This week on the podcast, Christopher is joined by Angela Siefer (Executive Director of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance) and Greg Guice (Chief Policy Officer at the Vernon Berg Group) to tackle a familiar and increasingly important topic in the area of the digital divide: Universal Service Fund (USF) reform. 

At present, the USF is overcommitted and stretched to its limits, providing critical operational and infrastructure support for rural broadband on an unsustainable budget. Angela and Greg talk with Christopher about how modernizing and expanding the program - including making the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) permanent - is necessary to meet the equity and inclusion goals we have set as a country.

Along the way, the group discusses the challenges in designing solutions that address the challenges of universal broadband access in an evolving digital landscape.

This show is 33 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.

This week on the podcast, Christopher is joined once again by Sean Gonsalves, Associate Director of Communications for the Community Broadband Networks initiative.

Christopher and Sean start by discussing how a new wireless community broadband network in Syracuse, New York called Surge Link is helping the underserved households in their area. Syracuse is a prime example of how cities and towns are taking matters into their own hands by looking for ways to proactively provide affordable broadband access to their citizens right now instead of waiting for potential federal funding and local planning to align perfectly.

Sean and Christopher also unpack other recent news, including the FCC's plan to adjust the definition of broadband to 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) download and 20 Mbps upload speeds, the NTIA's Letter of Credit modifications, and the future of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) with the White House asking Congress for an additional $6 billion in funding to continue the program through the end of 2024.

With ACP's future looming, Christopher and Sean finish by discussing the need and importance for a long-term solution to address the digital divide, including the financial sustainability of networks in rural areas.

This show is 33 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.

This week on the podcast, Christopher is joined once again by Sean Gonsalves, Associate Director of Communications for the Community Broadband Networks initiative.

Christopher and Sean start by discussing how a new wireless community broadband network in Syracuse, New York called Surge Link is helping the underserved households in their area. Syracuse is a prime example of how cities and towns are taking matters into their own hands by looking for ways to proactively provide affordable broadband access to their citizens right now instead of waiting for potential federal funding and local planning to align perfectly.

Sean and Christopher also unpack other recent news, including the FCC's plan to adjust the definition of broadband to 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) download and 20 Mbps upload speeds, the NTIA's Letter of Credit modifications, and the future of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) with the White House asking Congress for an additional $6 billion in funding to continue the program through the end of 2024.

With ACP's future looming, Christopher and Sean finish by discussing the need and importance for a long-term solution to address the digital divide, including the financial sustainability of networks in rural areas.

This show is 33 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.

This week on the podcast, Christopher is joined once again by Sean Gonsalves, Associate Director of Communications for the Community Broadband Networks initiative.

Christopher and Sean start by discussing how a new wireless community broadband network in Syracuse, New York called Surge Link is helping the underserved households in their area. Syracuse is a prime example of how cities and towns are taking matters into their own hands by looking for ways to proactively provide affordable broadband access to their citizens right now instead of waiting for potential federal funding and local planning to align perfectly.

Sean and Christopher also unpack other recent news, including the FCC's plan to adjust the definition of broadband to 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) download and 20 Mbps upload speeds, the NTIA's Letter of Credit modifications, and the future of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) with the White House asking Congress for an additional $6 billion in funding to continue the program through the end of 2024.

With ACP's future looming, Christopher and Sean finish by discussing the need and importance for a long-term solution to address the digital divide, including the financial sustainability of networks in rural areas.

This show is 33 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.

This week on the podcast, Christopher is joined once again by Sean Gonsalves, Associate Director of Communications for the Community Broadband Networks initiative.

Christopher and Sean start by discussing how a new wireless community broadband network in Syracuse, New York called Surge Link is helping the underserved households in their area. Syracuse is a prime example of how cities and towns are taking matters into their own hands by looking for ways to proactively provide affordable broadband access to their citizens right now instead of waiting for potential federal funding and local planning to align perfectly.

Sean and Christopher also unpack other recent news, including the FCC's plan to adjust the definition of broadband to 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) download and 20 Mbps upload speeds, the NTIA's Letter of Credit modifications, and the future of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) with the White House asking Congress for an additional $6 billion in funding to continue the program through the end of 2024.

With ACP's future looming, Christopher and Sean finish by discussing the need and importance for a long-term solution to address the digital divide, including the financial sustainability of networks in rural areas.

This show is 33 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.

This week on the podcast, Christopher is joined once again by Sean Gonsalves, Associate Director of Communications for the Community Broadband Networks initiative.

Christopher and Sean start by discussing how a new wireless community broadband network in Syracuse, New York called Surge Link is helping the underserved households in their area. Syracuse is a prime example of how cities and towns are taking matters into their own hands by looking for ways to proactively provide affordable broadband access to their citizens right now instead of waiting for potential federal funding and local planning to align perfectly.

Sean and Christopher also unpack other recent news, including the FCC's plan to adjust the definition of broadband to 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) download and 20 Mbps upload speeds, the NTIA's Letter of Credit modifications, and the future of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) with the White House asking Congress for an additional $6 billion in funding to continue the program through the end of 2024.

With ACP's future looming, Christopher and Sean finish by discussing the need and importance for a long-term solution to address the digital divide, including the financial sustainability of networks in rural areas.

This show is 33 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.

This week on the podcast, Christopher is joined once again by Sean Gonsalves, Associate Director of Communications for the Community Broadband Networks initiative.

Christopher and Sean start by discussing how a new wireless community broadband network in Syracuse, New York called Surge Link is helping the underserved households in their area. Syracuse is a prime example of how cities and towns are taking matters into their own hands by looking for ways to proactively provide affordable broadband access to their citizens right now instead of waiting for potential federal funding and local planning to align perfectly.

Sean and Christopher also unpack other recent news, including the FCC's plan to adjust the definition of broadband to 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) download and 20 Mbps upload speeds, the NTIA's Letter of Credit modifications, and the future of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) with the White House asking Congress for an additional $6 billion in funding to continue the program through the end of 2024.

With ACP's future looming, Christopher and Sean finish by discussing the need and importance for a long-term solution to address the digital divide, including the financial sustainability of networks in rural areas.

This show is 33 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.

This week on the podcast, Christopher is joined once again by Sean Gonsalves, Associate Director of Communications for the Community Broadband Networks initiative.

Christopher and Sean start by discussing how a new wireless community broadband network in Syracuse, New York called Surge Link is helping the underserved households in their area. Syracuse is a prime example of how cities and towns are taking matters into their own hands by looking for ways to proactively provide affordable broadband access to their citizens right now instead of waiting for potential federal funding and local planning to align perfectly.

Sean and Christopher also unpack other recent news, including the FCC's plan to adjust the definition of broadband to 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) download and 20 Mbps upload speeds, the NTIA's Letter of Credit modifications, and the future of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) with the White House asking Congress for an additional $6 billion in funding to continue the program through the end of 2024.

With ACP's future looming, Christopher and Sean finish by discussing the need and importance for a long-term solution to address the digital divide, including the financial sustainability of networks in rural areas.

This show is 33 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.

This week on the podcast, Christopher is joined once again by Sean Gonsalves, Associate Director of Communications for the Community Broadband Networks initiative.

Christopher and Sean start by discussing how a new wireless community broadband network in Syracuse, New York called Surge Link is helping the underserved households in their area. Syracuse is a prime example of how cities and towns are taking matters into their own hands by looking for ways to proactively provide affordable broadband access to their citizens right now instead of waiting for potential federal funding and local planning to align perfectly.

Sean and Christopher also unpack other recent news, including the FCC's plan to adjust the definition of broadband to 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) download and 20 Mbps upload speeds, the NTIA's Letter of Credit modifications, and the future of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) with the White House asking Congress for an additional $6 billion in funding to continue the program through the end of 2024.

With ACP's future looming, Christopher and Sean finish by discussing the need and importance for a long-term solution to address the digital divide, including the financial sustainability of networks in rural areas.

This show is 33 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.

This week on the podcast, Christopher is joined once again by Sean Gonsalves, Associate Director of Communications for the Community Broadband Networks initiative.

Christopher and Sean start by discussing how a new wireless community broadband network in Syracuse, New York called Surge Link is helping the underserved households in their area. Syracuse is a prime example of how cities and towns are taking matters into their own hands by looking for ways to proactively provide affordable broadband access to their citizens right now instead of waiting for potential federal funding and local planning to align perfectly.

Sean and Christopher also unpack other recent news, including the FCC's plan to adjust the definition of broadband to 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) download and 20 Mbps upload speeds, the NTIA's Letter of Credit modifications, and the future of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) with the White House asking Congress for an additional $6 billion in funding to continue the program through the end of 2024.

With ACP's future looming, Christopher and Sean finish by discussing the need and importance for a long-term solution to address the digital divide, including the financial sustainability of networks in rural areas.

This show is 33 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.