On this episode of Connected Nation, we conclude our coverage of the Broadband Communities Summit West. Learn how a relatively new nonprofit is helping community organizations bridge the Digital Divide; explore another company's unique approach to helping smaller ISPs secure funding; AND hear from one man who is taking connecting his community into his own hands. Recommended Links:Curtis Dean LinkedinCommunity Broadband Action NetworkScott Sampson LinkedinMac Mountain LLC.Robert Ford Ma...

On this episode of Connected Nation, we continue our coverage from the Broadband Communities Summit West conference. We discuss new trends in telehealth with a leading researcher on the topic and talk to a representative from Hawaiian Telecom about the state's goal to have a 100% connectivity by 2026. Recommended Links:Chris McGovern LinkedinJonathan Delahoyde Linkedin Hawaiian TelecomPast Broadband Communities Summit West episodes:Sounds of the Summit: Episode #1Sounds from the Summit: Why 1...

On this episode of Connected Nation, we continue our live coverage at the Broadband Communities Summit West conference. We talk with the Executive VP of Digital Inclusion for Connected Nation, about trends that are happening within the digital inclusion space. Plus we talk with a leader from Further Reach about how the company started as a project at UC Berkeley, and has now become a sustainable ISP for local homes.Recommended Links: Heather Gate LinkedinTamir Scheinok LinkedinFurther Reach w...

On this episode of Connected Nation, we continue our live coverage at the Broadband Communities Summit West conference. You'll hear from the Interim Director of the Kansas State Broadband Office as he discusses Middle Mile vs. Last Mile, BEAD deadlines, and Kansas's BEAD challenge process.Recommended Links:Kansas Department of Commerce - Office of Broadband DevelopmentJoseph Le - Interim Director of Broadband Development at Kansas Department of Commerce Linkedin ProfilePast Broadband Communit...

On our first episode of BBC Summit coverage, you'll hear from one man who says he knows what the number one issue many of the broadband leaders are having.Also joining us, a state broadband director who says "by the time BEAD is done, there will be 56 different conclusions." Recommended Links:Brian Newby's LinkedInTom Cox's LinkedInSteve Valdez LinkedIn

On today’s podcast, Verizon's CRO for the Global Enterprise & Public Sector, Massimo Peselli, joins us to discuss the technology of 5G including what’s myth and what’s reality. Plus, we look at how global leaders are tackling the issue of connectivity AND what’s on the horizon for new tech within the broadband space. Recommended Links: Massimo's LinkedInVerizon Business

Today's episode is a bonus interview from our coverage at the 2024 Broadband Nation Expo.We were joined by Justin Fazzari, Senior Broadband Strategist at Sanborn. We speak about Justin's background, some of his daily activities and what is the present and future of Sanborn. Be sure to check out the links below!Recommended Links:Justin's LinkedInSanborn's Website

On this episode of Connected Nation, we continue our live coverage at the Broadband Nation Expo. During the "Broadband and Brews" event hosted by Connected Nation, Vernonburg Group, and Sandborn our host Grant Ahlbrand speaks with three broadband industry leaders. The discussion covers everything from digital equity and broadband funding to day-to-day responsibilities of broadband leaders. RELATED LINKS: Vernonburg GroupOoklaNWSAlex Jeffery, Senior Public Policy Manager, Vernonburg Group Link...

On this episode of Connected Nation, we continue our live coverage at the Broadband Nation Expo. We talk with two experts about the importance of broadband in many aspects of everyday life. Learn how connectivity is bringing more people together than ever before. RELATED LINKS:Miami Dale College Eutelsat OnewebJorge Gonzalez, Business Innovation Center, Miami Dale College, Linkedin ProfileMartin Marshall, Senior Sales Engineer Services & Platforms, Eutelstat Oneweb, Linkedin Profile

On this episode of Connected Nation, we begin our coverage from Broadband Nation Expo. At this broadband conference attendees learn from 120+ industry and government leaders as they discuss relevant topics and supply them with tangible takeaways across 2 1/2 days of in-depth, high-quality programming.We speak with leaders in the industry about workforce development challenges, the parallels between wireless and wireline broadband, and upcoming broadband trends.RELATED LINKS:Broadband Nation E...

On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk with leadership at Total Telecom about a new event that’s focused on connecting “every community in the Western US with next-generation communications infrastructure.”From cutting-edge technologies to proven broadband strategies – we’ll find out what topics, speakers, and innovations you can expect to explore during the inaugural Broadband Communities Summit WEST. Recommended Links:BBC WEST REGISTRATIONBrad Randall's LinkedIn

Today, we’re gearing up for one of the most exciting events in the broadband space – the 2024 Broadband Nation Expo in Washington, D.C. On this episode, we are joined by leadership at Questex to discuss why this expo is where leaders and innovators come together to talk about the future of broadband and digital inclusion.Recommended Links:Broadband Nation Expo Registration LinkAlejandro's LinkedIn

On this episode of Connected Nation, we wrap our coverage from Mountain Connect 2024 as we sit down with the State Broadband Director from the Buckeye State to discuss the state's broadband strategic plan and the future if connectivity in Ohio. Related Links: BroadbandOhioMountain ConnectMountain Connect 2024 seriesOpening episodeThe Internet Equity Initiative and connecting the most remote, inhabited island in MichiganThe high-tech (and dangerous) broadband job that some say needs regu...

On this episode of Connected Nation, we sit down with Sally Doty, who serves as the Director of the State Broadband Office for Mississippi, better known as BEAM. Related links:Broadband Expansion & Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM)Newby Ventures - Internet Exchange PointsConnected Nation IXPs Mountain Connect 2024 seriesOpening episodeThe Internet Equity Initiative and connecting the most remote, inhabited island in MichiganThe high-tech (and dangerous) broadband job that some say...

On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk with Director of State and Local Government Partnerships at ready.net. Plus, we sit down with a representative from the University of Illinois to discuss the Illinois Broadband Lab and catch up with the team at Digitunity to learn how the nonprofit is expanding its work to reach more Americans in need. Related Links:Ready.netIllinois Broadband Initiative, Univ. of IllinoisDigitunityMountain Connect 2024 seriesOpening episodeThe Internet...

On this episode of Connected Nation, we continue our coverage from Mountain Connect, which is taking place in Denver, Colorado.We talk with leadership at Nokia and discuss the company's movement into rural America, it's "network in a box" program, and the one thing everyone is getting wrong about the company. Recommended Links: Stefaan Vanhastel's LinkedInMore about "Network in a Box"Mountain Connect 2024 seriesOpening episodeThe Internet Equity Initiative and connecting the most remote, inha...

On this episode of Connected Nation, we continue our coverage from Mountain Connect, which is taking place in Denver, Colorado. We talk with a leader at the Fiber Optics Network about the need for regulations surrounding a critical broadband job, AND we talk with the leader of a new telecom school that's approaching training in a new way.Related Links: Mountain ConnectThe FO (Fiber Optics) NetworkTelecom Tech SchoolMountain Connect 2024 seriesOpening episodeThe Internet Equity Initiative and ...

On this episode of Connected Nation, we continue our coverage from Mountain Connect, taking place in Denver, Colorado. We speak with an organization that's working in seven of the least connected states in the country. Plus, we talk with researchers from the University of Chicago about the Internet Equity Initiative AND get an update from MIHI office about connecting all Michiganders, even those who live in the most remote, inhabited island in the state.Recommended Links:Michigan High-speed I...

On this episode of Connected Nation, we begin our coverage from Mountain Connect, a broadband conference that is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The theme this year is "Beyond the bandwidth, the power of broadband revolutionizing access." We begin by answering a simple the question - what does a small ISP do if it needs big equipment? Plus, find out why having a strong broadband resume is more important now than ever before.Related links:Mountain ConnectABS RentsKLJ Engineering & Planni...

On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk with Tony Grayson – a man who has held leadership roles at such tech giants as Amazon, Facebook, and Oracle – roles that are perhaps eclipsed by his time as a submarine captain.We’ll explore his new approach to closing the Digital Divide in America; look at the challenges of providing resources for growing needs of AI; and share how the skills of our nation’s veterans can be better understood within and applied to high-tech jobs in the civili...

On today’s podcast, we talk with the CEO of DigitalC, a company that’s offering lightning fast-internet to anyone in its service area for just 18-dollars a month, for five years! The service is 100 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload speeds. Find out how that’s been made possible through a unique partnership. Plus, we’ll explore the community approach DigitalC takes – that’s setting it apart from other, much larger I-S-P’s. Recommended Links: DigitalC Website

On this episode of Connected Nation, we conclude our coverage from the National Association of Counties' (NACo) Conference and Exposition. We sit down with NACo's Legislative Director of Telecommunications and Technology and cover everything from county broadband needs to developing a toolkit on AI for county leaders. Related links:NACo websiteThe County Compass - an AI toolkit for county leadersSpecial series episodes list:Inside that National Association of Counties Annual Confe...

On this special episode of Connected Nation, we talk with the head of government solutions for Esri; the national director for the public sector at Big Health; and a leader for Tunica County, Mississippi about the unique needs of his county, which includes six casinos. Related links:EsriBig HealthTunica County, MississippiSpecial series episodes list:Inside that National Association of Counties Annual Conference - Ep. 25Inside NACo - what Black leaders say their communities need - Ep. 26Insid...

On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk to the IT Director of Kent County, Delaware about what can be done to help transient populations. We also sit down with a representative from USDA Rural Development about what the organization can do to help rural areas do everything from improve their infrastructure to navigate the federal grant proces. Related links:USDA Rural DevelopmentKent County, DelawareSpecial series episodes list:Inside that National Association of Counties Annual Co...