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The Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s podcast to break monopoly power.
Weekly interviews focused on community owned networks and Internet policy.
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Community Broadband Bits Podcast
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Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Helping Communities Achieve True Self-Determination
This bi-weekly podcast from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance shares powerful stories of local renewable energy, from mayors discussing their city’s commitment to 100% renewable energy to tales of innovative community owned solar to questions about the the best rooftop solar policy. Join host John Farrell, the director of the Institute’s Energy Democracy Initiative, as he asks if the 100-year-old monopoly market structure for electricity delivery makes sense in an on-demand, distributed ...
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Building Local Power
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Can More Competition Fix an Outdated Energy System?
53:22
53:22
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53:22
In this episode of Building Local Power, ILSR Co-Director John Farrell is joined by Chris Villarreal, President of Plugged In Strategies and an Associate Fellow with the R Street Institute. Their discussion focuses on monopoly power in the energy sector, and how lack of competition impacts consumers and stands in the way of progress. … Read More…
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Community Broadband Bits Podcast
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Tides Are Turning With Digital Inclusion – Bonus Episode 14 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
For episode 14 of our bonus series, “Why NC Broadband Matters,” we’re joined by Amy Huffman, Policy Director at National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) and Christa Vinson, Program Officer of Rural Broadband and Infrastructure at Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), to talk about the state of digital inclusion across the country. Vinson …
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Community Broadband Bits
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Tides Are Turning With Digital Inclusion – Bonus Episode 14 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
For episode 14 of our bonus series, “Why NC Broadband Matters,” we’re joined by Amy Huffman, Policy Director at National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) and Christa Vinson, Program Officer of Rural Broadband and Infrastructure at Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), to talk about the state of digital inclusion across the country. Vinson …
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Local Energy Rules
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Rep. Seth Berry on the Movement for Publicly-Owned Power in Maine
46:14
46:14
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46:14
For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, a rebroadcast from the Building Local Power Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Seth Berry discuss Our Power Maine: an initiative to replace Maine's investor-owned utilities with a consumer-owned utility.… Read MoreBy Institute for Local Self-Reliance
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Community Broadband Bits
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The Long and Winding Road for Publicly Owned Broadband in Washington State – Episode 477 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
On this week’s episode of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast, host Christopher Mitchell is joined by Angela Bennink (Telecommunications Director for Kitsap Public Utility District) and Laura Loe (Executive Director of Share The Cities Community Education & Share The Cities Action Fund) from Washington state. The group discusses the struggles Publ…
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Community Broadband Bits Podcast
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The Long and Winding Road for Publicly Owned Broadband in Washington State – Episode 477 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
On this week’s episode of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast, host Christopher Mitchell is joined by Angela Bennink (Telecommunications Director for Kitsap Public Utility District) and Laura Loe (Executive Director of Share The Cities Community Education & Share The Cities Action Fund) from Washington state. The group discusses the struggles Publ…
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Building Local Power
1
Chuck Marohn Explains What's Wrong With America's Roads
46:17
46:17
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46:17
Host Jess Del Fiacco and ILSR Co-Director Stacy Mitchell interview Chuck Marohn, President of Strong Towns. Chuck is also the author of the new book Confessions of a Recovering Engineer: Transportation for a Strong Town, which explores what conventional transportation planning is costing our communities. … Read More…
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Community Broadband Bits
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The Great Debate Over Telecommunications Competition and Regulation – Episode 476 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
On this episode of the Community Broadband Bits podcast, host Christopher Mitchell is joined by occasional guest host Sean Gonsalves, ILSR’s Senior Reporter, Editor, and Researcher to take a hard look at our philosophies around competition and telecommunications regulation. Sean briefly recaps a recent update by ILSR Researcher and Writer Jericho C…
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Community Broadband Bits Podcast
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The Great Debate Over Telecommunications Competition and Regulation – Episode 476 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
On this episode of the Community Broadband Bits podcast, host Christopher Mitchell is joined by occasional guest host Sean Gonsalves, ILSR’s Senior Reporter, Editor, and Researcher to take a hard look at our philosophies around competition and telecommunications regulation. Sean briefly recaps a recent update by ILSR Researcher and Writer Jericho C…
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Local Energy Rules
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Colorado Law Creates Transparency at Rural Electric Co-ops
35:07
35:07
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35:07
For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Joe Smyth discuss barriers to democratic participation in rural electric cooperative decision-making and how to promote transparency at all electric co-ops. … Read MoreBy Institute for Local Self-Reliance
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Community Broadband Bits Podcast
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Los Altos Hills Community Fiber: A Story of Community Solutions to Community Empowerment – Episode 475 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
On this week’s episode of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast, host Christopher Mitchell is joined by Scott Vanderlip, chair of Los Altos Hills Community Fiber, to talk about how he and other Los Altos Hills residents banded together to create a subscriber-owned network. The two discuss the challenges of building a locally-owned network from the g…
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Community Broadband Bits
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Los Altos Hills Community Fiber: A Story of Community Solutions to Community Empowerment – Episode 475 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
On this week’s episode of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast, host Christopher Mitchell is joined by Scott Vanderlip, chair of Los Altos Hills Community Fiber, to talk about how he and other Los Altos Hills residents banded together to create a subscriber-owned network. The two discuss the challenges of building a locally-owned network from the g…
On this episode of Building Local Power, host Jess Del Fiacco is joined by Neil Seldman, Director of ILSR’s Waste to Wealth initiative. Jess and Neil interview Gary Liss, Vice President of Zero Waste USA, and Bob Gedert, President of the National Recycling Coalition, about the Recycling Is Infrastructure Too (RIIT) campaign and the proposed America…
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Community Broadband Bits Podcast
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A Plan for Better Broadband in Syracuse and Pleasant Grove, Utah – Episode 474 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
On this week’s episode of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast, host Christopher Mitchell is joined by Mike Gailey (Mayor of Syracuse), Brody Bovero (City Manager for the City of Syracuse), and Scott Darington (City Manager for the City of Pleasant Grove) to talk about why they decided to work with UTOPIA to connect their communities in Utah. The g…
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Community Broadband Bits
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A Plan for Better Broadband in Syracuse and Pleasant Grove, Utah – Episode 474 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
On this week’s episode of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast, host Christopher Mitchell is joined by Mike Gailey (Mayor of Syracuse), Brody Bovero (City Manager for the City of Syracuse), and Scott Darington (City Manager for the City of Pleasant Grove) to talk about why they decided to work with UTOPIA to connect their communities in Utah. The g…
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Local Energy Rules
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Queremos Sol: Seeking Solar Power for All Puerto Rican Homes
46:39
46:39
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46:39
For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Ingrid Vila discuss why rooftop solar should power every home in Puerto Rico, reducing residential electricity rates and covering basic needs during future crises.… Read MoreBy Institute for Local Self-Reliance
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Community Broadband Bits Podcast
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Rethinking Rural Connectivity with Christopher Ali – Episode 473 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
39:29
39:29
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39:29
This week, we are spotlighting episode 134 of Building Local Power, an ILSR podcast hosted by our Communication’s Manager, Jess Del Fiasco. On this episode, Jess is joined by the Community Broadband Networks Initiative’s Senior Researcher Ry Marcatillio-McCrack and Senior Reporter, Editor and Researcher Sean Gonsalves to interview Christopher Ali a…
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Community Broadband Bits
1
Rethinking Rural Connectivity with Christopher Ali – Episode 473 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
39:29
39:29
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39:29
This week, we are spotlighting episode 134 of Building Local Power, an ILSR podcast hosted by our Communication’s Manager, Jess Del Fiasco. On this episode, Jess is joined by the Community Broadband Networks Initiative’s Senior Researcher Ry Marcatillio-McCrack and Senior Reporter, Editor and Researcher Sean Gonsalves to interview Christopher Ali a…
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Building Local Power
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Rethinking Rural Connectivity with Christopher Ali
38:12
38:12
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38:12
Host Jess Del Fiacco is joined by Ry Marcattilio-McCracken and Sean Gonsalves, Senior Researchers with ILSR’s Community Broadband initiative, as well as Christopher Ali, an Associate Professor in the Department of Media Studies at the University of Virginia. Christopher discusses his new book Farm Fresh Broadband: The Politics of Rural Connectivity…
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Community Broadband Bits Podcast
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One Cooperative in Oregon Hopes Broadband Will Help Revitalize A Community’s Economy – Episode 472 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
29:48
29:48
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29:48
On this week’s episode of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast, ILSR’s Senior Reporter, Editor, and Researcher Sean Gonsalves, along with Senior Researcher and Multimedia Producer Maren Machles, chat with Paul Recanzone, the general manager of Beacon Broadband, about Beacon’s plan to build out broadband where no one has before. Beacon Broadband is …
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Community Broadband Bits
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One Cooperative in Oregon Hopes Broadband Will Help Revitalize A Community’s Economy – Episode 472 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
29:48
29:48
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29:48
On this week’s episode of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast, ILSR’s Senior Reporter, Editor, and Researcher Sean Gonsalves, along with Senior Researcher and Multimedia Producer Maren Machles, chat with Paul Recanzone, the general manager of Beacon Broadband, about Beacon’s plan to build out broadband where no one has before. Beacon Broadband is …
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Local Energy Rules
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Voices of 100%: A Renewable City Coalition Grows in Western Montana
31:55
31:55
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31:55
For this Voices of 100% episode of Local Energy Rules, host John Farrell and guests Patrick Judge and Mark Juedeman discuss Helena’s commitment to 100% renewable energy. Helena has joined Missoula and Bozeman, building a commanding coalition in western Montana.… Read MoreBy Institute for Local Self-Reliance
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Community Broadband Bits Podcast
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The Writing Team Takes Over – Episode 471 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
29:01
29:01
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29:01
On this week’s episode of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast, host Christopher Mitchell is on vacation and the writing team takes over the show to talk about what brought them to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance as well as the communities they’ve spoken to recently. Sean Gonsalves, ILSR’s Senior Reporter, Editor, and Researcher, hosts the po…
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Community Broadband Bits
1
The Writing Team Takes Over – Episode 471 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
29:01
29:01
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29:01
On this week’s episode of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast, host Christopher Mitchell is on vacation and the writing team takes over the show to talk about what brought them to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance as well as the communities they’ve spoken to recently. Sean Gonsalves, ILSR’s Senior Reporter, Editor, and Researcher, hosts the po…
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Building Local Power
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Main Street's Missing Ingredient: Small Scale Manufacturing
44:28
44:28
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44:28
Host Jess Del Fiacco, ILSR Co-Director Stacy Mitchell, and Senior Researcher Kennedy Smith are joined by Ilana Preuss, the founder of Recast City, a firm that works with city officials and local leaders to integrate space for small manufacturers into placed-based development projects.… Read MoreBy Jess Del Fiacco
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Community Broadband Bits Podcast
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Shifting the Mindset from Scarcity to Abundance: The Infrastructure Bill and Longterm Broadband Solutions – Episode 470 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
25:58
25:58
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25:58
This week on the Community Broadband Bits podcast, Christopher Mitchell is joined by Executive Director of the ConnectMaine Authority, Peggy Schaffer to discuss strategies that might make Maine and other states successful in solving connectivity issues with the $42 billion in broadband funding the new infrastructure plan sets aside to go directly t…
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Community Broadband Bits
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Shifting the Mindset from Scarcity to Abundance: The Infrastructure Bill and Longterm Broadband Solutions – Episode 470 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
25:58
25:58
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25:58
This week on the Community Broadband Bits podcast, Christopher Mitchell is joined by Executive Director of the ConnectMaine Authority, Peggy Schaffer to discuss strategies that might make Maine and other states successful in solving connectivity issues with the $42 billion in broadband funding the new infrastructure plan sets aside to go directly t…
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Local Energy Rules
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The Role of Antitrust Law in Creating Energy Democracy
50:58
50:58
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50:58
For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Jean Su discuss how legal advocacy for energy democracy can overcome some of the utility hurdles to a renewable energy economy.… Read MoreBy Institute for Local Self-Reliance
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Community Broadband Bits Podcast
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A Mixed Bag: How The Infrastructure Bill Will Impact Municipal Broadband Networks – Episode 469 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
35:54
35:54
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35:54
On this week’s episode of the Community Broadband Bits podcast, Christopher Mitchell and ILSR Senior Reporter, Editor, and Researcher Sean Gonsalves talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of the bipartisan infrastructure bill that passed the Senate today — the episode was recorded last week, before the vote. While the bill does not eradicate ba…
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Community Broadband Bits
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A Mixed Bag: How The Infrastructure Bill Will Impact Municipal Broadband Networks – Episode 469 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
35:54
35:54
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35:54
On this week’s episode of the Community Broadband Bits podcast, Christopher Mitchell and ILSR Senior Reporter, Editor, and Researcher Sean Gonsalves talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of the bipartisan infrastructure bill that passed the Senate today — the episode was recorded last week, before the vote. While the bill does not eradicate ba…
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Building Local Power
1
Rep. Seth Berry on the Movement for Publicly-Owned Power in Maine
45:01
45:01
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45:01
John Farrell, Director of ILSR's Energy Democracy initiative, interviews Representative Seth Berry, House Chair of the Maine Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities, and Technology. … Read MoreBy Jess Del Fiacco
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Local Energy Rules
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Get More Solar by Making Utilities Share Data
26:34
26:34
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26:34
For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell and guest Yochi Zakai discuss utility hosting capacity analysis and how publicly shared grid information can help solar developers, electric customers, and others make informed decisions.… Read MoreBy Institute for Local Self-Reliance
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Community Broadband Bits Podcast
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How Activism and Community Empowerment Brought Anacortes, Washington 21st Century Broadband – Episode 468 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
32:53
32:53
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32:53
On this week’s episode of the Community Broadband Bits podcast, Christopher Mitchell is joined by Bruce McDougall, Anacortes City Council Member to speak about the journey to build a 21st century infrastructure in this small community in Washington by advocating for a municipally owned and operated fiber optic network. McDougall talks about the pow…
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Community Broadband Bits
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How Activism and Community Empowerment Brought Anacortes, Washington 21st Century Broadband – Episode 468 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
32:53
32:53
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32:53
On this week’s episode of the Community Broadband Bits podcast, Christopher Mitchell is joined by Bruce McDougall, Anacortes City Council Member to speak about the journey to build a 21st century infrastructure in this small community in Washington by advocating for a municipally owned and operated fiber optic network. McDougall talks about the pow…
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Building Local Power
1
Zero Waste Efforts Bring Benefits, Build Community in Gainesville
37:46
37:46
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37:46
Host Jess Del Fiacco and Neil Seldman, Director of ILSR's Waste to Wealth initiative, interview three zero waste advocates from Gainesville, Fla. … Read MoreBy Jess Del Fiacco
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Community Broadband Bits Podcast
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Crowdsourcing Data, Fighting for Competition and Digital Equity – Episode 467 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
32:42
32:42
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32:42
On this week’s episode of the Community Broadband Bits podcast, Christopher Mitchell is joined by Sascha Meinrath, Palmer Chair in Telecommunications at Pennsylvania State University and Director of X-Labs. The two discuss an exciting collaboration they are working on with Consumer Reports and other allied organizations that crowdsources monthly In…
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Community Broadband Bits
1
Crowdsourcing Data, Fighting for Competition and Digital Equity – Episode 467 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
32:42
32:42
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32:42
On this week’s episode of the Community Broadband Bits podcast, Christopher Mitchell is joined by Sascha Meinrath, Palmer Chair in Telecommunications at Pennsylvania State University and Director of X-Labs. The two discuss an exciting collaboration they are working on with Consumer Reports and other allied organizations that crowdsources monthly In…
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Local Energy Rules
1
Voices of 100%: Eau Claire Solar Gardens Save the Day
23:38
23:38
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23:38
For this Voices of 100% episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guests Kate Beaton and Ned Noel examine Eau Claire’s clean energy goal, the citizen participation that has supported its work, and the strategies the City is using to advance renewable energy.… Read MoreBy Institute for Local Self-Reliance
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Community Broadband Bits Podcast
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Building Connections and Digital Sovereignty at the Tribal Wireless Bootcamp – Episode 466 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
44:06
44:06
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44:06
On this episode of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast, Christopher Mitchell is joined by Matthew Rantanen, Director of Technology for the Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association along with Maren Machles, ILSR Senior Researcher and Multimedia Producer to talk about the first iteration of the Tribal Wireless Bootcamp, which took place fro…
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Community Broadband Bits
1
Building Connections and Digital Sovereignty at the Tribal Wireless Bootcamp – Episode 466 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
44:06
44:06
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44:06
On this episode of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast, Christopher Mitchell is joined by Matthew Rantanen, Director of Technology for the Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association along with Maren Machles, ILSR Senior Researcher and Multimedia Producer to talk about the first iteration of the Tribal Wireless Bootcamp, which took place fro…
Host Jess Del Fiacco is joined by ILSR's Linda Bilsens Brolis and Amanda Cather of the Million Acre Challenge to discuss regenerative agriculture. … Read MoreBy Jess Del Fiacco
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Local Energy Rules
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For Public Utilities, Customers Spark Pioneering Policy with a Vote
31:58
31:58
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31:58
For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell and guest Eric Williams discuss the growing momentum for clean energy and how people drive change within public utilities.… Read MoreBy Institute for Local Self-Reliance
