In this episode of Unbuffered, Chris is joined by Chao Jun Liu (Electronic Frontier Foundation) to discuss Condition 50. NTIA added this term to the BEAD program last November. 

It would bar states that accept BEAD funds from enforcing laws that regulate the rates, terms, or conditions of broadband service, including net neutrality, open access, and affordability rules.

Together, they break down what California stands to lose. That includes its landmark 2018 net neutrality law and the $20 low-income plans required as conditions of the Charter-Cox and Verizon-Frontier mergers. 

Chao explains net neutrality’s core protections against blocking, throttling, zero rating, and paid prioritization. She also recounts how Verizon throttled firefighters during a record wildfire in 2018, which helped push California’s law over the finish line.

Moving to the stakes, they weigh roughly $1.4 billion in BEAD deployment funds against a Public Knowledge estimate that Condition 50 could cost California $5 to $16 billion in existing broadband benefits. 

They also cover New York’s decision to sign the agreement despite its Affordable Broadband Act, and how NTIA’s exemption from the Administrative Procedure Act let it add the condition without public comment.

Concluding with the decision facing Governor Newsom ahead of the November 1 deadline, they explore the legal and strategic calculus for a state that has already filed 100 lawsuits against the administration. They also discuss what the outcome could mean for Internet users well beyond California.

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. 

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).

In this episode of Unbuffered, Chris is joined by Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting), Doug Adams (Broadband.io), and Jade Piros de Carvalho (IdeaTek) for a candid, wide-ranging discussion on why new Internet Service Providers stumble and the administrative realities bearing down on state broadband offices.

Together, they break down the common operational traps that derail network builds—from easily overlooked execution details like pouring concrete pads for field huts, to vendor bottlenecks with OSS/BSS software, poor contractor restoration that angers local communities, and the pitfalls of passive marketing. 

Moving behind the scenes of federal policy, the panel tackles the mounting compliance fatigue surrounding the BEAD program, examining high staff turnover in state offices, environmental review delays, pole attachment friction with co-ops, and shifting NTIA timelines.

Concluding with a look at the future of digital infrastructure, the group explores what happens when federal funding programs hit administrative walls and how local, state, and community-driven efforts can maintain momentum to get unserved communities connected.

This show is 52 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).

In this episode of Unbuffered, Chris is joined again by Doug Dawson of CCG Consulting for a wide-ranging conversation about fixed wireless access performance, federal broadband definitions, the BEAD program's true-up process, and the potential impact of artificial intelligence on network infrastructure.

Chris and Doug begin by diving into a recent Ookla report on Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. They break down how FWA operates on de-prioritized cellular capacity, why seasonal foliage can slow down speeds, and how the limitations of upload performance highlight the stark difference between cellular home broadband and wireline fiber connections.

From there, the conversation turns to federal policy and mapping challenges. Chris and Doug critique potential shifts at the FCC regarding broadband speed definitions and discuss a GAO report highlighting the hurdles local governments and Tribal nations faced during the bulk broadband collection challenge process. They also examine the NTIA’s plan for truing up unserved locations under the BEAD program, as well as the final funding distributions across fiber, Low Earth Orbit satellites, and fixed wireless networks.

Finally, Chris and Doug tackle the popular debate around AI and network congestion. They unpack why data center traffic differs from residential internet usage, address the security and infrastructural risks of rapid AI development, and discuss the long-term economic viability of major AI models.

Throughout the episode, Chris and Doug connect these technical and policy developments to broader questions about network reliability, federal oversight, market competition, and who will ultimately build and control the future of telecommunications.

This show is 46 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).

In this episode of Unbuffered, Chris is joined again by Douglas Dawson for a conversation about the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of broadband.

Chris and Doug begin by discussing the latest developments in the National Digital Inclusion Alliance's lawsuit against the Trump administration over the Digital Equity Act, examining what the case could mean for digital equity efforts and the communities working to expand access, affordability, and digital skills.

From there, they turn to the results of a recent survey examining how rural Americans use the Internet, exploring what it reveals about changing consumer habits, growing bandwidth demands, and the ways AI and other emerging technologies are reshaping how people connect online.

The conversation then shifts to the practical realities of building broadband networks, including the rising cost of Fiber construction, permitting delays, make-ready work, and why better pole inventories could significantly reduce deployment costs and speed up network expansion.

Chris and Doug also take a closer look at the Federal Communications Commission's evolving approach to satellite broadband, discussing recent regulatory changes, what they could mean for the industry, and whether the agency's approach strikes the right balance as more companies look to launch satellite broadband services. They also explore how satellite fits alongside Fiber and other technologies as communities work to expand reliable Internet access.

Throughout the episode, Chris and Doug connect today's policy debates with broader questions about technology, infrastructure, and what it will take to ensure communities have reliable, affordable Internet in the years ahead.

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. 

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).

In this episode of Unbuffered, Chris is joined by Sean Gonsalves and Karl Bode for a wide-ranging conversation about the latest stories shaping the telecommunications landscape.

The group begins by discussing the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, prompting a broader discussion about the country's history, civic identity, and how Americans can use the milestone as an opportunity to reflect on the nation's past while looking toward its future.

From there, they dive into Sean and Karl's recent article for The Verge: Elon Musk and the Plot to Hijack America’s Broadband, reflecting on the state of broadband policy, the challenges facing community broadband, and how the national conversation around Internet infrastructure continues to evolve.

Finally, Chris, Sean, and Karl unpacked the recent House Committee on Energy & Commerce Hearings regarding Arielle Roth and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's revised BEAD guidance, discussing changes to technology neutrality, the growing role of low-Earth orbit satellite providers, and what the new rules could mean for states, communities, and long-term broadband investment. 

Along the way, they debate the tradeoffs between Fiber, fixed wireless, and satellite service, and whether the updated approach will deliver the infrastructure communities need.

Throughout the episode, Chris, Sean, and Karl connect today's policy debates with broader questions about investment, local leadership, and what it will take to ensure communities have access to reliable, affordable Internet for decades to come.

This show is 53 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).