Shreveport, Louisiana

Content tagged with "Shreveport, Louisiana"

Parent
louisiana
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4

Local Tech, Big Surveillance: Rethinking Municipal IT - Episode 24 of Unbuffered

Unbuffered Logo - Two text bubbles
By
on

In this episode of Unbuffered, Chris reconnects with Keith Hanson, former Chief Technology Officer for Shreveport, Louisiana, and current consultant at KeithHanson.io. The two dive into the practical realities, trade-offs, and systemic challenges local governments face when deploying smart city technology, public safety infrastructure, and community broadband.

The conversation begins with Keith's experiences leading technology initiatives in Shreveport, including the establishment of a civilian-led Real-Time Crime Center and the deployment of local camera systems. 

Keith explains why he opted to build low-cost, off-the-shelf camera systems rather than paying steep subscription fees to private vendors who harvest public data into centralized cloud databases. 

Chris and Keith discuss the privacy implications of mass surveillance, contrasting focused license plate readers (LPRs) with dragnet AI tracking systems, and examine why local governments should maintain strict control over municipal data.

From there, Chris and Keith turn to the operational and cultural barriers within municipal IT departments. Keith shares his perspective on navigating government bureaucracy, managing talent, and overcoming rigid HR policies that disincentivize innovation. 

They also discuss creative infrastructure solutions—such as using CBRS networks and library fiber to deliver low-cost connectivity, conducting Wi-Fi war driving via municipal garbage trucks, and exploring fiber-optic acoustic sensing for traffic management and leak detection—before reflecting on the political friction that can derail ambitious public technology projects.

Finally, Keith reflects on his transition back to the private sector and shares how modern AI coding tools and documentation agents are making it easier for lean municipal IT teams to build, maintain, and own custom technology solutions.

Throughout the episode, Chris and Keith connect local IT procurement and surveillance debates with broader questions about digital privacy, fiscal responsibility, and how local governments can foster genuine innovation.

This show is 56 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).

Read More

Watch Shreveport, Louisiana CTO Keith Hansen Describe Mapping Broadband Access With Garbage Trucks

By on

If you missed the most recent episode of the Connect This! Show, Keith Hansen described the moment he realized he could map the city's digital divide by putting low-power computers attached to GPS chips on the city's garbage trucks. It's a fascinating discussion, and exactly the kind of innovation you get to hear about live when you subscribe to the Connect This! show using this feed.

Watch the short clip below, or the full episode here, and don't forget to tune in tonight at 5p ET for the next episode on digital redlining and microtrenching.

Read More

Mapping Broadband Access With Garbage Trucks, and Other Innovative Municipal Initiatives in Shreveport, Louisiana - Episode 19 of Connect This!

By on

On Episode 19 of the Connect This! Show, co-hosts Christopher and (a partly there) Travis Carter (USI Fiber) are joined by Keith Hanson (Shreveport, Louisiana Chief Technology Officer) and Angelina Panettieri (National League of Cities) to talk about how some cities place themselves at the vanguard of innovation by undertaking projects designed to improve local conditions using existing infrastructure and know-how. Keith shares Shreveport's efforts to map the digital divide by connecting low-power computing devices to GPS sensors and cell phone batteries on garbage trucks to map broadband access across the city. He also talks about other edge computing initiatives, like video for public safety. 

The group also discusses the newly released Treasury rules on the $10 billion in infrastructure funding coming down the pipeline, and how cities can position themselves to take advantage.

Subscribe to the show using this feed, or visit ConnectThisShow.com

Email us [email protected] with feedback, ideas for the show, or your pictures of weird wireless infrastructure to stump Travis.

Watch here, or below.

Read More

Join Us Live on Thursday at 5pm ET for Connect This! Episode 19 - Mapping Broadband Access With Garbage Trucks, and Other Innovative Municipal Initiatives

By on

On Episode 19 of the Connect This! Show, co-hosts Christopher and Travis Carter (USI Fiber) are joined by Keith Hanson (Shreveport, Louisiana Chief Technology Officer) and Angelina Panettieri (National League of Cities) to talk about how some cities place themselves at the vanguard of innovation by undertaking projects designed to improve local conditions using existing infrastructure and know-how. For instance, in this episode of the show, Keith will share Shreveport's efforts to bridge the digital divide: an initiative driven in part by connecting low-power computing devices to GPS sensors and cell phone batteries on garbage trucks to map broadband access across the city. 

The group will also discuss the newly released Treasury rules on the $10 billion in infrastructure funding coming down the pipeline.

Join us for the live show Thursday, September 23rd, at 5pm ET. 

Subscribe to the show using this feed, or visit ConnectThisShow.com

Email us [email protected] with feedback, ideas for the show, or your pictures of weird wireless infrastructure to stump Travis.

Watch here, or below.

Read More
Subscribe to Shreveport, Louisiana