CBAN Resource Videos

ACP Adoption Challenges

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has already helped millions of Americans get online through a monthly subsidy for internet service. But adoption has been slow in many locations, and nationwide only 41 percent of eligible households have utilized the program. We visit with Sean Gonsolves and Ry Marcattilio with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, which has created an ACP Dashboard to track enrollment in the ACP and how fast the available funds are being used.

December 19, 2022

Doug Dawson's 2023 Crystal Ball - Broadband Predictions

Doug Dawson with CCG Consulting is one of the broadband industry's true thought leaders. For the second year in a row, Doug joins Curtis Dean with CBAN to look into his crystal ball for some broadband predictions for 2023. Check out Pots and Pans, Doug's blog, for more topics of interest!

December 12, 2022

Building a Knowledge Base/Mountain Connect

CBAN discusses the ways that communities can build a knowledge base about broadband through networking, online resources, organization membership, and attending conferences and workshops. Then, we preview the 2022 Mountain Connect Conference in Keystone, Colorado with organizer and founder Jeff Gavlinski.

May 13, 2022

Affordable Connectivity Program

During this edition of Lunch and Learn we'll talk with Renee Knoop of Consortia Consulting about the steps providers need to take to participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program. The CBAN team will also talk about how states are in the process of forming their own broadband offices to administer federal grant programs; how Starlink is just the tip of a coming iceberg of satellite broadband; and how today's supply chain issues will impact future broadband costs.

February 23, 2022

The Impact of COVID-19 on America's Libraries

CBAN discusses how libraries have responded to the Coronavirus pandemic with a panel of librarians and library advocates. Our guests are Larra Clark, Deputy Director of the Public Library Association; Natalie Caula-Hauff, Deputy Director of Innovation at the Charleston County, South Carolina Public Library, and Joan Grothoff, Director of the Eldora, Iowa Public Library. In particular, the panel will discuss how libraries played a vital role in keeping American’s connected during the pandemic for education, health care, and remote work.

CBAN co-founders Curtis Dean, Todd Kielkopf, and Jon Anne Willow will also discuss the Affordable Connectivity Program, funded through the recent federal infrastructure bill, that provides a $30 monthly internet service subsidy for low-income Americans.

January 26, 2022

The Mirror and the Crystal Ball

As we wind down the year 2021, the CBAN team will look back at some of the primary developments in community broadband this year. We'll have a conversation with Doug Dawson of CCG Consulting about what his crystal ball shows for 2022. And we'll discuss some of the exciting changes that CBAN has planned for next year.

Hosts: Curtis Dean & Todd Kielkopf

December 16, 2021

The View from Washington, D.C.

Jim Baller with Keller and Heckman LLP is a long-time advocate for local internet choice through public-private partnerships and municipal broadband networks. During our Lunch and Learn we discussed a broad range of topics related to the role of nation policy in broadband deployment, including:

--The new federal infrastructure bill and its broadband elements

--The new nominees at the Federal Communications Commission and where they stand on community-based broadband

--Impact of small cell rules on municipalities

--Provider choice in apartments

--And more!

Hosts: Curtis Dean & Todd Kielkopf

December 1, 2021

Farm Fresh Broadband

The CBAN team hosts a lively discussion with Christopher Ali, author of the upcoming book "Farm Fresh Broadband - The Politics of Rural Connectivity".

Ali's book features an analysis of the failure of U.S. broadband policy to solve the rural-urban digital divide and offers proposals for a new national rural broadband plan. We look forward to visiting with Christopher and sharing his perspectives of how to bring better broadband to more Americans!

Hosts: Curtis Dean & Todd Kielkopf

September 21, 2021

State Broadband Programs Spotlight

CBAN's next Lunch and Learn will feature a panel discussion with representatives of three state broadband programs, discussing the ways that states are taking the lead in bringing better broadband to unserved areas.

We'll be talking about the similarities and differences between the approaches taken by the states of Colorado, Iowa, and Maine when it comes to implementing state broadband programs.

Hosts: Curtis Dean & Todd Kielkopf

Panelists
--Matt Behrens, CTO, State of Iowa
--Antonio Martinez, Executive Director, Colorado Broadband
--Peggy Schaffer, Director of Connect Maine

June 16, 2021

The Reedsburg, WI Broadband Story

Wisconsin's only municipal fiber network is also one of the nation's biggest community broadband success stories. Join us for a conversation with Brett Schuppner with the Reedsburg Utility Commission about how RUC's LightSpeed is bringing better broadband to their area.

Hosts: CBAN Co-Founders Curtis Dean and Todd Kielkopf

May 12, 2021

Technology Challenges for Rural Broadband

Fiber networks are the most future-proof broadband infrastructure we know of, but they are expensive to build and sometimes they aren’t feasible. That’s why businesses that rely on broadband connectivity and internet providers need to get creative.

In this Lunch and Learn we’ll talk with Chuck Pauk, IT director for Landus Cooperative, about the steps they’ve taken to connect their facilities to each other and the internet. CBAN Provider Member Ryan Malek with Router12 Networks will discuss his company’s strategy for reaching rural homes and businesses.

Hosted by CBAN Co-Founder Curtis Dean and Todd Kielkopf

April 29, 2021

Emergency Broadband Programs

Congress has allocated $3.2 Billion for an Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund to provide discounted internet service for low-income Americans through the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

March 17, 2021

Anti-Municipal Broadband Groups

CBAN discusses the activities used by opponents of municipal broadband projects at the local, state, and federal level.

Guests: Christopher Mitchel, Institute for Local Self-Reliance and Doug Dawson, CCG Consulting.

Hosted by CBAN Co-Founders Curtis Dean and Todd Kielkopf

February 22, 2021

Where's the Money Now?

CBAN's Curtis Dean and Todd Kielkopf visit with Michael Maloney of DA Davidson to discuss the current environment for municipal broadband projects in terms of financing options. How are state grant programs working? Is it likely big federal money will come through? How are community residents and businesses feeling these days about sharing buildout costs?

January 13, 2021

Legal Considerations for Broadband Public-Private Partnerships

In this edition of CBAN's Lunch and Learn, we talk with Jim Baller of the Coalition for Local Internet Choice (CLIC) and Keller and Heckman LLP about some of the legal considerations public entities should take into account when considering a public-private partnership (PPP) for delivering broadband to customers.

Hosted by Curtis Dean and Todd Kielkopf of CBAN.

December 17, 2020

Accessible, Affordable, Internet for All Act

Guest: Rep. Cindy Axne (D-Iowa)

The Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act (H.R. 7302), introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020, would provide significant investment in broadband across the nation, and significant subsidies for low-income Americans to help them get online. In this edition of CBAN's Lunch and Learn we learn what this bill could mean for rural and under-served communities from one of the architects of the bill, Representative Cindy Axne of Iowa.

Moderators: Curtis Dean and Todd Kielkopf, CBAN

December 2, 2020

Rural Electric Cooperatives (RECs) and Fiber

Across America, rural electric cooperatives are investing in fiber networks to help close the digital divide and provide access to smart grid capabilities. In this session, Steve Collier with Conexon will talk about the state of play in REC broadband efforts. Christopher Mitchell from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance will discuss trends - and barriers - for continued fiber investment by rural electric cooperatives.

July 14, 2020

Financing Broadband Initiatives with New Market Tax Credits

Learn about how New Market Tax Credits can be utilized as a financing vehicle for community broadband projects. Moderator Shawnna Silvius of the Montgomery County (IA) Development Corporation shares her experience in Red Oak, Iowa. Joining the discussion are Myriam Simmons with Ryan, Inc. and Jonathan Klaassen and Dan Helgeson with Rural Development Partners, LLC.

June 23, 2020

Digital Inclusion: Programs and Strategies

In this edition of CBAN's Lunch and Learn, we discuss programs designed to help more people take advantage of broadband and participate in the modern digital economy. Hosts Todd Kielkopf and Curtis Dean chat with Christopher Mitchell and Katie Kienbaum of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and explore different strategies and challenges

May 6, 2020

The Future of Home Data Usage

Lenny Hui, Cloud & Smart Home Business Sales with Calix (a CBAN Vendor Member) and hosts Curtis Dean and Todd Kielkopf of CBAN talk about some of the trends in home internet data usage that are making fiber networks more and more essential in today's world.

August 20, 2019

Public Libraries: A Bridge Over the Digital Divide

A discussion with Jay Peterson, District Consultant for the State of Iowa Library. Jay will talk about the ways in which America's public libraries play a positive role in bringing broadband to small towns and rural communities.

He'll cover the following topics and more:

--The Library and E-Rate Planning Program and Digital Inclusion Survey
--The Urban Library Council's EDGE program
--Future Ready Iowa and how Iowa's libraries need a seat at the table

July 9, 2019

5G and Small Cell: What Cities Need to Know

Ken Demlow of HR Green reviews the FCC's order outlining what cities must do to enact local control over the siting of 5G and small cell wireless facilities. That order is due to go into effect on April 15th, and many communities may not have addressed the issue yet.

March 29, 2019

Show Me the Money

CBAN Co-Founder Todd Kielkopf (Kielkopf Advisory Services) and Michael Maloney (DA Davidson) discuss important considerations for financing a community broadband project.

November 15, 2018

Building a Consensus for Action: Strategies for Moving Community Broadband Projects Forward

Host Curtis Dean with CBAN and panelists Mark Erickson (RS Fiber, Minnesota) and Kurt Karr (iVinton, Iowa) discuss strategies for moving a community broadband project forward from concept to reality.

October 22, 2018

Meet the CBAN team

In our inaugural webcast, CBAN co-founders Todd Kielkopf, Curtis Dean, and Jon Anne Willow discuss the goals for the organization and provide information about membership.

September 25, 2018