In this episode, we hear from Wanda Tankersley, chief operating officer (COO) at MTA (or Matanuska Telecom Association), a telecommunications co-op in Alaska. 

We discuss the unique middle-mile challenges to providing broadband in a rural and rugged state like Alaska, as well as the company's AlCan ONE project, the first all-terrestrial fiber line connecting Alaska to the Lower 48. We also get into MTA's recent efforts to connect students to high-speed Internet, the impact of supply chain and labor shortages on its plans to expand, and more.

[Ed. note: Tankersley refers to MTA's coverage area as the size of West Virginia; however, the correct size comparison is the state of Massachusetts.]

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This podcast will explore some of the key trends driving telecommunications networks, the challenges and opportunities for network operators, and how new innovations in optical transmission technology are helping to move the industry forward and enable exciting new services.

This podcast is sponsored by Infinera.

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On this episode, we hear from Jennifer Alvarez, Co-founder and CEO, Aurora Insight, a company that measures the availability of spectrum and wireless networks in the rural US and abroad; as well as David Hartshorn, CEO of Geeks Without Frontiers, a nonprofit organization working to address the digital divide globally.

The two organizations have recently formed a partnership to tackle the lack of reliable wireless broadband in underserved parts of the US and abroad. We discuss the details and goals of that partnership, the challenges surrounding broadband mapping across the world, and more.

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Verizon's Terrance Robinson joins the podcast to share key findings from the service provider's Mobile Security Index. In addition, Robinson shares insights about which mobile security threats are on the rise, and how enterprises and their employees can identify and address potential threats. The full report can be downloaded here.

"We're seeing over a 360% year-over-year increase in phishing attempts on mobile devices," says Robinson. Bad actors are increasingly targeting text messages in their phishing attempts because the rate at which consumers read text messages is 98%, and 45% respond to those messages. By comparison – only 20% of email is viewed, with a 6% response rate, says Robinson.

In addition to addressing the rise of phishing, ransomware, shadow IT and other security threats, Robinson explains how enterprises can address these issues by developing Appropriate Use Policies and educating employees on how to better protect their devices.

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On this episode, we hear from Dr. Tamarah Holmes, director of the Office of Broadband for the state of Virginia.

Since the office was established in 2019, Dr. Holmes says Virginia has successfully closed half of its digital divide. Recently, the state's Governor Ralph Northam announced plans to invest $700 million in federal relief money toward achieving universal broadband access over the next three years.

Dr. Holmes and I discuss how Virginia has been able to address connectivity needs through the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative, or the VATI program, for last-mile deployments, why it helps that the state's broadband office sits within the Department of Housing and Community Development, and how her office is preparing to distribute state and federal aid to close the remaining divide.

Link to access the state's VATI grant program (just remember... Dog, House, Cat, Dog!): https://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/vati

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