In this episode of Unbuffered, Chris is joined again by Sascha Meinrath, Palmer Chair of Telecommunications at Penn State University and Director of X-Lab, for a wide-ranging conversation about privacy, artificial intelligence, and "The Cost of Inaction" in Pennsylvania.

Chris and Sascha begin by discussing the future of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), examining the ongoing debate over government surveillance, constitutional protections, and what renewed surveillance authorities could mean for privacy and civil liberties.

The conversation then turns to AI, where they explore the rapid development of new technologies, the growing role of AI in surveillance, and the need for stronger safeguards to protect personal privacy. They discuss the work of the Center for Agentic AI Research, the opportunities AI presents, and the risks of deploying increasingly powerful systems without meaningful oversight.

Finally, Chris and Sascha examine the broader state of broadband policy through the lens of Pennsylvania's The Cost of Inaction report. They discuss the consequences of delayed broadband investment, the importance of competition and local accountability, and why community-driven solutions continue to play a critical role in expanding reliable, affordable Internet access.

Throughout the episode, Chris and Sascha connect today's debates over surveillance, AI, and broadband with broader questions about accountability, local decision-making, and how technology should serve the public interest.

This show is 59 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed. 

You can also check out the video version via YouTube.

Transcript below.

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

Listen to other episodes (formerly Community Broadband Bits) or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Whitedrift for the song Operator, licensed Creative Commons Attribution (3.0).

In this episode of the podcast, Chris is joined by Doug Adams, head of Broadband Marketers and writer at Broadband.io, and Karl Bode for a wide-ranging discussion on recent developments reshaping federal broadband policy.

The conversation centers on Starlink’s latest efforts to reshape BEAD program requirements through confidential riders sent to state broadband offices—requests that would dramatically reduce accountability, alter performance standards, and deliver large sums of public funding upfront. 

Doug breaks down what states are being asked to accept, why NTIA has reportedly warned states not to sign on, and how these demands differ from the obligations placed on fiber and fixed wireless providers.

Chris and Karl place the moment in historical context, comparing it to past telecom subsidy failures and raising concerns about affordability, capacity limits, consumer protections, and long-term resilience. 

The discussion also touches on broader themes: the erosion of federal oversight, the future of municipal broadband, how ARPA funds are still quietly delivering results in states like New York, and why community-driven fiber networks may once again become the fallback as federal promises falter.

The episode closes with reflections on accountability, public trust, and the real-world impacts of policy decisions on rural communities.

This show is 50 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed. 

You can also check out the video version via YouTube.

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 joined by regular guests Kim McKinley (Tak Broadband) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) to talk about all the recent broadband news that's fit to print.

Topics include:

• A new report from ILSR on 19 small towns in Massachusetts building public partnerships and new fiber networks.
• Massive AWS and Cloudflare outages impacting large parts of the Internet.
• The new broadband usage report from OpenVault.
• 18 states so far have finally gotten NTIA approval after redoing most of the work from last summer, with the result being fewer homes will be passed by the BEAD program and, of those, a smaller proportion will get fiber than under Biden.
• The latest attempt to hamstring any state regulation of AI by tying BEAD approval to the measure.

Join us live on November 20th at 3pm ET, or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

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.

In this episode of the podcast, Chris welcomes back Gigi Sohn, Benton Senior Fellow and Public Advocate, for a fast-paced reaction to recent testimony by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

They dig into the political motivations behind the BEAD program’s freeze, the misleading justifications around climate and affordability requirements, and the sweeping changes that could derail state broadband plans. 

Gigi brings sharp insight to a frustrating moment in broadband policy, explaining why the clock is ticking and who’s paying the price for the delay.

This show is 37 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 (TAK Broadband) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) and special guest Angela Siefer (National Digital Inclusion Alliance) to talk about all the recent broadband news that's fit to print. Topics include:

• Charter and Cox announce agreement to merge, unseating Comcast as the largest cable provider in the United States
• What the public-funds match for Starlink should be, when BEAD moves forward.
• Funding for hot spots - a core digital equity tool that grew to new importance under the pandemic - is under threat.
• Trump's announcement that he was ending the Digital Equity Act, and the significant impact it will have if the order holds.

Join us live on May 16th at 2pm ET, or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

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.

In this episode of the podcast, Chris is joined again by telecom policy expert Sascha Meinrath for a wide-ranging discussion on why billions in broadband funding still haven’t reached communities. 

They unpack the dysfunction behind the BEAD program rollout, federal stalling on digital equity grants, and the maddening reality of broken broadband maps. 

The conversation tackles political gridlock, regulatory capture, and the very real consequences for underserved communities still waiting for high-speed Internet.

You can find the article that Chris and Sascha reference during their conversation about Ezra Klein here.

This show is 41 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 (TAK Broadband) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) and special guest Shane Eleniak (Calix) to talk about:

• Comcast's new five-year price lock
• A CNET pricing study that looks at the rising cost of access that hasn't improved most household's reliability
• The milestones that Utah-based municipal network UTOPIA Fiber hit in 2024
• The future of Passive Optical Networks, and where we go after XGS PON

Join us live on April 18th at 2pm ET, or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

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.

In this episode of the podcast, Christopher Mitchell is joined by freelance reporter Karl Bode to discuss pressing broadband issues, including the practicality and limitations of Starlink for rural areas, challenges with current broadband policy, and the ongoing efforts to ensure affordable access. 

They explore the impact of recent political discussions on broadband funding, misunderstandings around satellite Internet’s role in rural connectivity, and why affordability remains a crucial barrier. They also delve into FCC initiatives, such as the investigation of data caps and new broadband “nutrition labels,” aimed at transparency in pricing and services. 

Their conversation underscores the importance of consumer-centric policies and the need for regulatory action to break monopolistic control in the broadband market.

This show is 42 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 engages in a discussion with Lindsey Skolnik, Project Manager for the California Alliance for Digital Equity (CADE). They delve into the critical efforts of CADE to close the digital divide in California, highlighting legislative and regulatory priorities aimed at achieving digital equity.

Lindsey shares the origins and mission of CADE, formed in May 2022 to advocate for digital equity at the state level. They discuss key initiatives such as the Middle Mile and Last Mile projects, Senate Bill 156, and the strategic allocation of $6 billion towards broadband infrastructure.

The conversation also covers the groundbreaking digital discrimination legislation making its way through the California legislature, focusing on the disparate impact standard and the importance of addressing outcomes over intent. Lindsey explains the significant progress of Assembly Bill 239 and the collaborative efforts with various partners to combat digital discrimination.

Furthermore, they explore the impact of the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative, its budget challenges, and the latest updates on the project's progress. The discussion also touches on the Federal Funding Account's role in supporting new broadband investments, with insights into the application process and awarded projects.

Join us as we unpack the complexities and triumphs of advancing digital equity in California, aiming to create a future where all communities have access to fast, affordable, and reliable Internet.

This show is 35 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