Unbuffered

Minnesota’s Border to Border Broadband Development Grant Program provides funding for deployment of broadband networks in rural regions of the state. The program, which started in 2014, has helped extend necessary high-quality Internet access infrastructure to dozens of communities. Without this week’s guest, Matt Schmit, the program would never have become a reality. Matt and Christopher knew … Continue reading "Matt Schmit Leading Broadband from Minnesota to Illinois – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 395"

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Auburn Essential Service (AES) is one of those networks that has been serving the community for years with a steady presence and a strong commitment to the community. This week, Christopher talks with AES General Manager Chris Schweitzer about their fiber optic network, how they’re innovating, and their recipe for consistent growth. AES began with fiber … Continue reading "Auburn Essential Services Steady as It Grows – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 394"

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This is our fifth episode of the podcast project we’re working on with nonprofit NC Broadband Matters to share broadband news, challenges, and innovations from North Carolina. NC Broadband Matters works to find ways to bring ubiquitous broadband coverage to residents and businesses across the state. Susan Cashion, Vice President, Chief Compliance & Administrative officer from Piedmont … Continue reading "North Carolina Co-ops Partner for Broadband – Community Broadband Bits Podcast, Bonus Episode Five"

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On February 3rd, 2020, the FCC opened the 2.5 GHz Rural Tribal Priority Window, a six month period in which federally recognized Tribes or Alaska Native Villages have the opportunity to apply for licenses to unassigned spectrum over their Tribal lands. This week on the podcast, we have two guests from MuralNet — CEO Mariel Triggs and … Continue reading "Rural Tribal Priority Window Now Open; Advice from MuralNet – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 393"

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NextLight, the municipal Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) network in Longmont, Colorado, has been serving residents and businesses in the community since 2014 and offers reliable gigabit connectivity at affordable rates. This week, Director of NextLight, Valerie Dodd, is on the show to discuss the past, present, and future of NextLight with Christopher. NextLight has implemented some special … Continue reading "Setting the Bar High in Colorado: Longmont’s NextLight – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 392"

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People with an interest in municipal networks usually know about Ponca City, Oklahoma’s free municipal fixed wireless network because it’s been around for years. In the summer of 2019, however, community leaders decided it was time to start offering Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) and created Ponca City Broadband. Dave Williams, Director of Technology Service from Ponca City, comes on the … Continue reading "Ponca City Looks Forward with Fiber – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 391"

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Idaho Falls has had publicly owned fiber within the community for years, but until recently, limited its use to dark fiber leases and public power purposes. Now, the community is working with UTOPIA Fiber to expand the network in order to serve all premises with Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH). This week, General Manager of Idaho Falls Power and Fiber Bear Prairie … Continue reading "Collaboration Across the State Line, Idaho Falls and UTOPIA Fiber – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 390"

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When Mayor Gary Fuller of Opelika, Alabama, was on the podcast back in 2013, the community was building their municipal Fiber-to-the-Home network. He’s back this week to talk about all the events that have occurred in his community since then; Opelika has been a whirlwind of activity which has centered around the battle to expand their … Continue reading "Back in Opelika, Alabama, with Mayor Gary Fuller – Community Broadband Bit Podcast 389"

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We’re starting off the new year with episode four of the new podcast project we’re working on with nonprofit NC Broadband Matters. The organization focuses on finding ways to bringing ubiquitous broadband coverage to local communities to residents and businesses in North Carolina. The podcast series, titled “Why NC Broadband Matters,” explores broadband and related … Continue reading "North Carolina’s Unique Broadband History and Lessons for Moving Forward – Community Broadband Bits Podcast, North Carolina Bonus Episode Four"

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It’s the end of the year once again, which means the Community Broadband Networks team takes their places in front of the mic for the predictions show. In addition to offering our expectations for 2020, we review what happened this past year and compare it to the predictions we made at this time last year. … Continue reading "Predictions for 2020, Reviewing 2019 – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 388"

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