In this episode of the podcast, Chris is joined by CBN colleagues Ry Marcattilio, Sean Gonsalves, and Christine Parker for a lively conversation about what they expect to shape broadband and technology policy in 2026. 

The team shares forecasts on everything from how many new municipal networks may come online to which states will keep building with local funding even as federal programs remain uncertain.

The discussion digs into the ongoing turbulence surrounding BEAD, including shifting rules, state-level roadblocks, and growing concerns that more communities could be left waiting yet another year for funding to arrive. 

They also debate the rise of fixed wireless access, the risks and limits of satellite connectivity, and why long-term infrastructure decisions can’t ignore real-world constraints.

Beyond broadband, the group explores the growing backlash to AI and data centers, questions about trust in government and Big Tech, and why digital skills and media literacy may become even more essential in daily life.

This show is 45 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 again by Doug Dawson for a candid conversation about where U.S. broadband policy stands as 2026 begins—and where it’s falling short.

The discussion takes a hard look at BEAD implementation delays, how uncertainty at the federal level is reshaping ISP behavior, and why many communities still struggle to plan amid shifting rules and political pressure. 

Doug explains what he’s hearing directly from providers on the ground, including concerns about overbuilding, affordability gaps, and the long-term sustainability of different network models.

Chris and Doug also explore the limits of satellite and fixed wireless solutions, the continuing importance of fiber infrastructure, and why policy debates often miss the practical realities of deployment and operations. 

The episode offers a grounded, experience-driven perspective on what communities should realistically expect in the coming years—and what questions they should be asking now.

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

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.

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

Catch the latest episode of the Connect This! Show, with co-hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter joined by regular guests Kim McKinley (Tak Broadband) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) to talk about all the recent broadband news that's fit to print. Topics include:

• Now that final Benefit of the Bargain numbers are in on the BEAD program, the trend is clear: tens of thousands of locations will no longer see any federal solution, and nearly a million more will get worse and more expensive satellite service rather the fiber.
• With BEAD now a shadow of what it could be, it's never been more apparent that local governments need to step into the gap. Where are they all?
• A new report claiming just 8 million Americans remain offline as of 2025 shows the trouble of asking too simple of questions and accepting too simple of answers in describing the problem of the digital divide.

Join us live on October 24th at 2pm ET, or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

Email us at broadband@communitynetworks.org with feedback and ideas for the show.

Subscribe to the show using this feed or find it on the Connect This! page, and watch on LinkedIn, on YouTube Live, on Facebook live, or below.

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

Catch the latest episode of the Connect This! Show, with co-hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter joined by regular guest Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) and special guests Josh Johnson and Donny Smith, from Fibersmith -  an OSS/BSS design and management firm for operators around the country. Topics of discussion  include:

• Secret fiber caps from NTIA to push BEAD funds toward LEO.
• A foiled cell attack in New York City.
• A deep dive on Fibersmith, and the things small and medium-sized operators need to think about long before they put their first shovel in the ground.

Join us live on September 26th at 2pm ET, or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

Email us at broadband@communitynets.org with feedback and ideas for the show.

Subscribe to the show using this feed or find it on the Connect This! page, and watch on LinkedIn, on YouTube Live, on Facebook live, or below.

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

Catch the latest episode of the Connect This! Show, with co-hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter joined by regular guests Kim McKinley (TAK Broadband) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) to talk about all the recent broadband news that's fit to print. Topics include:

• Starship launch success
• T-mobile buys USI Fiber in Minneapolis
• New BEAD numbers show a shifting of public dollars away from fiber and towards satellite
• AT&T buys Echostar spectrum; the 4th carrier is dead
• It's ISPs versus the music industry, with your privacy and connection on the chopping block

Join us live on September 5th at 2pm ET, or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

Email us at broadband@communitynets.org with feedback and ideas for the show.

Subscribe to the show using this feed or find it on the Connect This! page, and watch on LinkedIn, on YouTube Live, on Facebook live, or below.