Katie Kienbaum

Katie is a Research Associate with the Community Broadband Networks Initiative at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. She researches and writes about rural Internet access and community-owned networks.

Before joining ILSR, Katie conducted outreach to members of rural electric cooperatives in western North Carolina. She holds a degree in economics and environmental studies from the University of Pittsburgh.

Stories by this author

Electric Co-ops Request Expedited Rural Broadband Subsidies From FCC

Katie Kienbaum

on Apr 20, 2020

Earlier this month, more than 70 electric cooperatives joined consulting firm Conexon in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to speed up planned rural broadband funds in response to the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Master the Basics of Broadband with ILSR’s Christopher Mitchell on Merit Webinar

Katie Kienbaum

on Apr 16, 2020

Join the Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s Christopher Mitchell on Tuesday, May 5 at 12 p.m. ET for a webinar on broadband basics as part of Merit’s Michigan Moonshot Educational Series. The conversation will introduce various broadband solutions and technologies, giving participants the necessary foundation to start working on better Internet access locally.

Electric Cooperatives Connect Rural Southeast: Two Co-ops Plan FTTH Projects

Katie Kienbaum

on Apr 15, 2020

Two more electric cooperatives recently announced plans to build Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) networks to connect their rural members in the southeastern United States with high-quality Internet access.

NC Needs Local Internet Choice to Tackle Pandemic - Community Broadband Bits Episode 404

Katie Kienbaum

on Apr 14, 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic is affecting communities across the country in different ways. Recently, Christopher called up Scott Mooneyham, Director of Political Communications and Coordination for the North Carolina League of Municipalities, to find out how towns and cities in the Tar Heel State are faring.

Upcoming Rural Assembly Events Spotlight Critical Need for Better Rural and Tribal Broadband During Pandemic

Katie Kienbaum

on Apr 14, 2020

The Rural Assembly is hosting two livestreamed events on Internet access in rural and Native communities during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The first event, scheduled for Thursday, April 16 at 4 p.m. ET, will explore how people in rural areas and on tribal lands are accessing broadband and the impacts of limited connectivity. Speakers at the second session, on Friday, April 22 at 4 p.m. ET, will discuss how federal policymakers and other government officials are addressing the lack of reliable rural broadband and what more needs to be done.

Monopoly ISPs Too Big to Make Good on Covid-19 Internet Offers

Katie Kienbaum

on Apr 10, 2020

Because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Internet access is more important than ever before. Elementary school math classes, routine doctor’s appointments, after-work happy hours, and more all require a high-speed broadband connection now.

Benefits of Telehealth Go Beyond Covid-19 in Rural NC - Community Broadband Bits Podcast, Bonus Episode Seven

Katie Kienbaum

on Apr 9, 2020

With Covid-19 cases growing across the country, it's more important now than ever that households have access to telehealth services. For the seventh episode of the "Why NC Broadband Matters" podcast series, we spoke with Dave Kirby, president of the North Carolina Telehealth Network Association, about the role of telehealth in the healthcare system, both during the pandemic and after it ends. "Why NC Broadband Matters" is created in partnership with NC Broadband Matters, a nonprofit organization working to connect communities across North Carolina to high-quality broadband access.

OpenCape Residential Fiber Pilot a Window to Better Connectivity on Cape Cod

Katie Kienbaum

on Apr 9, 2020

Earlier this month, OpenCape Corporation, a nonprofit fiber provider in southeastern Massachusetts, announced that it will pilot Fiber-to-the-Premises residential service at a new mixed-use development in Hyannis on Cape Cod.

Community Broadband Networks Round up Half of ReConnect Round One Awards

Katie Kienbaum

on Apr 8, 2020

Last fall, we reported on the large number of community-owned broadband networks among the applicants for the first round of the U.S.

Think Local, Connect Global with Smart Wireless Policy - Community Broadband Bits Episode 403

Katie Kienbaum

on Apr 7, 2020

This week on the Community Broadband Bits podcast, Christopher speaks with Steve Song, a fellow at Mozilla who works to connect unserved communities across the globe. Steve shares his background starting out at a nonprofit Internet service provider in 1990s South Africa, and they discuss the negative but mostly positive effects of widespread Internet access. While acknowledging the limitations of mobile connectivity, Steve describes the essential role wireless technologies have played in connecting people worldwide. To get everyone online, Steve argues that we need a mixture of models, including wireless providers.