In this episode of the podcast, Chris is joined by Ry Marcattilio and Christa Shute, Executive Director of NEK Broadband, to discuss the evolving landscape of community broadband in Vermont. They explore the transformative merger of NEK Broadband and CVFiber, now covering 71 towns, and the innovative ways the organization is bridging connectivity gaps in one of the most rural and economically challenged areas of the state.

The conversation highlights NEK’s strides in workforce development, with local job training programs for broadband installation and maintenance, as well as partnerships with the Vermont Community Broadband Board and state funding efforts that have secured over $100 million in grants. Christa shares the importance of affordability programs like the NEK Digital Equity Pilot to sustain connectivity for low-income residents following the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program.

This show is 30 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 Ry Marcattilio and Christa Shute, Executive Director of NEK Broadband, to discuss the evolving landscape of community broadband in Vermont. They explore the transformative merger of NEK Broadband and CVFiber, now covering 71 towns, and the innovative ways the organization is bridging connectivity gaps in one of the most rural and economically challenged areas of the state.

The conversation highlights NEK’s strides in workforce development, with local job training programs for broadband installation and maintenance, as well as partnerships with the Vermont Community Broadband Board and state funding efforts that have secured over $100 million in grants. Christa shares the importance of affordability programs like the NEK Digital Equity Pilot to sustain connectivity for low-income residents following the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program.

This show is 30 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 Ry Marcattilio and Christa Shute, Executive Director of NEK Broadband, to discuss the evolving landscape of community broadband in Vermont. They explore the transformative merger of NEK Broadband and CVFiber, now covering 71 towns, and the innovative ways the organization is bridging connectivity gaps in one of the most rural and economically challenged areas of the state.

The conversation highlights NEK’s strides in workforce development, with local job training programs for broadband installation and maintenance, as well as partnerships with the Vermont Community Broadband Board and state funding efforts that have secured over $100 million in grants. Christa shares the importance of affordability programs like the NEK Digital Equity Pilot to sustain connectivity for low-income residents following the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program.

This show is 30 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

Catch the latest episode of the Connect This! Show, with co-hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter (USI Fiber) joined by regular guests Kim McKinley (UTOPIA Fiber) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) to talk about all the recent broadband news that's fit to print. 

Topics include:

• Verizon and AT&T claiming that the FCC can't stop them from selling your data
• Starlink introduces a wait list and finally adds a customer help line
• The startling decline in spectrum value for mmWave
• Funding announcements in New York and California that favor public networks
• The Dish/Direct TV deal looks kaput
• How we would redesign the Affordable Connectivity Program, and why

Join us live on November 22, at 2pm ET or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

Watch the next show on December 6th at 2pm EST.

Email us at [email protected] with feedback and ideas for the show.

Subscribe to the show using this feed or find it on the Connect This! page, and watch on LinkedIn, on YouTube Live, on Facebook live, or below.

Catch the latest episode of the Connect This! Show, with co-hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter (USI Fiber) joined by regular guests Kim McKinley (UTOPIA Fiber) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) to talk about all the recent broadband news that's fit to print. 

Topics include:

• Verizon and AT&T claiming that the FCC can't stop them from selling your data
• Starlink introduces a wait list and finally adds a customer help line
• The startling decline in spectrum value for mmWave
• Funding announcements in New York and California that favor public networks
• The Dish/Direct TV deal looks kaput
• How we would redesign the Affordable Connectivity Program, and why

Join us live on November 22, at 2pm ET or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

Watch the next show on December 6th at 2pm EST.

Email us at [email protected] with feedback and ideas for the show.

Subscribe to the show using this feed or find it on the Connect This! page, and watch on LinkedIn, on YouTube Live, on Facebook live, or below.

Catch the latest episode of the Connect This! Show, with co-hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter (USI Fiber) joined by regular guests Kim McKinley (UTOPIA Fiber) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) to talk about all the recent broadband news that's fit to print. 

Topics include:

• Verizon and AT&T claiming that the FCC can't stop them from selling your data
• Starlink introduces a wait list and finally adds a customer help line
• The startling decline in spectrum value for mmWave
• Funding announcements in New York and California that favor public networks
• The Dish/Direct TV deal looks kaput
• How we would redesign the Affordable Connectivity Program, and why

Join us live on November 22, at 2pm ET or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

Watch the next show on December 6th at 2pm EST.

Email us at [email protected] with feedback and ideas for the show.

Subscribe to the show using this feed or find it on the Connect This! page, and watch on LinkedIn, on YouTube Live, on Facebook live, or below.

Catch the latest episode of the Connect This! Show, with co-hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter (USI Fiber) joined by regular guests Kim McKinley (UTOPIA Fiber) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) to talk about all the recent broadband news that's fit to print. 

Topics include:

• Verizon and AT&T claiming that the FCC can't stop them from selling your data
• Starlink introduces a wait list and finally adds a customer help line
• The startling decline in spectrum value for mmWave
• Funding announcements in New York and California that favor public networks
• The Dish/Direct TV deal looks kaput
• How we would redesign the Affordable Connectivity Program, and why

Join us live on November 22, at 2pm ET or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

Watch the next show on December 6th at 2pm EST.

Email us at [email protected] with feedback and ideas for the show.

Subscribe to the show using this feed or find it on the Connect This! page, and watch on LinkedIn, on YouTube Live, on Facebook live, or below.

Catch the latest episode of the Connect This! Show, with co-hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter (USI Fiber) joined by regular guests Kim McKinley (UTOPIA Fiber) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) to talk about all the recent broadband news that's fit to print. 

Topics include:

• Verizon and AT&T claiming that the FCC can't stop them from selling your data
• Starlink introduces a wait list and finally adds a customer help line
• The startling decline in spectrum value for mmWave
• Funding announcements in New York and California that favor public networks
• The Dish/Direct TV deal looks kaput
• How we would redesign the Affordable Connectivity Program, and why

Join us live on November 22, at 2pm ET or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

Watch the next show on December 6th at 2pm EST.

Email us at [email protected] with feedback and ideas for the show.

Subscribe to the show using this feed or find it on the Connect This! page, and watch on LinkedIn, on YouTube Live, on Facebook live, or below.

Catch the latest episode of the Connect This! Show, with co-hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter (USI Fiber) joined by regular guests Kim McKinley (UTOPIA Fiber) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) to talk about all the recent broadband news that's fit to print. 

Topics include:

• Verizon and AT&T claiming that the FCC can't stop them from selling your data
• Starlink introduces a wait list and finally adds a customer help line
• The startling decline in spectrum value for mmWave
• Funding announcements in New York and California that favor public networks
• The Dish/Direct TV deal looks kaput
• How we would redesign the Affordable Connectivity Program, and why

Join us live on November 22, at 2pm ET or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

Watch the next show on December 6th at 2pm EST.

Email us at [email protected] with feedback and ideas for the show.

Subscribe to the show using this feed or find it on the Connect This! page, and watch on LinkedIn, on YouTube Live, on Facebook live, or below.

Catch the latest episode of the Connect This! Show, with co-hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter (USI Fiber) joined by regular guests Kim McKinley (UTOPIA Fiber) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) to talk about all the recent broadband news that's fit to print. 

Topics include:

• Verizon and AT&T claiming that the FCC can't stop them from selling your data
• Starlink introduces a wait list and finally adds a customer help line
• The startling decline in spectrum value for mmWave
• Funding announcements in New York and California that favor public networks
• The Dish/Direct TV deal looks kaput
• How we would redesign the Affordable Connectivity Program, and why

Join us live on November 22, at 2pm ET or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

Watch the next show on December 6th at 2pm EST.

Email us at [email protected] with feedback and ideas for the show.

Subscribe to the show using this feed or find it on the Connect This! page, and watch on LinkedIn, on YouTube Live, on Facebook live, or below.