, and the role of courts in reviewing agency decisions.

Throughout the episode, Chris and Doug connect these developments to broader questions about competition, infrastructure investment, regulatory authority, and who will shape the future of telecommunications.

This show is 31 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 (formerly Community Broadband Bits) or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Whitedrift for the song Operator, licensed Creative Commons Attribution (3.0).

In this episode of Unbuffered, Chris is joined by Lee Brown, President and CEO of Erwin Utilities, and John Fredericks, Director of Information Technology at Erwin Fiber, for a conversation about community resilience, local infrastructure, and rebuilding after Hurricane Helene.

Lee and John reflect on the devastating flooding that struck Erwin, Tennessee, in September 2024, washing away homes, damaging the industrial park, and destroying hundreds of utility poles carrying both electric and fiber infrastructure. They share how the community responded in the days and months that followed, from neighbors helping neighbors to utility crews working to restore essential services.

The conversation also looks back at Erwin Fiber’s incremental approach to building its network. Chris, Lee, and John discuss how careful planning, local support, and investments in redundancy helped the system remain resilient during the disaster, allowing much of the community to stay connected even as other infrastructure failed.

From there, they explore how Erwin Utilities is using the recovery process to build back stronger. John shares plans to expand network redundancy, move toward XGS-PON, and roll out new Wi-Fi capabilities designed to support first responders and customers during future emergencies.

Throughout the episode, Lee and John emphasize that reliable Internet access is about more than speed. It is about connection, trust, and having local institutions that understand the community they serve. Their experience after Helene offers a powerful example of why resilient infrastructure and local accountability matter when disaster strikes.

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 (formerly Community Broadband Bits) or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Whitedrift for the song Operator, licensed Creative Commons Attribution (3.0).

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 speaks with Mauricio Rodriguez about the realities of managing broadband infrastructure projects—particularly on tribal lands.

Mauricio shares lessons learned from years of navigating permitting, environmental reviews, land negotiations, and the complexities of coordinating with community members, federal agencies, and contractors.

They discuss the critical importance of setting standards, realistic timelines, and hiring experts with local experience, as well as the unexpected challenges that arise—from zoning hurdles to wildlife encounters.

Mauricio offers advice for community leaders stepping into this work for the first time, emphasizing patience, planning, and the value of strong partnerships in building networks that last.

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 Sascha Meinrath, Palmer Chair of Telecommunications at Penn State, for a wide-ranging, discussion about the book Abundance by Derek Thompson and Ezra Klein—and what it gets wrong about broadband and public policy. 

They dive into the historical failures of corporatist infrastructure models, the rise of regulatory complexity that benefits incumbents, and the dangers of framing government as the problem instead of part of the solution. 

From the Kingsbury Commitment to BEAD to trickle-down tech policy, Chris and Sascha explore why bold, community-centered visions of abundance are necessary to deliver real digital equity and structural change.

This show is 39 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

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 talks with Brian Vo (Connect Humanity) and Clara Miller (Federal Reserve Bank of New York) about unlocking mission-driven capital to bring broadband to historically excluded communities.

They explore how broadband networks, like other public utilities, can be funded through creative partnerships and financial tools that align with long-term community goals.

From the early lessons of the CDFI movement to success stories like Macon County, Alabama, this conversation highlights how inclusive, community-centered financing can build sustainable Internet infrastructure for the future.

This show is 30 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

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 Bob Frankston, a pioneer in home networking and co-creator of VisiCalc, to explore the evolution of Internet infrastructure.

Frankston challenges the conventional understanding of networking, arguing that the Internet should be treated as a public utility rather than a commodity. He reflects on the origins of home networking, the rise of broadband, and why the current telecommunications model is fundamentally broken.

Frankston advocates for a future where connectivity is treated like roads and sidewalks—open, abundant, and community-owned.

Tune in for a deep dive into how shifting the business model of broadband could unlock new opportunities for innovation and resilience.  

This show is 47 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

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 talks with Michael Keough, Chief Information Officer for Region 16 Education Service Center in the Texas Panhandle. Michael shares how Region 16 is transitioning from being an Internet provider to building a more resilient, high-speed network for 60 school districts across 26,000 square miles.

He explains the shift to a 10 Gig ring network to prevent outages, the importance of open access fiber to drive competition and lower costs, and how new edge data centers will enhance reliability and support future technologies like AI and quantum networking.

Michael also discusses the economic and educational benefits of better infrastructure, from strengthening school security to attracting new businesses.

Tune in to learn how strategic investments in broadband can empower schools and communities alike.

This show is 25 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

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