Explore every episode of the podcast Unbuffered

Can local governments build modern public safety infrastructure without sacrificing citizen privacy or handing millions to private cloud vendors? Former Shreveport CTO Keith Hanson joins Chris to break down the hidden costs of vendor-owned surveillance, the realities of municipal IT bureaucracy, and how cities can use creative, low-cost solutions to retain control over their own data.

Are Flock safety cameras keeping communities safe, or just building a private dragnet for mass surveillance? Chris sits down with independent reporter Daniel Boguslaw to unpack the Flock Safety debate and reveal how everyday citizens are fighting back.

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.

Lee Brown and John Fredericks join Chris to discuss how Erwin Fiber weathered Hurricane Helene and what the community is building back stronger.

From Massachusetts' affordable housing retrofit program to a giant mirror in space, Chris and Sean unpack the latest stories shaping broadband.

What do surveillance, A.I., and broadband policy have in common? Chris and Sascha connect the dots.

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.

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

From America's 250th anniversary to BEAD and broadband policy, Chris, Sean, and Karl unpack some of the biggest stories shaping the telecommunications landscape

The story behind the Tribal Broadband Bootcamps and the growing movement to build tribal networks across Indian Country

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.

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

What does it take to build a sustainable model for closing the digital divide? How DigitalC grew to nearly 10,000 subscriber households

What Vermont is getting right — and why Google’s AI search changes feel different

A conversation about digital equity, dark money, and the fight over Internet access

 In this episode of Unbuffered, Chris is joined by Ernesto Falcon, Program Manager of Communications and Broadband Policy with the Public Advocates Office for a conversation about competition, mergers, and how to make sure the lowest-income households have access to an Internet connection that allows them to participate in the economy and civic life, as well as access telehealth and educational services on an equitable playing field. 

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.”

BEAD delays, LEO satellites, permitting, affordability, and why mobile networks may be getting worse

A conversation about how we organize networks—and who they serve

An important conversation around what happened when federal agents came to Minnesota—and how communities responded

A deep dive into one of the most successful municipal fiber networks in the country—and what other communities can learn from it

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In this year-end roundtable, the Community Broadband Networks team looks back at their 2025 predictions—and reckons with what actually happened.

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.

Chris Mitchell, Jess Auer, and David Kulp tell the inside story of how community determination transformed Internet access across Western Massachusetts.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sarah Morris joins us to talk about the Trump administration’s push toward satellite, what it means for states on the frontlines, and why Congress’s original vision for closing the digital divide is at risk.

Scott Goff of Gibson Connect joins the show to share how an electric co-op in Tennessee is transforming rural communities with reliable, affordable fiber broadband. He and Chris discuss overcoming state barriers, building trust, and why community-first models are key to closing the digital divide

Sascha Meinrath returns to break down what Starlink gets right—and wrong—about solving the digital divide. He and the CBN Team take a hard look at the hype, the reality, and why magic-bullet solutions often distract from real, community-driven infrastructure.

Sascha Meinrath returns for a wide-ranging conversation on "Abundance" and what it gets right and wrong about broadband and public policy. He and Chris unpack the dangers of corporate-led infrastructure and why real abundance must center the public good.