Community Broadband Bits Institute for Local Self-Reliance
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- News
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Short interviews with people doing interesting things to expand broadband networks that put community needs first.
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Data Challenges for Equitable Broadband Access In Fresno, CA and Beyond - Episode 592 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
In this podcast episode, Christopher speaks with Philip Neufeld, Executive Officer for Information Technology at the Fresno Unified School District, about the vital role of data in addressing broadband challenges in low-income areas. They discuss Neufeld's proactive data collection efforts, stress the importance of using this data for advocacy, and highlight the need for collaborative solutions to bridge the digital divide.
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Without Political Power, There is No Path to Digital Equity - Episode 591 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Episode 591 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast features a panel from Net Inclusion that Christopher Mitchell moderated entitled, "Without Political Power, There is No Path to Digital Equity." In it, panelists raise difficult questions for the digital equity movement about whether they are on track to achieve their goals - whether the main strategies used today can result in digital equity or are destined to fall well short.
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Lincoln Park and Smart City Initiatives in Fort Pierce with Jason Mittler - Episode 590 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
In this podcast episode, Christopher and Jason Mittler discuss the Fort Pierce Utilities Authority Network, a fiber optic network in Fort Pierce, Florida, highlighting its diverse applications in providing Internet, utility services, smart grid solutions, and smart city services. They also touch on the Lincoln Park Smart Neighborhood project, addressing low broadband adoption rates by offering 100 Mbps symmetrical service at $31 per month, with additional services for higher speeds. The conversation concludes with valuable advice for those entering the ISP market, emphasizing collaboration, partnerships, and staying informed about the evolving Internet services landscape.
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People Over Profit: DigitalC's Mission to Connect Communities in Cleveland- Episode 589 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
This week on the podcast, Christopher talks with Joshua Edmonds, CEO of DigitalC, a nonprofit in Cleveland, Ohio, dedicated to bridging the digital divide. DigitalC provides fast, affordable internet at $18/month, along with digital literacy training and device deployment. They've recently secured a $20 million contract from the city to expand their infrastructure, aiming to connect 23,000 households in 18 months. Christopher and Joshua stress the importance of prioritizing people over profit, emphasizing the need to serve unserved and underserved populations to comprehensively address the digital divide.
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Planning is Good, but Pivoting is Better in Fort Collins, Colorado - Episode 588 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
This week on the podcast, Christopher is joined by Chad Crager, Broadband Executive Director at City of Fort Collins, to talk about the rapidly maturing city-owned network they call Connexion. From a feasibility study in 2018 to the lion's share of construction completed today, Connexion's story illustrates the value of being nimble when expectations meet reality.
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Connecting the Last Twenty Percent in Newark - Episode 587 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Newark, New Jersey has been operated a dark fiber network for more than a decade. In recent years, the city has expanded its efforts to leverage those assets in an incremental effort to improve connectivity and competition for local business and residents, while also building out a robust Wi-Fi network. The goal: build a portfolio of approaches to connect the last twenty percent of the city that doesn't have access today.
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Customer Reviews
Warm duck shuffle
Christopher out there putting in work. Best tech podcast hands down. Thank y’all!
MuniBroadband Bits Rocks!
Always topical, always exciting, always fresh and fast-paced!
Fantastic muni broadband info
As a Systems Admin in a rural community who is two years into municipal fiber deployment, I enjoy hearing about others who have been down the road and the insights they provide.