In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, sponsored by ETI Software and VETRO FiberMap, Pete Pizzutillo chats with Marcelo Cataldo, CEO of Digicel Group. Marcelo shares what it takes to lead a telecom operator across the Caribbean.

Marcelo tells us about his journey through global telecom and the challenges of stepping into leadership during a major transition for Digicel. He discusses financial restructuring, a sharper operational focus, and a renewed commitment to core telecom services. He also explains how disciplined investment and resilient infrastructure support long term growth across 25 markets.

The conversation explores the realities of operating across geographically dispersed island nations, where logistics, culture, and climate shape network strategy. Marcelo highlights how connectivity supports economic development by enabling education, strengthening small businesses, and expanding digital access across the region.

Looking ahead, the discussion outlines how focused telecom investment, fiber expansion, and energy innovation such as solar powered networks position Digicel for long term success.

In this episode of The Broadband Bunch host Pete Pizzutillo and Caelan Grant, founder and CEO of Fibeo—a new kind of broadband provider aiming to challenge the traditional ISP model from the ground up.

Caelan shares his professional background in broadband and customer operations, along with the frustrating personal experience that sparked the idea for Fibeo. That moment led him to reimagine what an internet provider could be: one built around people, service, and long-term value rather than short-term profits. Instead of following the usual infrastructure-heavy or investor-first model, Fibeo is building a “customer-owner” approach that gives customers a real stake in the business.

Hear about the problems facing today’s broadband market, including poor customer service, lack of meaningful differentiation, and a race to the bottom on price. Caelan explains why Fibeo chose a virtual ISP model, how its ownership structure is designed to return value to customers, and why he believes the future of broadband should be more accountable, more personal, and more sustainable.

In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Brad Hine sits down with Jason Thune, Vice President of Fiber Strategy and Deployment at Hawaiian Telcom, to tell all about one of the most ambitious broadband initiatives in the country—making Hawaii the first fully fiber-enabled state. Jason has nearly three decades of experience and manages more than $68 million in federal funding. He shares what it takes to build and scale a world-class network across one of the most geographically complex environments on earth.

Hear the real-world challenges of deploying fiber across islands shaped by lava flows, rainforests, and extreme elevation changes. Jason highlights the role of partnerships, logistics planning, and technology flexibility in reaching even the most remote communities while maintaining affordability and performance, including statewide multi-gig service offerings.

Jason shares stories of how connectivity is transforming rural communities, enabling telehealth access, supporting education, and fueling local entrepreneurship. This episode goes beyond infrastructure to focus on bridging the digital divide, strengthening communities, and redefining what’s possible for broadband in even the most challenging environments.

In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Brad Hine sits down with Steve Smith, Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Live Oak Fiber, to discuss how one of the fastest-growing regional fiber networks in the Southeast came to life. With more than 25 years in the telecom industry, Steve shares the journey from consulting and go-to-market strategy to launching a greenfield fiber build backed by major infrastructure investment. What started as a business plan and a small team in 2022 has quickly grown into a network serving tens of thousands of customers across southern Georgia and northern Florida.

Steve explains how Live Oak identified underserved growth markets, built resilient underground fiber infrastructure designed to withstand severe weather, and scaled rapidly to more than 40,000 subscribers and 200,000 homes passed. Brad and Steve discuss how thoughtful market selection, strong operational leadership, and strategic financial partnerships helped Live Oak move from startup to a major regional broadband provider in just a few years.

But the real story goes beyond infrastructure. Steve shares how Live Oak’s “fiercely local” philosophy—engaging with community events, supporting local businesses, and building authentic relationships—has become a key driver of the company’s success. This episode highlights how broadband providers can build both resilient networks and meaningful community impact—featuring stories of hurricane-tested infrastructure and Connect Four showdowns with local students.

In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, Pete Pizzutillo is joined by David Eckard, Head of Strategy for Fixed Networks at Nokia, and Fred Arnold, Executive Director of Learning Alliance Corporation, for a discussion about AI’s growing impact on broadband infrastructure. Hear how artificial intelligence and even quantum computing are accelerating the need for resilient, high-capacity fiber networks.

David explains how AI “factories” are dramatically increasing fiber interconnect requirements, while Fred highlights real-world use cases like autonomous provisioning, field service analytics, customer experience optimization, and workforce training powered by LLMs. Together, they talk about what terms like LLM, RAG, and inference really mean, and why AI is more than just a chatbot—it’s a tool reshaping operations across the telecom ecosystem.

Also hear more about the Fiber Broadband Association’s AI committee, policy considerations around power and permitting, and what infrastructure leaders should focus on now: education, planning for peak bandwidth, modeling distributed traffic, and preparing networks for agents talking to agents. The message is clear—AI isn’t a trend. It’s a structural shift, and fiber will be at the center of enabling what comes next.

In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Pete Pizzutillo talks with Johnny Hill, Chief Operating Officer at Clearfield, about his career from entry-level customer service to the C-suite and how that experience shaped Clearfield’s customer-driven approach to fiber connectivity. Johnny talks about the changes and growth of the industry, the fundamentals of fiber management, and the importance of listening to customers when designing solutions that work in the real world. Johnny also discusses the shortage of skilled fiber labor and how initiatives like FOA certifications, Clearfield College, digital training tools, and new programs supporting tribal communities are helping build the next generation workforce.

In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Pete Pizzutillo sits down with BSP co-founders David Strauss and Jack Burton to explain the role of technical due diligence in the broadband and digital infrastructure market. The BSP team shares how their firm helps investors, operators, and lenders cut through the noise to evaluate network assets, data centers, and M&A opportunities with confidence.

Hear about the realities behind consolidation trends, open access networks, and the growing importance of infrastructure readiness—from wiring craftsmanship to software integration and future capacity planning. David and Jack also discuss what investors are really looking for, how operators can prepare for an eventual exit, and why sell-side diligence can accelerate deals while reducing risk.

In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Brad Hine sits down with Earnie Holtrey, Principal Consultant at Mytra Consulting and former Deputy Director of the Indiana Broadband Office, for a conversation about the evolution of state broadband initiatives and the road ahead for BEAD implementation. Earnie shares his journey from rural community development to leading statewide broadband programs, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how Indiana built one of the nation’s most successful “Broadband Ready Communities” efforts.

Earnie discusses what true broadband readiness means today, how communities can streamline permitting and collaboration, and the challenges providers face as BEAD funding moves from planning into construction. He explains the growing need for compliance, reporting, and project management support—especially for smaller and regional ISPs navigating federal grant requirements for the first time.

Will BEAD fully close the digital divide? What happens after BEAD funding is spent? And how are state broadband offices evolving from policy hubs into long-term infrastructure program managers? Find out in this episode.

In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Jeff Boozer sits down with Doug Dawson, President of CCG Consulting and author of the widely read industry blog POTs and PANs. Drawing from decades of experience advising ISPs across the country, Dawson shares practical insights inspired by his recent blog post, “ISP New Year’s Resolutions.” The conversation explores the recurring operational challenges that small and mid-sized broadband providers face year after year—and why so many important initiatives remain stuck on the to-do list.

Doug and Jeff dig into issues such as integrated records, reducing costly truck rolls, understanding true profitability, managing rising employee benefit costs, and the struggle many ISPs have with business sales and inventory management. Dawson explains how staffing constraints, limited budgets, and the technical culture of many ISPs often prevent progress on these critical projects—even when leadership knows they need to be addressed. He also offers a perspective on what separates operators who break through these barriers from those who continue to defer them.

The Broadband Bunch closes out 2025 with its annual Year in Review episode, featuring the return of the Buy, Sell, or Hold game. Hosts Brad Hine and Pete Pizzutillo are joined by five industry leaders—Lori Adams (Nokia), Bob Knight (Harry Marketing), Matt Larsen (Vistabeam), Kim McKinley (TAK Broadband), and Jade Piros de Carvalho (Socket Fiber)—to weigh in on the biggest broadband topics that shaped the year.

From BEAD funding delays and ISP consolidation to network monetization, automation, AI, and what’s coming next in 2026, this episode captures the real conversations happening across the industry. The group also tells about moments, conferences, and connections that made 2025 memorable, offering insight into where broadband stands today—and where it’s headed next.