In this special episode of the podcast, Chris shares a segment from our Connect This! show, featuring insights from industry leaders Robert Boyle, Travis Carter, Kim McKinley, and Blair Levin.

The discussion delves into the impacts of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB). These programs have been instrumental in providing internet access to millions of low-income families, and our guests share their experiences and perspectives on their successes and challenges.

The episode explores the complexities of funding and future efforts to connect underserved areas, with a particular emphasis on rural communities. The conversation highlights the financial strategies and incremental approaches needed to efficiently expand broadband infrastructure. Travis discusses USI Fiber's decision to self-fund the ACP to ensure continued service for their customers, emphasizing the importance of sustainability and low churn rates.

Blair provides a detailed account of his testimony before Congress, addressing questions from policymakers like Ted Cruz. This segment offers a critical look at the political and legislative aspects of broadband funding and the potential for future investments to bridge connectivity gaps.

For more information on Connect This! and to find previous episodes, please visit our website at connectthisshow.org

This show is 54 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

In this episode of the podcast, Chris sits down with Mike Romano, Executive Vice President of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, to delve into the complexities and future of the Universal Service Fund (USF). They explore the historical roots of the USF, which was established to ensure high-quality telephone service in rural areas by redistributing profits from urban areas, and how it has evolved to support modern broadband needs.

The conversation highlights the urgent need for USF reform, especially as it currently relies on dwindling legacy telecom services for funding. They discuss the late Affordable Connectivity Program's role as a critical but temporary solution to affordable internet access, emphasizing the challenges posed by its dependency on annual congressional appropriations. Mike underscores the importance of creating a sustainable and predictable funding mechanism for both programs to prevent service disruptions and ensure long-term connectivity in rural communities.

Listeners will gain insights into the intricacies of funding mechanisms, the potential impacts of court rulings on USF contributions, and the broader implications for rural broadband infrastructure and investment.

This show is 36 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

In this episode of the podcast, Chris sits down with Mike Romano, Executive Vice President of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, to delve into the complexities and future of the Universal Service Fund (USF). They explore the historical roots of the USF, which was established to ensure high-quality telephone service in rural areas by redistributing profits from urban areas, and how it has evolved to support modern broadband needs.

The conversation highlights the urgent need for USF reform, especially as it currently relies on dwindling legacy telecom services for funding. They discuss the late Affordable Connectivity Program's role as a critical but temporary solution to affordable internet access, emphasizing the challenges posed by its dependency on annual congressional appropriations. Mike underscores the importance of creating a sustainable and predictable funding mechanism for both programs to prevent service disruptions and ensure long-term connectivity in rural communities.

Listeners will gain insights into the intricacies of funding mechanisms, the potential impacts of court rulings on USF contributions, and the broader implications for rural broadband infrastructure and investment.

This show is 36 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

In this episode of the podcast, Chris sits down with Mike Romano, Executive Vice President of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, to delve into the complexities and future of the Universal Service Fund (USF). They explore the historical roots of the USF, which was established to ensure high-quality telephone service in rural areas by redistributing profits from urban areas, and how it has evolved to support modern broadband needs.

The conversation highlights the urgent need for USF reform, especially as it currently relies on dwindling legacy telecom services for funding. They discuss the late Affordable Connectivity Program's role as a critical but temporary solution to affordable internet access, emphasizing the challenges posed by its dependency on annual congressional appropriations. Mike underscores the importance of creating a sustainable and predictable funding mechanism for both programs to prevent service disruptions and ensure long-term connectivity in rural communities.

Listeners will gain insights into the intricacies of funding mechanisms, the potential impacts of court rulings on USF contributions, and the broader implications for rural broadband infrastructure and investment.

This show is 36 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

In this episode of the podcast, Chris sits down with Mike Romano, Executive Vice President of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, to delve into the complexities and future of the Universal Service Fund (USF). They explore the historical roots of the USF, which was established to ensure high-quality telephone service in rural areas by redistributing profits from urban areas, and how it has evolved to support modern broadband needs.

The conversation highlights the urgent need for USF reform, especially as it currently relies on dwindling legacy telecom services for funding. They discuss the late Affordable Connectivity Program's role as a critical but temporary solution to affordable internet access, emphasizing the challenges posed by its dependency on annual congressional appropriations. Mike underscores the importance of creating a sustainable and predictable funding mechanism for both programs to prevent service disruptions and ensure long-term connectivity in rural communities.

Listeners will gain insights into the intricacies of funding mechanisms, the potential impacts of court rulings on USF contributions, and the broader implications for rural broadband infrastructure and investment.

This show is 36 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

In this episode of the podcast, Chris sits down with Mike Romano, Executive Vice President of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, to delve into the complexities and future of the Universal Service Fund (USF). They explore the historical roots of the USF, which was established to ensure high-quality telephone service in rural areas by redistributing profits from urban areas, and how it has evolved to support modern broadband needs.

The conversation highlights the urgent need for USF reform, especially as it currently relies on dwindling legacy telecom services for funding. They discuss the late Affordable Connectivity Program's role as a critical but temporary solution to affordable internet access, emphasizing the challenges posed by its dependency on annual congressional appropriations. Mike underscores the importance of creating a sustainable and predictable funding mechanism for both programs to prevent service disruptions and ensure long-term connectivity in rural communities.

Listeners will gain insights into the intricacies of funding mechanisms, the potential impacts of court rulings on USF contributions, and the broader implications for rural broadband infrastructure and investment.

This show is 36 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

In this episode of the podcast, Chris sits down with Mike Romano, Executive Vice President of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, to delve into the complexities and future of the Universal Service Fund (USF). They explore the historical roots of the USF, which was established to ensure high-quality telephone service in rural areas by redistributing profits from urban areas, and how it has evolved to support modern broadband needs.

The conversation highlights the urgent need for USF reform, especially as it currently relies on dwindling legacy telecom services for funding. They discuss the late Affordable Connectivity Program's role as a critical but temporary solution to affordable internet access, emphasizing the challenges posed by its dependency on annual congressional appropriations. Mike underscores the importance of creating a sustainable and predictable funding mechanism for both programs to prevent service disruptions and ensure long-term connectivity in rural communities.

Listeners will gain insights into the intricacies of funding mechanisms, the potential impacts of court rulings on USF contributions, and the broader implications for rural broadband infrastructure and investment.

This show is 36 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

In this episode of the podcast, Chris sits down with Mike Romano, Executive Vice President of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, to delve into the complexities and future of the Universal Service Fund (USF). They explore the historical roots of the USF, which was established to ensure high-quality telephone service in rural areas by redistributing profits from urban areas, and how it has evolved to support modern broadband needs.

The conversation highlights the urgent need for USF reform, especially as it currently relies on dwindling legacy telecom services for funding. They discuss the late Affordable Connectivity Program's role as a critical but temporary solution to affordable internet access, emphasizing the challenges posed by its dependency on annual congressional appropriations. Mike underscores the importance of creating a sustainable and predictable funding mechanism for both programs to prevent service disruptions and ensure long-term connectivity in rural communities.

Listeners will gain insights into the intricacies of funding mechanisms, the potential impacts of court rulings on USF contributions, and the broader implications for rural broadband infrastructure and investment.

This show is 36 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

In this episode of the podcast, Chris is joined by Brent Christensen of the Minnesota Telecom Alliance and Jill Huffman of Spring Grove Communications and MiBroadband to discuss the complexities of labor requirements impacting broadband projects in Minnesota. The discussion centers around the implications of prevailing wage laws and their administrative burdens on small broadband providers.

They highlight the challenges faced by local broadband providers, especially cooperatives, in complying with wage classifications that often do not align with telecommunications jobs. Brent and Jill share insights into how these regulations can hinder the progress of broadband expansion, particularly in rural areas. They also discuss the difficulties in managing federal grants that come with stringent labor requirements and the impact on the financial feasibility of extending broadband services.

The episode underscores the importance of flexible, well-informed legislative approaches that support sustainable broadband deployment without overwhelming smaller providers.

This show is 27 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.

In this episode of the podcast, Chris is joined by Brent Christensen of the Minnesota Telecom Alliance and Jill Huffman of Spring Grove Communications and MiBroadband to discuss the complexities of labor requirements impacting broadband projects in Minnesota. The discussion centers around the implications of prevailing wage laws and their administrative burdens on small broadband providers.

They highlight the challenges faced by local broadband providers, especially cooperatives, in complying with wage classifications that often do not align with telecommunications jobs. Brent and Jill share insights into how these regulations can hinder the progress of broadband expansion, particularly in rural areas. They also discuss the difficulties in managing federal grants that come with stringent labor requirements and the impact on the financial feasibility of extending broadband services.

The episode underscores the importance of flexible, well-informed legislative approaches that support sustainable broadband deployment without overwhelming smaller providers.

This show is 27 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.