PODCAST · news
Unbuffered
by Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Unbuffered explores Internet access, digital equity, and local technology solutions, but with a broader lens on how tech shapes our lives, our communities, and our sense of agency. We make technology and technology makes us.
Episodes
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Why ISPs Fail and the Reality Facing State Broadband Offices - Episode 29 of Unbuffered
What causes new Internet service providers to stumble right out of the gate, and what is really going on behind the scenes at state broadband offices? Chris, Doug Dawson, Doug Adams, and Jade Piros de Carvalho unpack the hidden operational traps that derail network builds, and the compliance...
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Who Controls the Megaphone? - Episode 28 of Unbuffered
As ownership caps fall and mega-mergers unite giant media studios, what happens to the future of real journalism? Chris sits down with Free Press's Matt Wood and tech journalist Karl Bode to unpack how media consolidation fuels "enshittification" and erodes local news ★ Support this podcast ★
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The FCC on Trial: Defense of Free Speech and the Future of Media Regulation - Episode 27 of Unbuffered
Are broadcast license threats being weaponized to silence free speech? Chris, Gigi Sohn, and Berin Szóka unpack Disney’s landmark lawsuit against the FCC and the dangerous rise of regulatory intimidation. ★ Support this podcast ★
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Tree Canopies, Broken Data, and DOGE Math - Episode 26 of Unbuffered
Is national broadband data actually reliable, or are we just taking ISP claims on faith?Join Chris and Sean as they unpack flawed FCC reports, major BEAD dropouts, Starlink tree canopy problems, and the questionable math of DOGE. ★ Support this podcast ★
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The FWA Reality Check and the BEAD Final Numbers - Episode 25 of Unbuffered
Chris and Doug Dawson break down new Ookla FWA data, critique the FCC’s flawed mapping challenges, examine the final BEAD funding numbers, and tackle the wild economics of artificial intelligence. ★ Support this podcast ★
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Local Tech, Big Surveillance: Rethinking Municipal IT - Episode 24 of 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,...
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Flock Off! - Episode 23 of Unbuffered
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. ★ Support this podcast ★
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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. ★ Support this podcast ★
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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. ★ Support this podcast ★
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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. ★ Support this podcast ★
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Technology Without Guardrails - Episode 19 of Unbuffered
What do surveillance, A.I., and broadband policy have in common? Chris and Sascha connect the dots. ★ Support this podcast ★
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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. ★ Support this podcast ★
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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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. ★ Support this podcast ★
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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When Giant ISPs Get Bigger, State Commissions Fight Back - Episode 8 of Unbuffered
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...
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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.” ★ Support this podcast ★
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Unbuffered Live! - Episode 6 of Unbuffered
BEAD delays, LEO satellites, permitting, affordability, and why mobile networks may be getting worse ★ Support this podcast ★
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Digital Equity and the Way We Build Networks - Episode 5 of Unbuffered
A conversation about how we organize networks—and who they serve ★ Support this podcast ★
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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Introducing Unbuffered- Episode 0 of Unbuffered
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! ★ Support this podcast ★
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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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...
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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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. ★ Support this podcast ★
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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. ★ Support this podcast ★
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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. ★ Support this podcast ★
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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. ★ Support this podcast ★
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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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. ★ Support this podcast ★
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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 ★ Support this podcast ★
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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. ★ Support this podcast ★
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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. ★ Support this podcast ★
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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. ★ Support this podcast ★
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Unbuffered explores Internet access, digital equity, and local technology solutions, but with a broader lens on how tech shapes our lives, our communities, and our sense of agency. We make technology and technology makes us.
HOSTED BY
Institute for Local Self-Reliance
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Unbuffered have?
Unbuffered currently has 733 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Unbuffered about?
Unbuffered explores Internet access, digital equity, and local technology solutions, but with a broader lens on how tech shapes our lives, our communities, and our sense of agency. We make technology and technology makes us.
How often does Unbuffered release new episodes?
Unbuffered releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 733 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to Unbuffered?
You can listen to Unbuffered on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Unbuffered?
Unbuffered is created and hosted by Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
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