Rural Broadband Today

Pioneer Utility Resources
  • 5.0 (12)
  • NEWS

Rural Broadband Today is a new podcast focused on one of the most important issues facing Rural America. It tells the stories of those working to bring broadband internet access within reach of every citizen. This interview-style show presents conversations with elected officials, industry experts and business leaders at the forefront of America’s efforts to solve the rural broadband challenge.

  1. 03/02/2023

    Rule Changes Expand Fiber Options in Washington, With Will O’Donnell

    As far as electric utilities go, Jefferson PUD is relatively young. That hasn't stopped them from taking some unique steps to bring broadband to rural and geographically challenging areas of Northwest Washington.

    33 min

  2. 02/16/2023

    Highlights from the Rural Electric Cooperative Broadband Benchmarking Report

    Rural broadband build-outs by electric cooperatives have been remarkably successful, according to a recent report from NRTC and NRECA. Despite rising labor and material costs, most co-ops report higher than expected take rates and a 9% internal rate of return. Notably, among the 88 co-ops surveyed, serving their community was the biggest motivational factor listed, with revenue lagging significantly behind. Two of the report’s architects share more insights in this episode. The full report is available online from NRTC.

    44 min

  3. 02/02/2023

    Despite Fiber Funding, Poor Areas Could Still Be Left Behind, With Jordana Barton-Garcia

    Even with the huge amount of funding coming in to expand broadband, Jordana Barton-Garcia says impoverished regions like tribal lands, the Mississippi Delta, the border region of Texas and central Appalachia could still be left on the wrong side of the digital divide if policymakers and ISPs don't focus on digital equity.

    57 min

  4. 01/10/2023

    Are Broadband Labels the Strings Attached to Funding?, With Jeff Smith

    While broadband providers enthusiastically welcome government funding to build and expand networks, Vantage Point’s Jeff Smith details some of the transparency requirements that come with it.

    25 min

  5. 12/01/2022

    Implementing BEAD & Digital Equity Programs in Tennessee, With Paige Shapiro and Carrie Huckeby

    In this crossover episode with “Lead Tennessee Radio,” Paige Shapiro, Tennessee’s federal program officer for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) and Digital Equity programs, discusses how these programs aim to ensure all people and communities have the skills, technology and capacity needed to reap the full benefits of the digital economy.

    25 min

  6. 11/16/2022

    Louisiana is Dishing Out GUMBO Grants to Built Broadband, With Thomas Tyler

    GUMBO is more than just the best new acronym in the industry. The program has catapulted Louisiana's broadband office forward into a leading role across the country.

    24 min

  7. 03/29/2022

    The Challenges of Rural Broadband in Texas, With Mark Seale and Craig Cook

    Texas has seen great strides in expanding broadband infrastructure across the state. However, challenges with changing legislation, geography, supply chain issues and funding are hindering the important work. In this episode, Mark Seale, executive director of the Texas Telephone Association, and Craig Cook, general manager at HCTC, discuss these challenges that Texas is facing in deploying rural broadband and how they hope to overcome them.

    18 min

  8. 03/15/2022

    Looking Back on a Ten-Year Electric-Telco Broadband Partnership in Minnesota, With John Twiest

    John Twiest, CEO of Arrowhead Electric Cooperative, discussed a decade old partnership Arrowhead has with CTC to provide broadband in rural Minnesota.

    15 min
See All (36)

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Rural Broadband Today is a new podcast focused on one of the most important issues facing Rural America. It tells the stories of those working to bring broadband internet access within reach of every citizen. This interview-style show presents conversations with elected officials, industry experts and business leaders at the forefront of America’s efforts to solve the rural broadband challenge.

Information

  • Creator
    Pioneer Utility Resources
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2023
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Rural Broadband Today