In this episode of the podcast, we welcome back Sascha Meinrath for a timely and urgent conversation about surveillance, digital infrastructure, and the growing tension between connectivity and civil liberties.

Sascha explores how modern broadband networks are increasingly intertwined with systems of data extraction, monitoring, and behavioral tracking. 

The conversation digs into how surveillance operates at multiple levels: through corporate data collection, government monitoring, and emerging technologies that blur the line between public safety and privacy intrusion.

This episode challenges us to think beyond speed and access, and to grapple with what kind of digital future we are actually building.

If communities are investing in digital infrastructure, Sascha argues, they must also ask: Who controls the data? Who benefits? And who is being watched?

This show is 44 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 (USI Fiber) joined by regular guests Kim McKinley (TAK Broadband) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) to talk about a grab-bag of topics including:

• The revolving door of government
• BEAD's grant tax
• Ted Cruz going after hotspots
• Minnesota's broadband workforce law
• Who will care about the federal broadband maps after BEAD?

Join us live on March 14th 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 Building for Digital Equity Podcast, Chris speaks with Walter Gabino Rendon, the Chief Program Officer at the STEM Alliance. Walter shares insights into the organization's efforts to bridge the digital divide in Westchester County, New York, a region often perceived as affluent but with significant underserved needs. They discuss the development and implementation of a CRM platform designed to improve the digital navigator experience, streamline client interactions, and collect vital data.

Walter details the collaborative process behind the tech ticketing system, the challenges faced during its development, and its impact on the organization's ability to serve the community effectively. He also shares his journey from education to digital inclusion work, highlighting how the pandemic underscored the critical need for digital access and support.

Tune in to learn about the innovative solutions being deployed to ensure everyone has access to high-speed internet and the necessary digital skills, and how these efforts are being measured and improved continuously.

***Disclaimer: This interview was conducted over a year ago***

This show is 12 minutes long and can be played on this page or using the podcast app of your choice with 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 here or see other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance here.

Thanks to Joseph McDade for the music. The song is On the Verge and is used per his Free-Use terms.

Join us Friday, March 29th at 2pm ET for the latest episode of the Connect This! Show. Co-hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter (USI Fiber) will be joined by regular guest Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) and Kim McKinley (UTOPIA Fiber) and special guest Gigi Sohn (American Association for Public Broadband) to talk about whether a recent punishment by the FCC against an ISP for overreporting coverage signals an appetite for meaningful change in the challenge process, a bill amendment that would hamstring New York's Municipal Infrastructure Program, and much more.

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 podcast episode, Christopher engages in a conversation with Philip Neufeld, the Executive Officer for Information Technology at the Fresno Unified School District. They delve into the crucial role of data in addressing broadband connectivity challenges in low-income neighborhoods, stressing the need for accurate and comprehensive data to guide policy decisions and investment strategies.

Philip's proactive data collection efforts in Fresno, particularly through speed tests on school devices, offer valuable insights into connectivity issues. He emphasizes the importance of using this data to advocate for solutions that bridge the digital divide.

The episode concludes by exploring the limitations of current mapping methods and the urgent need for more accurate data to drive effective and targeted solutions. Highlighting a collaborative approach, they underscore the significance of public-private partnerships and community coalitions in advocating for equitable broadband access in low-income neighborhoods.

This show is 44 minutes long and can be played on this page or using the podcast app of your choice with 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 here or see other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance here.

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 latest episode of the podcast, Christopher is joined once again by Sean Gonsalves to delve into the expanding landscape of municipal broadband networks in the U.S. They emphasize the noteworthy surge in municipal networks, citing the establishment of 47 new networks since 2021, which has brought the total to over 400!

This discussion explores the various models and approaches taken by these networks while touching on the challenges faced by these municipal networks, such as opposition from large ISPs and the importance of community support and engagement.

Additionally, Chris and Sean emphasize the significance of data from schools and organizations in comprehending the current state of broadband access and advancing digital equity.

This show is 38 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.

The fading sound of holiday bells and soft stillness that comes with plunging temps can only mean one thing; it's January again, which means it's time to break out the crystal ball and have a conversation about the year to come. Joining Christopher in the recording booth are a slew of CBN staffers new and veteran to join in the collective task of putting words to feelings both foreboding and optimistic about the year to come.

Will we see the first BEAD-connected home this year? Will the Affordabel Connectivity Program get re-funded? How will the maps look in 11 more months, with slews of challenge data? How many new municipal ftth networks will we see founded in 2024? State preemption laws rolled back, or re-introduced? Tune in for answers to all these and more.

This show is 48 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.