Connected Nation

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode of Connected Nation, we're joined by a  special guest who has spent nearly a decade researching the Digital Divide and meeting many of those who are directly impacted by it.

Find out what Dr. Christopher Ali is working on now AND the claim he says many broadband leaders need to stop making now or risk creating more harm. 

Recommended links:
Get "Farm Fresh Broadband: The Politics of Rural Connectivity"

Dr. Christopher Ali 

Penn State University

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk to a father and son team who rep a host of manufacturers in the broadband space. Find out how their model fills the needs of a wide range of companies, programs, and projects.

Recommended links:

Communications Marketing Systems - https://superrep.com/

Ken Lazear (dad) and Jake Lazear (son)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-lazear-586a20149/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacoblazear/

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode of Connected Nation, we ask what the Danish can do to help build out broadband in America? I talk to a rep with Lynddahl Telecom about the product they're now manufacturing in the US to do just that. 

Recommended links: 

Lynddahl Telecom website 

Pete Spehr, SVP of Sales, Lynddahl Telecom America - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-spehr-0437042/

 

Send us Fan Mail

On this special edition of Connected Nation, we head back to Wichita, Kansas one last time for the AI Interconnection Summit, which took place on Thursday, September 11th. 

This time we talk with leadership from Stevens Fiber Group and Moonshot Energy about what they do, why Kansas is on their radar, and the reason this summit was their can't miss event.

Recommended links:
AI Interconnection Summit website

Stevens Fiber Group's website 

Allen Meyer's Linkedin profile

Moonshot Energy's website 

Bryan Lubin's Linkedin profile 

Send us Fan Mail

On this special edition of Connected Nation, we head BACK to Wichita, Kansas for an AI Interconnection Summit.

This time,  we talk with the woman many credit with greenlighting the FIRST EVER Internet Exchange Point in Kansas and with one CEO who is going to help make it a reality.

Recommended links:
AI Interconnection Summit website

Socket Fiber website

Jade Piros de Carvalho Linkedin profile 

iM Data Centers website

Mike Roark Linkedin profile 

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode of Connected Nation, we continue our coverage from Mountain Connect 2025 as we sit down with broadband entrepreneur Scott Sampson, CEO of Blueprint Broadband and founder of Light Craft and Mac Mountain to talk about the fast-changing tech landscape. 

Hear how his ventures are supporting ISPs with financing, operations, and shared services and why collaboration is the key to closing the Digital Divide.

Recommended links:

Scott Sampson LinkedIn

Blueprint Broadband

Mac Mountain

Send us Fan Mail

On this special edition of Connected Nation, we head to Wichita, Kansas for a first-of-its-kind event – an AI Interconnection Summit.

We begin our coverage with Ivo Ivanov - the CEO of DE-CIX - one of the world’s biggest names when it comes to internet infrastructure.  

Find out why he felt it was critical to travel to America’s heartland for the summit, what his company is doing there in the long term, and why what’s happening there will ultimately impact us all. 

Recommended links:
AI Interconnection Summit website

DE-CIX website

Ivo Ivanov's Linkedin profile 

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode of Connected Nation, we are joined by the leadership at the Range, which is short for regional accelerator and new growth engine. 

Learn how the organization is focusing on creating incredible innovation for everything from energy and food production to workforce development and healthcare in one of the most rural places in America - the Texas Panhandle.

Recommended Links:

The Range website

The Range LinkedIn

Matt Garner LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail

What makes Fort Collins’ community-owned internet one of the best ISPs in the nation? Find out from their Broadband Executive Director on this latest episode of the Connected Nation podcast. 

Join us as we sit down with Chad Crager to discuss how this city-built network is redefining customer service, digital inclusion, and the future of broadband.

Recommended Links: 

Chad Crager LinkedIn

Fort Collins Connexion

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode of Connected Nation, we continue our coverage from Mountain Connect 2025 as we sit down with Connected Nation's very own Brent Legg, Executive Vice President, Government Affairs. We discuss the one-of-a-kind Connected Nation Internet Exchange Point (IXP) joint venture with Newby Ventures and why it's so important for the future of connectivity.

Learn about the latest policy and infrastructure needs—PLUS the challenges and opportunities ahead in 2025–2026.

Recommended links:

Newby Ventures

DE-CIX

Ivo Ivanov LinkedIn

Brent Legg LinkedIn

Hunter Newby LinkedIn