In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, recorded live at Fiber Connect 2025 in Nashville, host Brad Hine sits down with Justin Suhr, Senior Director of Construction Engineering at Great Plains Communications. With over two decades of experience in telecom and a deep background in fiber deployment and outside plant engineering, Justin shares insights on the company’s transformation from a 115-year-old telephone provider into a modern fiber-forward operator.

They dive into the evolution of broadband deployment strategies in the face of paused BEAD funding, the shift toward multi-gigabit services, the role of AI and system integration in field operations, and the importance of digital transformation across construction and customer service. Justin also reflects on his personal journey in the industry, from field engineering to leadership, and how Great Plains is tackling both urban and rural broadband challenges through strategic planning, software integration, and a forward-thinking approach to workforce development.

In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, recorded live at the CBAN Annual Conference in Ames, Iowa, host Brad Hine sits down with broadband leader and digital equity advocate Deb Socia. Recently retired from her role as CEO of The Enterprise Center in Chattanooga, Deb shares insights from her decades of experience supporting community broadband, digital inclusion, and infrastructure development.

They discuss the importance of early and strategic marketing for broadband builds, challenges around funding and predictability for ISPs and nonprofits, and the evolving role of local ownership in fostering digital equity and community pride. Deb shares stories—from seniors learning to FaceTime their grandchildren to middle school students mapping free Wi-Fi hotspots—that highlight how connectivity transforms lives.

They also touch on the value of storytelling and data in building stakeholder support, the influence of education on community tech adoption, and how to cultivate the next generation of broadband leaders. This conversation offers a blend of policy perspective, community insight, and actionable advice for anyone working to bridge the digital divide.

In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Brad Hine welcomes back a true pioneer in the broadband space—Heather Gold, Principal at HBG Strategies and former President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association. With a career spanning over 40 years across XO Communications, Sprint, ALTS, NTS, and more, Heather shares unparalleled insights into the evolution of broadband, the regulatory landscape, and the current fiber deployment challenges facing the industry.

Recorded live at Fiber Connect 2025, Heather reflects on her time at the helm of the FBA, the genesis of Women in Fiber, and key takeaways from the recent NTIA guidance and its impact on BEAD funding and rural broadband deployment. She also discusses the long-term ROI of fiber over alternative technologies like fixed wireless and LEO satellites, leadership lessons from her executive roles, and her advocacy journey from financial analyst to industry thought leader.

From policy shifts to permitting bottlenecks and workforce gaps, this episode is packed with actionable insights, historical perspective, and candid advice—especially for emerging professionals in the telecom space.

In this episode of the Broadband Bunch, recorded live at WISPAmerica 2025 in Oklahoma City, host Brad Hine sits down with Cameron Kilton, CTO of Nextlink, for a conversation about AI, automation, and the future of broadband in rural America. Cameron shares his journey from Maine to Texas, helping scale Nextlink from 38,000 to over 100,000 subscribers across 10+ states.

He dives into the practical use of AI in network operations—from predictive churn and sentiment analysis to internal tools that speed up diagnostics and ensure data integrity. Cameron also offers candid insights on the difference between real AI and automation hype, the importance of internal innovation, and why his team values initiative over degrees.

In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, recorded live at Fiber Connect 2025, Pete Pizzutillo sits down with Denise Manka, Vice President of Business Development at MP Nexlevel. Denise shares her journey from the housing industry to telecom construction, and how MP Nexlevel’s deep roots, culture, and national reach set them apart in the broadband landscape.

They discuss the evolving infrastructure needs driven by AI and data center growth, the urgency of disaster preparedness in telecom, and why the industry shouldn’t wait on BEAD funding to take action. Denise also previews MP Nexlevel’s upcoming broadband emergency response initiative, set to debut at Mountain Connect, and calls for smarter fiber builds and more proactive public policy to keep pace with digital demands.

In this episode of The Broadband Bunch recorded live from Fiber Connect 2025, host Pete Pizzutillo chats with Craig Thomas of Broadband Forum about the critical role of standards in today’s broadband landscape. They explore how interoperability supports smaller operators, the importance of data in enabling AI, and the shift from hardware to software-defined services. Craig also discusses challenges in open access networks—from security and service assurance to differentiation.

In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, recorded live at Fiber Connect 2025 in Nashville, host Brad Hine sits down with Anis Khemakhem, Chief Marketing Officer of Clearfield. With over 25 years of experience in telecommunications and technology, Anis shares his unique perspective on the evolution of fiber networks, customer-driven innovation, and the future of connectivity.

The conversation explores Clearfield’s commitment to labor-light, plug-and-play solutions that accelerate deployment and reduce operational bottlenecks, especially in underserved and rural communities. Anis also emphasizes the importance of listening to customers to drive product design, preparing networks for the demands of IoT and edge computing, and supporting the next generation of broadband technicians with tools like Clearfield’s new built app and VR-based training.

Additional topics include BABA compliance, domestic manufacturing, the impact of AI on infrastructure planning, and how Clearfield is addressing the growing need for modular, high-density fiber solutions in data centers and central offices.

In this special edition of The Broadband Bunch, co-hosts Brad Hine and Pete Pizzutillo break down the biggest takeaways from one of the industry's most influential events, Fiber Connect 2025. With over 5,000 attendees and 320+ exhibitors, the conference was packed with energy, insights, and future-shaping discussions.

Brad and Pete dive into everything from the status of BEAD funding and shifting investment trends, to AI readiness, workforce evolution, and the growing importance of industry partnerships and interoperability. They also preview several upcoming podcast interviews recorded live at the event—featuring voices from Nokia, Clearfield, Render Networks, RouteThis, Sastel, Great Plains Communications, CDG, and many more.

Whether you attended or not, this episode captures the pulse of Fiber Connect 2025 and offers a clear-eyed look at where the broadband industry is heading next.

In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Brad Hine talks with Tim Ayers, co-founder of Gravity Path Partners, recorded live at Connected America 2025. With over 30 years in telecom and tech, Tim unpacks the growing role of edge computing—how it’s reshaping broadband infrastructure, enabling AI and low-latency applications, and becoming critical for future-ready networks.

They explore the repurposing of central offices into edge data centers, the need for distributed compute power, and why underserved communities must plan beyond just broadband to avoid an AI and quantum divide. Tim also shares how Gravity Path helps operators navigate growth, M&A, and expansion into the data center sector.

In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, recorded live from Connected America 2025, host Brad Hine sits down with Edyn Rolls, Chief Strategic Officer and founding member of the Oklahoma Broadband Office. As a key leader driving the state’s broadband expansion efforts, Edyn shares insights into Oklahoma’s $500 million deployment of ARPA funds, the BEAD subgrantee selection process, and how the state is adapting to shifting federal policies.

They dive into strategies for serving rural and tribal communities, replacing the now-defunct Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), and balancing fiber ambitions with real-world terrain challenges. Edyn also opens up about her personal broadband journey—from grant-writing novice to statewide broadband leader—and the passion she brings to ensuring equitable access for every Oklahoman.