Community Broadband Bits

by Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Tech News #116

Short interviews with people doing interesting things to expand broadband networks that put community needs first.

Pennywise, Pound Foolish: Inside the BEAD Program’s Latest Shakeup - Episode 651 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Jun 9, 2025 – 40:06
BEAD: No NOFO Fo Sho - Episode 650 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Jun 5, 2025 – 37:52
BEAD in Limbo: How Federal Delay Is Shaking Up Louisiana's Broadband Future - Episode 649 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
May 27, 2025 – 36:16
Kansas City's Digital Equity Journey - Episode 648 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
May 20, 2025 – 40:00
The Hidden Cost: The Ripple Effects of Canceling the Digital Equity Act - Episode 647 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
May 13, 2025 – 24:03
President Trump Targets Digital Equity Act —What It Means for Communities and the Future of Connectivity - Episode 646 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
May 9, 2025 – 33:18
Broadband at a Crossroads: Evan Feinman on Getting BEAD Right - Episode 645 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
May 6, 2025 – 52:22
Stringtown, MO Gets Connected: How Local Partnerships Are Closing the Rural Broadband Gap - Episode 644 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Apr 29, 2025 – 37:37
BEAD Under Threat: Fiber, Satellites, and the Fight for the Future of Rural Internet Access - Episode 643 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Apr 22, 2025 – 46:48
Broadband Bottlenecks and Bureaucracy: What’s Holding the Internet Back? - Episode 642 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Apr 16, 2025 – 41:59
Tribal Broadband Bootcamps in Action - Episode 641 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Apr 1, 2025 – 37:11
Rethinking the Internet with Bob Frankston - Episode 640 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Mar 18, 2025 – 47:41
Future-Proofing Texas Schools with Better Internet Infrastructure- Episode 639 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Mar 11, 2025 – 25:36
BEAD’s Next Steps: Unpacking State Progress and Challenges - Episode 638 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Mar 4, 2025 – 33:50
Independent Agencies Under Threat: Gigi Sohn on FCC’s Future - Episode 637 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Feb 25, 2025 – 26:11
The Potential of Fiber: Smart Cities, BEAD, and Municipal Broadband Financing - Episode 636 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Feb 18, 2025 – 27:44
Consider Affordable Broadband State-By-State - Episode 635 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Feb 11, 2025 – 35:46
No Shareholders, Just Service: Sherwood, Oregon’s Community Broadband Success - Episode 634 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Feb 4, 2025 – 22:21
Championing Community Broadband in Montana with Representative Kelly Kortum - Episode 633 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Jan 28, 2025 – 16:44
Predictions for 2025: CBN Edition - Episode 632 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Jan 21, 2025 – 42:43
2025 Predictions with Blair Levin - Episode 631 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Jan 14, 2025 – 45:54
How MINET is Expanding Broadband in Oregon - Episode 630 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Jan 7, 2025 – 22:44
Local Energy Solutions and Broadband Parallels - Episode 629 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Jan 1, 2025 – 39:07
Year in Review 2024 - Episode 628 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Dec 17, 2024 – 53:16
NEK Broadband’s Big Merger and Bold Vision - Episode 627 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Dec 10, 2024 – 29:39
Unpacking the History of Telecommunications Policy with Gene Kimmelman - Episode 626 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Dec 3, 2024 – 40:05
DV Fiber and Vermont’s Bold Broadband Model - Episode 625 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Nov 26, 2024 – 32:30
Internet at $25: How Pharr is Making It Work - Episode 624 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Nov 19, 2024 – 30:16
How U.S. Courts Are Reshaping Broadband Access - Episode 623 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Nov 12, 2024 – 43:40
Kendall County’s Broadband Ambition - Episode 622 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Nov 5, 2024 – 34:37
Starlink, Caps, and Consumer Concerns - Episode 621 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Oct 29, 2024 – 42:38
Revisiting the Fight for Community Broadband and Public Networks - Episode 620 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Oct 24, 2024 – 46:49
Recent Broadband News Roundup - Episode 619 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Oct 15, 2024 – 35:41
ISPs and Copyright Infringement: The Legal Battle Over Liability - Episode 618 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Oct 2, 2024 – 33:49
Exploring BEAD Blueprints and Tribal Broadband Initiatives - Episode 617 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Sep 24, 2024 – 31:35
Beyond the Pivot: Fort Collins Connexion's Latest Milestones - Episode 616 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Sep 17, 2024 – 30:55
Mapping the Future: How Community Networks Are Expanding Broadband - Episode 615 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Sep 10, 2024 – 34:06
How CTNY's Portable Network Kit is Powering Community Connections - Episode 614 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Aug 27, 2024 – 40:41
Clarksville’s Leap to Next-Gen Broadband - Episode 613 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Aug 20, 2024 – 32:36
Building a Superior Network Together - Episode 612 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Aug 13, 2024 – 24:08
Inside CADE's Mission to Closing California's Digital Divide - Episode 611 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Aug 6, 2024 – 35:35
Transforming Connectivity for Every New Yorker - Episode 610 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Jul 30, 2024 – 26:38
California and Massachusetts' Road to Digital Equity - Episode 609 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Jul 23, 2024 – 39:00
Bridging the Digital Divide in LA County - Episode 608 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Jul 16, 2024 – 38:30
Broadband by the People, For the People - Episode 607 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Jul 9, 2024 – 39:00
Vermont's Community-Driven Broadband for All - Episode 606 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Jul 2, 2024 – 42:19
From Zero to 600 Million: Tackling Broadband Development In Kansas - Episode 605 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Jun 18, 2024 – 32:30
Industry Insights on Connecting Underserved Communities - Episode 604 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Jun 11, 2024 – 54:08
The Future of Broadband: Revisiting Universal Service Fund Reform - Episode 603 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Jun 4, 2024 – 36:40
MN BEAD Labor Requirements: More Problems Than Solutions? - Episode 602 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
May 28, 2024 – 27:02

Recent Reviews

Reflectomatron 9000

Warm duck shuffle

Christopher out there putting in work. Best tech podcast hands down. Thank y’all!
DrewClark

MuniBroadband Bits Rocks!

Always topical, always exciting, always fresh and fast-paced!
EPD169

Fantastic muni broadband info

As a Systems Admin in a rural community who is two years into municipal fiber deployment, I enjoy hearing about others who have been down the road and the insights they provide.
GetTheFlick

Community Bits

If you live in rural America and you want to get connected to high-speed internet, you should be listening to this podcast and sharing it with your representatives.
GoCard17

Fascinating!

Informative, interesting and well-organized. I just listened to the interview of Gary Reback, which was especially compelling. Thanks for this great show!
djs114

Community Broadband Bits

Great podcast...I listen to them all
Matthew Mahler

Great broadband access podcast

Talks about small and sometimes rural areas about their trials and victories to try and bring better internet access to those people that the large corporate providers don't want to invest in.