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Vermont’s Community Broadband Model, Starlink, and the Future of Search - Episode 10 of Unbuffered

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In this episode of Unbuffered, Chris and Sean Gonsalves talk about Vermont’s push for universal connectivity, the future of Starlink and SpaceX, and major changes coming to Google Search.

They begin with Vermont and the state’s unique approach to broadband expansion through Communication Union Districts. Sean shares reporting on how Vermont is using local leadership, apprenticeship programs, community networks, and federal funding to bring fiber connectivity to the most rural state in the nation. You can find Sean's story about Vermont Closing In on Universal Broadband Access here.

Chris reflects on the long history behind these efforts, including earlier fights over wireless towers, Burlington Telecom, and the emergence of EC Fiber as a model for community broadband. 

Together, they discuss why Vermont’s approach “wasn’t inevitable,” and why local power and community organizing matter when building long-term infrastructure.

From there, the conversation turns to Starlink, SpaceX, and the future of the Universal Service Fund. Chris and Sean discuss Starlink’s rapid growth, SpaceX’s position on universal service, and concerns about replacing locally rooted providers with a monopoly platform that may not be able to serve everyone equally well. 

They also talk about rural connectivity, customer service, satellite capacity, and what happens when essential communications infrastructure is treated only as a market problem.

The episode closes with a “What the Tech!?!” segment focused on Google’s latest AI-powered search changes. Chris and Sean reflect on what it could mean for the future of the Internet, online content, platform economics, and the growing role of AI in everyday life. 

Along the way, they discuss “enshittification,” the pressure to monetize AI, and concerns about making human-created content harder to find online. 

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. 

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).

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Vermont Closes In on Universal Broadband Access as Federal Dollars, Local Innovation, and Workforce Training Converge

A line work is suspended in air reaching for fiber splice case on aerial fiber line next to a tree
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In the marathon to bring universal high-speed Internet service to the most rural state in the nation, Vermont is heading into the last-mile stretch of the race with the finish line in sight.

In February, the Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) announced that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) overseeing the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, had approved Vermont’s Final Proposal, unlocking $93 million of the state's nearly $229 million federal allocation.

After years of painstaking planning, public input, and navigating bureaucratic hurdles, it marked a pivotal moment – with the state's selected grant recipients cleared to begin deploying mostly fiber to the communities that have long been waiting for high-speed connectivity after decades of neglect from the Big Cable and Telecom providers.

“This is a major milestone for many of our rural towns and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen and revitalize communities,” Gov. Phil Scott said in a statement, crediting NTIA, Vermont's congressional delegation, and the VCBB for shepherding the state's plan.

Vermont State House building on a sunny day after snowfall

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, never one to mince words, spoke to both the significance and the frustration of the moment. “Affordable, high-speed [I]nternet is a vitally important resource in every corner of the country. It is foundational to modern life,” he said. 

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