Jordan Pittman
Fast, affordable Internet access for all.
Jordan Pittman
Stories by this author
New Building for Digital Equity Podcast: STEM Alliance Discusses New Ways To Help Digital Navigators
This week’s episode features a conversation with Walter Gabino Rendon, Chief Program Officer at the STEM Alliance, who shares insights into the organization's efforts to bridge the digital divide in Westchester County, New York.
Countdown To Next Building For Digital Equity Event: ‘Pathways To Affordability’
As FCC Chair Jessica Ronsenworcel this week laments the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), the next Building For Digital Equity event is ready to address the now-what question. Slated for June 10 from 3 to 4:15 PM ET, the upcoming #B4DE will focus on “Pathways To Affordable Connectivity” and will serve up plenty of food-for-thought and actionable intel for those working in the trenches to bridge the digital divide.
Save The Date: Next B4DE Event Will Focus On Pathways To Affordable Connectivity
The second Building for Digital Equity (#B4DE) event of the year will focus on what digital equity advocates across the nation are doing to address broadband affordability challenges and delve into the need for creating sustainable solutions for communities.
Building for Digital Equity Podcast Returns
We are set to launch a brand new season that focuses on the frontline work to expand Internet access, address affordability, and help provide the digital skills and devices necessary to fully participate in a digital world. The first episode of 2024 features an insightful conversation with Pierrette Renée Dagg, Director of Research for the MERIT Network in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Save the Date: Building for Digital Equity #B4DE Holiday Edition
With the holiday season upon us, the Institute for Local Self Reliance (ILSR) Community Broadband Networks Initiative and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) are gearing up for the final Building for Digital Equity (#B4DE) event of the year and encouraging digital equity practitioners to save the date.
Fiber on the Right Track - Episode 22 of Unbuffered
Chris and Doug Dawson discuss a major court ruling that could make Fiber deployment across railroad rights-of-way easier, Starlink’s ambitions to become a mobile network operator, and what recent court decisions could mean for the future of the FCC.
Built for the Storm - Episode 21 of Unbuffered
Lee Brown and John Fredericks join Chris to discuss how Erwin Fiber weathered Hurricane Helene and what the community is building back stronger.
Time for a Retrofit! - Episode 20 of Unbuffered
From Massachusetts' affordable housing retrofit program to a giant mirror in space, Chris and Sean unpack the latest stories shaping broadband.
Technology Without Guardrails - Episode 19 of Unbuffered
What do surveillance, A.I., and broadband policy have in common? Chris and Sascha connect the dots
Dialing Back Protections: The Battle for California's Lifelines - Episode 18 of Unbuffered
What happens when telecom companies are allowed to walk away from providing basic, reliable phone service? Chris, Harold, and Arturo explore AT&T’s push to end its landline commitments in California and why network modernization shouldn't leave vulnerable communities behind
Protecting Tribal Access to Spectrum - Episode 17 of Unbuffered
What could the FCC's latest spectrum decisions mean for Tribal Nations? Chris and Matthew Rantanen break down what's at stake.
Too Easy to Reach Orbit? - Episode 16 of Unbuffered
Chris and Doug Dawson unpack a new survey of rural Americans, the lawsuit over the Digital Equity Act, and what the FCC's latest satellite decisions could mean for the future of our skies
The Plot to Hijack America’s Broadband - Episode 15 of Unbuffered
From America's 250th anniversary to BEAD and broadband policy, Chris, Sean, and Karl unpack some of the biggest stories shaping the telecommunications landscape
Five Years of Tribal Broadband Bootcamps - Episode 14 of Unbuffered
The story behind the Tribal Broadband Bootcamps and the growing movement to build tribal networks across Indian Country
What the Tech!?! SpaceX IPO Edition - Episode 13 of Unbuffered
Chris, Sean, Jordan, and Karl break down SpaceX IPO and Starlink, before Chris sits down with Jeff Gavlinski to preview this year’s Mountain Connect conference in Denver.
How NextLight Became the #1 Internet Service Provider in the Country - Episode 12 of Unbuffered
A conversation about Longmont's NextLight network, community broadband, affordability, and what it takes to build one of the most successful ISPs in the country
DigitalC at 10,000 Subscribers - Episode 11 of Unbuffered
What does it take to build a sustainable model for closing the digital divide? How DigitalC grew to nearly 10,000 subscriber households
Vermont’s Community Broadband Model, Starlink, and the Future of Search - Episode 10 of Unbuffered
What Vermont is getting right — and why Google’s AI search changes feel different
The Digital Divide Is a Civil Rights Issue: The Fight for Digital Equity and the Battle Against Dark Money- Episode 9 of Unbuffered
A conversation about digital equity, dark money, and the fight over Internet access
More Than the Sum of the Parts - Episode 7 of Unbuffered
A conversation about AI policy, emergent systems, distributed knowledge, and why the things that are easiest to measure “might not be the right things to measure”
Unbuffered Live! - Episode 6 of Unbuffered
BEAD delays, LEO satellites, permitting, affordability, and why mobile networks may be getting worse
Digital Equity and the Way We Build Networks - Episode 5 of Unbuffered
A conversation about how we organize networks—and who they serve
How and Why Minnesota's Network of Trust Organized Against Federal Occupation - Episode 4 of Unbuffered
An important conversation around what happened when federal agents came to Minnesota—and how communities responded
The UTOPIA Model — Open Access and Community Broadband - Episode 3 of Unbuffered
A deep dive into one of the most successful municipal fiber networks in the country—and what other communities can learn from it
Telecom Then, AI Now — Rethinking the FCC’s Role - Episode 2 of Unbuffered
Blair Levin returns to reflect on the decisions that built today’s Internet—and why we may not be ready for what comes next in an AI-driven world.
Is the Internet Still a Public Good? - Episode 1 of Unbuffered
Unbuffered launches with a powerhouse roundtable on broadband policy, the FCC, and media consolidation. Karl Bode, Gigi Sohn, Doug Dawson, and Sean Gonsalves dig into whether today’s technology ecosystem is helping or hurting the public
Introducing Unbuffered: Episode 0
Unbuffered is here. In this kickoff episode, Chris Mitchell introduces a new chapter that builds on Community Broadband Bits while expanding the conversation around Internet access, power, and local control. Tune in for what’s next!
Reading the Signals: What Broadband Policy Shifts Mean on the Ground - Episode 680 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Doug Dawson returns to break down the latest shifts in broadband policy and what they mean on the ground. From funding uncertainty to real deployment challenges, this episode cuts through the noise to focus on what communities should actually be paying attention to
Government Power, Media Empires, and the Fight for an Informed Public - Episode 679 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
As telecom companies and billionaires consolidate control over media outlets and platforms, what does that mean for journalism and democracy? Chris and Karl Bode unpack the long arc of media consolidation, the decline of local news, and why rebuilding informed communities may require both policy reform and stronger local connections
Big Brother is Watching You - Episode 678 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
As communities invest in broadband infrastructure, a bigger question looms: who controls the data flowing through those networks? Sascha Meinrath joins us to unpack the growing intersection of connectivity, surveillance, and civil liberties
Fort Pierce, Two Years Later: Fiber, Smart City, and Steady Growth - Episode 677 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Jason Mittler returns to share progress on fiber expansion in Fort Pierce, digital equity efforts in Lincoln Park, and how municipal ownership allows the city to lower rates while strengthening its utilities
Mergers, Monopoly Prices, and Accountability - Episode 676 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Chris Mitchell, Doug Dawson, and Sean Gonsalves break down the latest telecom mergers, Starlink’s push to reshape BEAD rules, and new research showing how lack of competition drives higher prices for consumers
When Starlink Rewrites the Rules of Broadband Funding - Episode 675 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Chris Mitchell, Doug Adams, and Karl Bode break down Starlink’s behind-the-scenes push to rewrite BEAD rules, what it means for accountability and public dollars, and why communities could once again be left holding the bag
Serving the Overlooked: Building Broadband for Manufactured Housing Communities - Episode 674 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Brendan Kelly of REVinternet joins Chris Mitchell and Sean Gonsalves to explain why these neighborhoods are stuck with outdated networks—and how a community-centered approach can finally deliver affordable, reliable Internet where big ISPs have failed
Predictions for 2026: CBN Edition - Episode 673 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Chris Mitchell is joined by CBN colleagues to share bold predictions on BEAD delays, municipal broadband momentum, and the growing influence of fixed wireless, satellites, and AI
Broadband Reality Check: BEAD, Competition, and What Comes Next - Episode 672 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Chris Mitchell sits down with Doug Dawson to cut through the hype, unpack growing uncertainty around federal policy, and explain what communities and providers should realistically expect as 2026 unfolds
2026 Predictions with Blair Levin- Episode 671 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Chris Mitchell and Blair Levin look back at predictions and policy delays from 2025, unpack the growing influence of satellites and tariffs, and explore how power, politics, and markets are redefining the future of connectivity in 2026 and beyond
Year in Review 2025 - Episode 670 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
In this year-end roundtable, the Community Broadband Networks team looks back at their 2025 predictions—and reckons with what actually happened.
Telecom's Plumbing Problem: Routing, Regulation, and What Comes Next - Episode 669 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Richard Shockey joins Chris Mitchell to explain how the collapse of the PSTN, weak federal oversight, and a messy transition to all-IP networks threaten everything from 911 reliability to rural connectivity.
The Berkshires Broadband Movement: How 19 Small Towns Built Their Own Fiber Future - Episode 668 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Chris Mitchell, Jess Auer, and David Kulp tell the inside story of how community determination transformed Internet access across Western Massachusetts.
Building Broadband from the Ground Up - Episode 667 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Mauricio Rodriguez joins Chris to talk about permitting challenges, land negotiations, environmental surprises, and why setting standards and hiring the right people early is key to actually getting fiber in the ground.
The Satellite Solution That Won’t Scale - Episode 666 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Sascha Meinrath joins Chris to unpack how BEAD funding is drifting toward satellite solutions that can’t scale—and why misleading speed data, space congestion, and political pressure could derail real broadband progress
Speed Tests and Why BEAD Keeps Getting Messier - Episode 665 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Doug Dawson joins Chris to break down the latest shakeups in broadband policy, from ISPs gaming the data to NTIA’s controversial BEAD changes and what it all means for communities trying to connect.
Follow the Money: Comcast, Starlink, and the BEAD Backslide - Episode 664 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Chris Mitchell, Karl Bode, and Sean Gonsalves break down the politics, corruption, and power plays shaping the broadband landscape—and what it all means for communities fighting for real Internet choice
After BEAD: The Future of Broadband and Accountability - Episode 663 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Chris Mitchell and Jordan Pittman dig into what federal broadband funding missed, why affordability still looms as the biggest barrier, and how communities can keep pushing for real accountability and digital equity.
Don’t Break the Internet - Episode 662 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Mike Masnick of Techdirt joins us to unpack the myths around Section 230, how reform efforts could backfire, and why protecting free speech online requires more nuance than most policymakers are willing to give.
Free Speech, AI Slop, and Media Power - Episode 661 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
In this episode of the podcast, Chris speaks with Karl Bode and Jordan Pittman to dig into free speech, media consolidation, and the flood of low-quality “AI slop” shaping how we experience the Internet today.
How Rural America Gets Left Behind - Episode 660 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Jonathan Chambers joins us to talk fiber, satellites, and the messy truth of federal broadband policy—and why evidence, not politics, should drive how we connect rural America.