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Connected Nation
This is Connected Nation – an award-winning podcast focused on all things broadband. From closing the Digital Divide to simply improving your internet speeds, we talk technology topics that impact all of us, our families, and our communities.
The podcast was honored in 2024 with an Award of Excellence for Podcast Series - Technology. This is the highest honor given by the Communicator Awards. The podcast also received an Award of Distinction in 2023 and the same in 2022.
Learn more about the national nonprofit behind this podcast at connectednation.org.
Episodes
160 episodes
Sounds of the Summit: Today's perceptions in telehealth and Hawaii's vision for full connectivity
On this episode of Connected Nation, we continue our live coverage at the Broadband Communities Summit West conference. We talk to a leader in research about telehealth and find out what trends are impacting all of us. Plus we talk to a...
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Season 5
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Episode 51
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16:21
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Sounds of the Summit: Upcoming trends in digital inclusion and how one ISP is revolutionizing local connectivity
On this episode of Connected Nation, we continue our live coverage at the Broadband Communities Summit West conference. We talk with the Executive VP of Digital Inclusion for Connected Nation, about trends that are happening within the digital ...
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Season 5
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Episode 50
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16:50
Sounds from the Summit: Why 100% connectivity is a moving target in the Sunflower State
On this episode of Connected Nation, we continue our live coverage at the Broadband Communities Summit West conference. You'll hear from the Interim Director of the Kansas State Broadband Office as he discusses Middle Mile vs. Last Mile, BEAD d...
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Season 5
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Episode 49
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14:45
Sounds from the Summit: Episode #1
On our first episode of BBC Summit coverage, you'll hear from one man who says he knows what the number one issue many of the broadband leaders are having.Also joining us, a state broadband director who says "by the time BEAD is done, t...
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Season 5
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Episode 48
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20:31
Behind the 5G revolution: Verizon leadership on the company's role in shaping the future of connectivity
On today’s podcast, Verizon's CRO for the Global Enterprise & Public Sector, Massimo Peselli, joins us to discuss the technology of 5G including what’s myth and what’s reality. Plus, we look at how global leaders are tackling th...
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Season 5
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Episode 47
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39:58
Broadband Nation Expo: The role of mapping and data analytics in expanding broadband access
Today's episode is a bonus interview from our coverage at the 2024 Broadband Nation Expo.We were joined by Justin Fazzari, Senior Broadband Strategist at Sanborn. We speak about Justin's background, some of his daily activities and what...
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Season 5
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Episode 46
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14:24
Broadband Nation Expo 2024: Understanding the importance of BEAD funding & how it impacts all Americans
On this episode of Connected Nation, we continue our live coverage at the Broadband Nation Expo. During the "Broadband and Brews" event hosted by Connected Nation, Vernonburg Group, and Sandborn our host Grant Ahlbrand speaks with three broadba...
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Season 5
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Episode 45
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38:07
Broadband Nation Expo 2024: How broadband connectivity can help individuals become successful in the digital age
On this episode of Connected Nation, we continue our live coverage at the Broadband Nation Expo. We talk with two experts about the importance of broadband in many aspects of everyday life. Learn how connectivity is bringing more people togethe...
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Season 5
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Episode 44
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29:14
On the road: Inside Broadband Nation Expo 2024 (Part 1)
On this episode of Connected Nation, we begin our coverage from Broadband Nation Expo. At this broadband conference attendees learn from 120+ industry and government leaders as they discuss relevant topics and supply them with tangible takeaway...
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Season 5
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Episode 43
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23:56
From open Wi-Fi to "visionary" broadband laws: How the western US is addressing digital access differently
On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk with leadership at Total Telecom about a new event that’s focused on connecting “every community in the Western US with next-generation communications infrastructure.”From cutting-edge techno...
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Season 5
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Episode 42
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25:52
Where innovators and leaders unite: Previewing the upcoming 2024 Broadband Nation Expo
Today, we’re gearing up for one of the most exciting events in the broadband space – the 2024 Broadband Nation Expo in Washington, D.C. On this episode, we are joined by leadership at Questex to discuss why this expo is where leaders an...
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Season 5
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Episode 41
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19:10
Mountain Connect 2024: How BroadbandOhio is navigating BEAD
On this episode of Connected Nation, we wrap our coverage from Mountain Connect 2024 as we sit down with the State Broadband Director from the Buckeye State to discuss the state's broadband strategic plan and the future if connectivity in Ohio....
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Season 5
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Episode 40
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19:28
Mountain Connect 2024: BEAM's leadership on broadband expansion and accessibility across Mississippi
On this episode of Connected Nation, we sit down with Sally Doty, who serves as the Director of the State Broadband Office for Mississippi, better known as BEAM. Related links:Broadban...
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Season 5
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Episode 39
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19:30
Mountain Connect 2024: Key partnerships, digital equity, and the Illinois Broadband Lab
On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk with Director of State and Local Government Partnerships at ready.net. Plus, we sit down with a representative from the University of Illinois to discuss the Illinois Broadband Lab and ca...
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Season 5
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Episode 38
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30:32
Mountain Connect 2024: Nokia's Network in a Box and the one thing most people get wrong about the company
On this episode of Connected Nation, we continue our coverage from Mountain Connect, which is taking place in Denver, Colorado.We talk with leadership at Nokia and discuss the company's movement into rural America, it's "network in a bo...
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Season 5
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Episode 37
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12:44
Mountain Connect 2024: The high-tech (and dangerous) broadband job that some say needs regulation now
On this episode of Connected Nation, we continue our coverage from Mountain Connect, which is taking place in Denver, Colorado. We talk with a leader at the Fiber Optics Network about the need for regulations surrounding a critical broa...
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Season 5
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Episode 36
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32:19
Mountain Connect 2024: The Internet Equity Initiative and connecting the most remote, inhabited island in Michigan
On this episode of Connected Nation, we continue our coverage from Mountain Connect, taking place in Denver, Colorado. We speak with an organization that's working in seven of the least connected states in the country. Plus, we talk wit...
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Season 5
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Episode 35
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32:33
On the road: Inside Mountain Connect 2024 (Part 1)
On this episode of Connected Nation, we begin our coverage from Mountain Connect, a broadband conference that is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The theme this year is "Beyond the bandwidth, the power of broadband revolutionizing access."
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Season 5
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Episode 34
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17:04
Service over self: How an ex-submarine captain is tackling America's Digital Divide
On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk with Tony Grayson – a man who has held leadership roles at such tech giants as Amazon, Facebook, and Oracle – roles that are perhaps eclipsed by his time as a submarine captain.We’ll explore ...
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Season 5
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Episode 33
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48:28
How being "a canoe in a sea of battleships" steers this ISP's mission
On today’s podcast, we talk with the CEO of DigitalC, a company that’s offering lightning fast-internet to anyone in its service area for just 18-dollars a month, for five years! The service is 100 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload speeds. ...
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Season 5
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Episode 32
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36:31
Special series: Inside NACo - covering what county leaders should know about AI, cybersecurity, and more
On this episode of Connected Nation, we conclude our coverage from the National Association of Counties' (NACo) Conference and Exposition. We sit down with NACo's Legislative Director of Telecommunications and Technology and cover...
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Season 5
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Episode 31
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18:00
Special series: Inside NACo - from the "science of where" to casinos everywhere
On this special episode of Connected Nation, we talk with the head of government solutions for Esri; the national director for the public sector at Big Health; and a leader for Tunica County, Mississippi about the unique needs of his county, wh...
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Season 5
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Episode 30
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26:55
Special series: Inside NACo - how USDA Rural Development supports county leaders
On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk to the IT Director of Kent County, Delaware about what can be done to help transient populations. We also sit down with a representative from USDA Rural Development about what the organization can do...
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Season 5
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Episode 29
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18:21
Special series: Inside NACo - two innovations that can make your life more stress free
On this episode of Connected Nation, we continue our coverage from the NACo conference. And you're going to love this episode. That's because we talked to two companies that are doing pretty innovative things to make your life more relaxed and ...
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Season 5
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Episode 28
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19:48
Special series: Inside NACo - talking collaboration, counties, and...corgis?
On this episode of Connected Nation, we continue our coverage from the National Association of Counties Annual Conference and Exposition. We begin by posing a question to you. Do you know what a "nope rope" is? Well, you're about to find ...
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Season 5
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Episode 27
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16:17