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.

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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 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

In this episode of the podcast, Chris is joined by freelance journalist Karl Bode and ILSR’s Jordan Pittman for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of the Internet. 

They dig into the dangers of government overreach on free expression, the precarious role of Section 230, and how media consolidation threatens independent journalism. 

The group also unpacks the rise of “AI slop” — low-quality, automated content flooding our feeds — and what it means for media literacy, democracy, and the way younger generations navigate the online world.

This episode was recorded on September 22nd when Jimmy Kimmel Live! was still suspended by ABC

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.

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 reconnects with Jonathan Chambers from Conexon to unpack the past, present, and future of federal broadband policy. 

They revisit the lessons of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), the wave of defaults that followed, and why definitions of “broadband” have so often favored weaker technologies over fiber.

Jonathan shares insights on the BEAD program, the risks of funneling funds to satellite providers, and how policy choices today will shape whether rural communities thrive or wither tomorrow.

Despite frustrations, he ends with a call for evidence-based decisions and hope that local voices can still steer broadband investment where it’s needed most.

This show is 48 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 Sarah Morris, Managing Director of Technology at Waxman Strategies and former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at NTIA.

Sarah offers an insider’s perspective on the BEAD program, reflecting on her time helping design and launch the $42.5 billion initiative to close the digital divide.

Together, they unpack the Trump administration’s recent push to steer more households toward satellite service, what it means for state-led broadband planning, and the risks of undermining Congress’s original vision for BEAD.

The conversation also dives into the importance of non-deployment funds, why state-driven processes matter, and how to keep accountability and community needs at the center of federal broadband policy.

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.

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