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.

Transcript below.

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

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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.

Transcript below.

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

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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.

Transcript below.

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

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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.

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.

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 longtime guest Sascha Meinrath of Penn State University to unravel what's really happening with the BEAD program—and why federal officials are quietly rewriting the rules behind closed doors. 

Sascha explains how BEAD funding is being diverted away from states and into satellite providers like SpaceX, despite overwhelming data that current Starlink capacity already fails to deliver broadband speeds for most users. 

They also unpack misleading speed test metrics, the dangers of ignoring physics in satellite planning, and the looming risk of space congestion. 

With policy negligence threatening rural investment, economic development, and even national infrastructure, Sascha issues a stark reminder: when science is sidelined, communities pay the price.

This show is 49 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 catches up with Doug Dawson of CCG Consulting to unpack the latest broadband news—from Ookla’s new “Speedtest Pulse” product to NTIA’s controversial rule changes around the BEAD program.

The two discuss how ISPs manipulate speed test results, why continuous monitoring is key to measuring real Internet performance, and the legal and political fallout of the federal government’s recent broadband decisions.

They also dive into USDA ReConnect reauthorization, state-federal tensions over broadband laws, and the growing chaos around AI regulation.

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.

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 Karl Bode and Sean Gonsalves to unpack three major broadband stories shaping the moment: 

California’s new law giving tenants the right to opt out of monopolistic bulk billing deals, Comcast’s latest play to cozy up to Washington power, and how the federal “benefit of the bargain” shift is gutting BEAD and funneling billions toward Starlink. 

The trio discusses how these developments expose deeper issues of corruption, enforcement, and the growing divide between corporate priorities and community broadband needs.

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.

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’s Jordan Pittman sit down for a candid, post-retreat conversation about what comes after the BEAD program.

They dig into the gaps left behind by federal broadband mapping, why millions of Americans will still be unconnected or unable to afford service, and how short-term policymaking risks leaving rural communities behind.

The pair also unpack the challenges with Starlink’s limitations, the false promise of corporate “efficiency,” and why public investment—and accountability—remain key to real digital equity.

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 is joined by Mike Masnick, founder and editor of Techdirt, for a wide-ranging conversation about the Internet’s past, present, and uncertain future.

They dive into the origins and misunderstood purpose of Section 230, the bipartisan push to reform it, and how most proposed “fixes” could actually make the Internet worse—especially for smaller platforms and individual users.

Along the way, Mike and Chris discuss government overreach, misinformation, and why protecting free expression online means accepting complexity over easy answers.

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.

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