Episodes

The larger focus of our work in the Community Broadband Networks Initiative is to ensure communities have the networks they need. Our guest for Community Broadband Bits episode 250 is an expert in how markets break and the policies that make them work. Gary Reback is a well known Silicon Valley lawyer and Of Counsel at … Continue reading "Policies to Make Markets Work – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 250"

As we continue to cover the growing movement of rural electric cooperatives to bring high quality Internet networks to their members, we wanted to bring Alyssa Clemsen-Roberts back on the show. Alyssa was last on the show for episode 109 and has since moved from the Utilities Telecom Council to Pedernales Electric Co-op in Texas.Though Pedernales … Continue reading "Rural Electric Co-ops as Reluctant Warriors for Broadband – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 249"

Located in southeast Pennsylvania, Lancaster will soon have some of the fastest Internet access in the entire state due to its partnership with a local telecommunications firm, MAW Communications. We reported on many details about this approach here, but Community Broadband Bits podcast episode 248 offers an in-depth look.Lancaster Business Administrator Patrick Hopkins and MAW … Continue reading "LanCity Connect Partnership Brings Gig to Southeast Pennsylvania – Community Broadband Bits Podcast...

While at the annual Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities Broadband Conference, I forced Ken Demlow to be our guest on Community Broadband Bits Podcast 247. Ken is the Sales Director for Newcom Technologies, where he has worked with many different fiber-optic deployments on the ground and is a fun guy to talk to more generally.Our discussion focuses … Continue reading "Using Fiber for Smart Grid and the Pole Problem in Nashville – Community Broadband Bits 247"

After discussing this issue time and time again, with community after community, we finally recorded our thoughts on how communities should get started when considering a community network. Eric Lampland, the guy behind Lookout Point Communications, is our guest on Community Broadband Bits podcast episode 246. We talk about common mistakes and the importance of developing … Continue reading "Feasibility Study? How to Start a Community Network – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 246"

Like other urban centers in the U.S., Boston is filled with multi dwelling units (MDUs) and buildings that house multiple business tenants. Obtaining high-quality connectivity in such an environment can be a challenge, especially if choices are limited to just one or two incumbents with little or no competition. With the advancement of new fixed … Continue reading "netBlazr Offering Blazing Fast Fixed Wireless – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 245"

West Plains is one of the many population centers of rural regions that have been left behind by big cable and telephone companies. Located in the scenic Ozarks of southern Missouri, they are taking their digital future into their own hands with a modest fiber-optic investment.City Administrator Tom Stehn strolls by our podcast this week … Continue reading "West Plains Builds Network to Preserve Jobs – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 244"

As an increasing number of rural electric cooperatives are working to bring high-quality Internet access to their members, we’re learning more about new projects and the people behind them. This week, we talk with the CEO of the North Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Mel Coleman. As an added bonus, we get Mel’s insight as President of … Continue reading "What's NEXT In North Arkansas? – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 243"

Susan Crawford has come back to the podcast to tell us about her recent travels in North Carolina and Tennessee, talking to people on the ground that have already built fiber-optic networks or are in the midst of figuring out how to get them deployed.Susan is a professor at Harvard Law, the author of The … Continue reading "Susan Crawford's Road Trip – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 242"

One of the most recurring complaints about cable television is the bundles – people resent having to pay for channels that they do not watch. Especially when those cable prices go up consistently. The cable companies tend to absorb most of the blame and anger for this model, but they aren't entirely responsible.To explain how … Continue reading "The Cable UnBundling Challenge – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 241"

The most rural area of Missouri is getting a Fiber-to-the-Home network from the United Electric Cooperative, which has created United Fiber and is expanding across its footprint and to adjacent areas that want better Internet access. Chief Development Officer Darren Farnan joins us to explain why his co-op has taken these steps.We discuss how they … Continue reading "United Fiber Tackles Missouri's Most Rural – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 240"

After last week's podcast on Lincoln and its small cell policy, we wanted to offer a longer discussion about small cell wireless technology and the policy around it. Crown Castle is a firm focused on enabling wireless solutions and Acquisitions Manager in Corporate Development Strategy Duffy Newman joins us for episode 239 of the Community … Continue reading "Small Cells, Fiber, and Local Governments – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 239"

We’ve been covering happenings in Lincoln, Nebraska for several years now. The city’s Right of Way Manager David Young joins us for episode 238 of the Community Broadband Bits podcast. David is a returning guest; this week, he’s here to talk about Lincoln’s new venture into small cell technology.The state imposes restrictions on municipalities in … Continue reading "Small Cells Yield Big Results In Lincoln – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 238"

When we first learned of the Lookout Lane fiber-optic project in the Kitsap Public Utility District in Washington, we knew we wanted to learn more. Kitsap PUD General Manager Bob Hunter and Telecommunications Superintendent Paul Avis join us for episode 237 of the Community Broadband Bits podcast.KPUD has historically focused on water and wastewater services … Continue reading "Kitsap Residents Demand Fiber – And Get it – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 237"

From our research, we believe the municipal fiber-optic network in Wilson, North Carolina, has the best low-income Internet access program in the nation. Called Greenlight, the fiber network has led to job growth and been a financial success. And now it also offers $10 per month 50 Mbps symmetrical Internet access to those living in … Continue reading "Wilson Greenlight, Public Housing Authority Solve Access Gap – Community Broadband Bits Episode 236"

Nestled in the Cherokee National Forest on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, not far from Virginia, is Erwin. Erwin Utilities runs the water, wastewater, and electricity for the town of 6,000 and long wanted to invest in a fiber network. After years of following industry trends, they developed a plan to build it … Continue reading "Erwin Deploys Phased Fiber Plan – Community Broadband Bits 235"

Due to illness during the past few weeks, Christopher has been out of commission, in a podcasting sense. He’s on the upswing now, but we’ve decided to give him the week off so he can come back strong for the first podcast of 2017.In the mean time, we hope you will expand your ILSR podcast … Continue reading "Community Broadband Bits Podcast Will Be Back Next Week"

It's that time of year – for reflection of the past and thinking about the future. Lisa, Nick, Hannah, and I discuss the previous year and then make some predictions for next year.Along the way, we have some banter and occasionally an insightful comment if you listen hard enough.Read the transcript of the show here. We … Continue reading "2016 Review, 2017 Predictions – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 234"

This week, we return to Bozeman's unique model in Montana to get an update now that the network is up and running. President of Bozeman Fiber Anthony Cochenour and city of Bozeman Economic Development Director Brit Fontenot join us again to discuss their unique approach. We last spoke with them on episode 142.We discuss how … Continue reading "Bozeman Unique Fiber Model Gets Good Start – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 233"

Located in northwest Iowa, Osage has been an innovative utility leader with forward-looking investments in both telecommunications and clean energy with wind and solar. Osage Municipal Utilites General Manager Josh Byrnes joins us for Community Broadband Bits podcast 232. He is also in the midst of retiring after 3 terms in the Iowa Legislature. Osage built … Continue reading "Osage and the Iowa Legislature – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 232"

Cities across America are implementing policies that create friendly environments for Internet Service Providers in order to encourage competition. In San Francisco, the Board of Supervisors is now considering legislation that will create choice for residents or businesses in multi-welling units, or MDUs. In episode 231, Mark Farrell, a member of the Board of Supervisors, joins … Continue reading "San Francisco Proposal For Tenant ISP Choice – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 231"

In a break from our traditional format of 20-30 minutes (or so), we have a special in-depth interview this week with Harold Depriest, the former CEO and President of Chattanooga's Electric Power Board. He recently retired after 20 incredibly transformative years for both Chattanooga and its municipal electric utility. We talk about the longer history behind … Continue reading "The Deep History of Chattanooga's Fiber Network – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 230"

Rural electric co-ops have started delivering high quality Internet access to their member-owners and our guest this week on Community Broadband Bits episode 229 is dedicated to helping these co-ops to build fiber-optic networks throughout their territories. Jon Chambers is a partner at Conexon and was previously the head of the FCC's Office of Strategic Planning and … Continue reading "Rural Electrics Solve Rural Internet Access Problems – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 229"

When we last spoke to people from Lincoln, Nebraska, about their innovative conduit program to improve Internet access, we focused on how they had done it – Conduits Lead to Competition, podcast 182. For this week and episode 228 of the Community Broadband Bits podcast, we focus more on the community benefits their approach has led … Continue reading "City of Lincoln Conduit Spurs FTTH, School Network Innovation – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 228"