Bridging the “donut holes” in broadband access

Some communities are still falling through the cracks of broadband expansion.

In this episode of Connected Nation, host Jessica Denson talks with Bo Coughlin, President of eNCore, about the persistent “donut holes" in North Carolina and what it will take to close them. 

From overlooked rural communities to the real-world consequences of disconnection, this conversation makes one thing clear: closing the gap can’t wait.

Related links:
Website - https://encorenc.org/
Mr. Coughlin's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bocoughlin/

Transcript

Jessica Denson (00:05):
This is Connected Nation, an award-winning podcast focused on all things broadband. From closing the Digital Divide to improving your internet speeds, we explore technology topics that impact all of us—our families and our communities.

Today, I’m speaking with an organization working to support overlooked, unserved, and underserved communities across North Carolina.

I’m Jessica Denson, and this is Connected Nation.

We’re on day two of Fiber Connect 2026 in Orlando, Florida, and I’m joined by Beau Coughlin, president of eNCore. Welcome, Beau.

Beau Coughlin (00:53):
Thank you. Glad to be here.

Jessica Denson (00:55):
You’re my first interview of day two, so I’m still waking up—bear with me if I stumble a bit.

Beau Coughlin (01:04):
I’m right there with you.

Jessica Denson (01:07):
We’ve moved out of the podcast studio because there are multiple recordings happening—it’s a bit of a battle for space—but I like it out here. It’s a little quieter.

We’re at the Gaylord Convention Center, and it’s massive. I haven’t even made it down to the vendor hall yet—have you?

Beau Coughlin (01:22):
Yes, it’s busy—really busy.

Jessica Denson (01:26):
There are hundreds of exhibitors. I need to get down there and capture some time-lapse video.

Beau Coughlin (01:35):
It’s definitely packed—lots of people.

Jessica Denson (01:38):
Let’s dive in. Tell me about eNCore and what you do.

Beau Coughlin (01:43):
eNCore is a partnership between Roanoke Cooperative and MCNC, which operates one of the largest transport networks across North Carolina. Together, we focus on expanding broadband to underserved and overlooked communities—what we sometimes call the “donut holes.”

Our goal is to find those gaps and deliver affordable broadband access.

(02:48):

We try and find those, uh, areas within the state that are underserved, overlooked, and provide them with an affordable broadband service, right? Mm-hmm. So, you know, it's being con- a connected community is not going to solve all, all the world's problems, but if you look at the way things work, you know, young people leave because of lack of opportunity.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (03:11):

Mm-hmm.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (03:12):

Uh, adults with children don't come because of lack of education. Mm-hmm. And then adults, older adults leave because of lack of healthcare.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (03:21):

And so connectivity can, can address-

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (03:23):

Right.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (03:23):

... each one of those

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (03:24):

In

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (03:24):

Some way.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (03:24):

Yeah. Yeah. So I think that's the, the, the goal that we've got, you know? And, and really it's an opportunity. I mean, one of the things, you know, I come from, I've been in this industry 30 years now and then, yeah, so I'm old. <laugh> Um- You look young

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (03:39):

As a spring chicken then.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (03:41):

<laugh> So, um, I think one of the things we constantly say is, you know, it's having a highway that's right outside your house, but not being able to afford to get on it- mm-hmm. ... is kind of a waste of time. So we're trying to overcome those things as well.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (03:55):

So talk a little bit about North Carolina. Are there some really deep pockets that are rural and then some big urban areas or, uh, for somebody who's never been there, explain how the landscape is.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (04:07):

I don't think it's that much different than, than most states. I mean, I was actually talking to, uh, someone the other day about New Jersey, right? There is a, there's a perception that New Jersey is, is all city and different, but if you go to New Jersey, there's a lot of farmland, it's actually very beautiful. Yeah. It's beautiful. Um, so I think North Carolina's similar, right? You've got Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, you know, you've got the metros, but you've got a significant, especially where we're at, Northeastern North Carolina and, and actually Southwest North Carolina in particular are extremely rural farms or similar types of industries that have been neglected for 30 years. I mean, it's been, you know, previous life I was the one that if you called me from name your rural community and said, you know, "Hey, I really like to get some high speed." And my response was, "Yeah, we'd love to.

(04:58):

It's going to be about 30 grand for your house." Oh wow. So we're going to be around that. Yeah. So yeah, it's, it's a, so you've got a significant rural population, um, where, where unemployment and, uh, socioeconomics are depressing. It's, again, I think you've got that throughout rural America.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (05:15):

Mm-hmm. At Connect Nation, we go into a lot of rural areas, and I can tell you that small town life is still an important part of American culture and it really is millions of people.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (05:24):

Oh yeah. Yeah.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (05:24):

It's

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (05:25):

Huge.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (05:25):

Uh-huh.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (05:26):

Yeah. I mean, I live in a town just to not to interrupt. I mean, so I live in a town called Edenton and Edenton was one of the only towns in all of, um, the Northeastern quadrant in North Carolina that wasn't burned down and it's huge, it's a huge draw. Mm-hmm. It's a huge, you know, thing. So communities would love to stay there. I mean, if aging in place is very important, but their inability to do that without lack of resources or, or services is difficult. What

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (05:50):

Do you mean it was the only one not burned

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (05:52):

Down? So, so-

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (05:53):

You got to expand upon that.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (05:54):

<laugh> Yeah. So, so again, the union- Yeah, so the union soldiers, right, would come down and generally burn down the towns. Mm-hmm. So Edenton was one of, it's on the sound and it was one of the only towns that was not burned to the ground.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (06:07):

So it has that deep rich history- Oh gosh, yeah. ... still there. Yeah. Yeah. You really can see the architecture and everything? Yes. Yeah. Fun. I'll have to go visit. <laugh> Beautiful. So, um, you, you mentioned the other states that- Yep. ... don't really have the MCNC- Yep. ... um, uh, network or,

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (06:25):

Um-

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (06:25):

The

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (06:25):

Transport network. Yeah. Yeah,

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (06:26):

Transport network. Ha- have they come to you and said, "How did you guys do this? "

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (06:30):

Well, I think that MCNC in particular has probably fielded a lot of questions. Mm-hmm. Um, but I do think, I mean, one of the, the advantages of NC, North Carolina in particular was very forward thinking in the way it was trying to accomplish some of the things it was, it needed to do. Mm-hmm. And so, you know, 20 years ago, let's call it, 25 years ago, um, they began a connectivity plan to connect these larger universities and then expand that to provide the similar services to community anchor institutions- mm-hmm. ... and other education, community colleges, charter school. And, and that was a forward thinking opportunity. No one else really thought through that. There were a couple of states that have done something like that, but I don't know that any state has been as such- successful and forward thinking as North Carolina in that, in that respect.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (07:16):

Talk about the importance of, I mean, and that's kind of a unique model. They started with the universities- Yeah. ... and then worked their way out. How critical is it or how, you know, community changing rather than life changing, but community changing can it be when you connect an anchor institution?

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (07:33):

Well, I think that it's going to be paramount because it, it, it comes back to s- access and long-term viability of these institutions. Mm-hmm. Um, what you're seeing in those areas where there aren't, for example, this is just a, a, it's, there's some similarities, but, but if you wanted to ship FedEx- mm-hmm. ... in rural North Carolina, there is no real FedEx You've got to go to a dollar store or you've got to go to something similar to that because there's just not enough the economics don't work. Mm-hmm. Um, and then from a broadband perspective, the economics don't work. They, they just don't work. I want to, I want to connect the courthouse or the state institution or the DMV or the, right, well, there's one. And to get to the one, I've got to go 13 miles or I've got to do, you know, so, so no incumbent, which I don't, again, I understand that is going to be like, yeah, no, no, I want to spend a million dollars and I'm going to make 13 cents over the next 30 years from the on CIAm that's in this area.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (08:43):

A very difficult business

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (08:45):

Case

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (08:46):

<laugh>.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (08:46):

Yeah.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (08:46):

Right. Right. So, um, is, is the model with Encore, is it a, is it a nonprofit?

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (08:51):

It is a nonprofit. So, so, um, that's one of the unique pieces of this, right? Mm-hmm. So Encore is a 501. Um, so we do not have the same economic pressures that, you know, uh, I don't have a street to report to, I don't have to create stockholder value and, um, but we're focused on the community. So what we've got to do is ensure that the communities we serve are served well, right? And are deliver on the services they require and need. And we work very well with, um, healthcare institutes. So there's, you know, like ECU, uh, Eastern Carolina is a healthcare system- mm-hmm. ... and they're nonprofit. So working alongside those types of institutions allows us a lot more flexibility and, and opportunity to deliver services where, where for profit companies, larger institutions might have challenges. Mm-hmm. You

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (09:41):

Know? So what are you hearing since you are, um, focused on North Carolina and you're working with the communities, what are you hearing from these communities? Are they, are they ready? Are they, they don't know why still? Is there still a question? I think the pandemic obviously changed a lot of ideas that internet is privileged. Now a lot of, a lot of people understand it may be necessary-

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (10:01):

Yeah.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (10:02):

... but what are the c- the conversations you're having? <laugh> You're lying.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (10:06):

Well, I think it's- You're smiling. Yeah, because it's interesting, right? I've got, it's, well, it's interesting on two, two ends of the spectrum, right? Mm-hmm. I met a, a gentleman who had moved from Raleigh and he went to come out to work for, um, one of the counties as a, uh, some, some government official- mm-hmm. ... who was a nice job. And he moved out and he moved to a nice neighborhood and his assumption was, well, okay, what internet connect what am I get, who am I Gona choose? There was nothing there. There was no- There's no

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (10:34):

Choices. Yeah.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (10:35):

Yeah. He's like, he's like, "I'm sorry, did you say there, I can't..." No, no, we, you've got some DSL maybe and you can get some, but I can see that ... No, sorry. Um, so that's one end of the spectrum of like, I need, I don't understand. And then the other is we, we built into some of these towns. Um, Windsor, North Carolina's one, um, Edenton obviously we talked about, but there are a lot of these Halifax, some of these smaller towns where you had to tell them why it was so awesome. <laugh> Right? You'd go in there and say, "Hey, you're now a gigabit town or whatever." Mm-hmm. And they're like, "Super." <laugh> "That's, that is fan. What is that? " You know, so the, the divide on the digital divide, the ability to afford not only, um, connectivity but the devices that connect to that and then understand how to use that.

(11:23):

Um, because again, most, you know, our demographics skew to the older population and so you've got socio- socioec- economic pressures, you've got an older population so their access to technology has been limited for their entire lives. So trying to, to fill that gap to educate is another aspect of this. So we've got pop-ups that we do training, we've got a, we've got a, um, within our own office, we've got a technology center that the community come into, um, and then we also have, um, we've started some community college classes, you know, that we train not only the elderly, but we provide, um, certification for fiber splicers for the, for the community colleges as well. So I mean, I think that again, it's, it's coming alongside connectivity is just one piece- Yeah. ... and the leg of the stool.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (12:19):

Yeah. Yeah. At Connect Nation, we talk about it in three buckets, access adoption and use, so you're definitely speaking our language. Yeah. <laugh> And we do have some training stuff. We do things with teens called Teach Teach Tech where the teens teach the older adults. It's really cool to see- Oh, that's great. ... and hear the stories about, oh, that, that, that, uh, older gentleman had some interesting stories to tell. I'm like, yeah, he's had some life experience. <laugh> That's what that's called. Right. <laugh> So, uh, are you guys in talks with the state broadband office? Do you, are

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (12:49):

You pretty,

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (12:50):

Um-

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (12:50):

Tight?

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (12:51):

Yeah, tight.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (12:51):

Yes. Yeah, we talk to them, especially, and that's one of the benefits, I think, again, leaning back on MCNC, you know, it was, it was funded initially by some of the, the state foresight, right, in that whole thing. So they've been close with state entities and, and the legislator for, since their inception. And so having them as founding members of Encore has really given us a leg up. Um, the other piece of this and, and not to digress too much, but the distribution of funds via the, the grants was kind of a dumpster fire. Yeah. <laugh> Um, so there, you know, the donut holes that exist, um, that I don't know how we're going to actually 100% of ac- access is going to be a challenge, and how do we do, fix that? Um, I don't know of any incumbent that's going to reach the four homes in- Right.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (13:44):

Yeah. I just, doesn't make sense. It's a challenge.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (13:46):

Right.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (13:46):

Uh, with the benefit of the bargains that happened with BEAD where they went back and said, "Let's do this. " There's now, there, it's kind of a two part question, so you could decide if you want both <laugh> um, one, is that tech- being more technology agnostic, for lack of a better term, is that better, do you think, or worse? And also, what do you hope happens with that second half of that, those funds that every state basically cut their, their, uh, plans in half and there's those, that's billions of dollars that are sitting there that could be used for access and use.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (14:18):

Yeah. I, I think that, um, as diplomatically as I can be, I think it was a mistake. Yeah.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (14:26):

Um,

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (14:27):

And if you talk to, I mean, we, we, again, as we, we've talked throughout the state with, um, other nonprofits and, and really rural focused, um, like the NC rural center and some others, and they recognize the challenges that are going to be going to exist when some of these alternative technologies are implemented and the inability, is that really going to be what they deserve as a community? And what are they going to do, you know, the, the, again, from a technology perspective, fiber will be able to grow with the technology, right? Mm-hmm. Uh, who knows what's- It's future proven. Yeah. Whatever happens, I have no idea. Mm-hmm. But you'll be able to use fiber for the foreseeable future. Mm-hmm. Um, whether, whereas other technologies are limited, right we don't know that you can only put so many satellites in the air-

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (15:15):

Right. ...

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (15:15):

And you can only, um, they can only have so many wings and they can only distribute services to so many people and, um, you're going to have the same challenges that you have with your, to a des- degree with satellite TV as you do with satellite anything.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (15:31):

Mm-hmm.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (15:31):

So that's that.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (15:32):

And I, we're, at least those of us that are of certain age remember what that was like.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (15:36):

Yes.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (15:36):

Like, I can't get HBO

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (15:37):

In. <laugh> Right,

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (15:38):

Right. Um, so what, uh, about the other side of that, what would you like to see done with the, um, the funds that are be- or leftover?

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (15:45):

Well, I think it's a combination, right? You've got the non-infrastructure type funding for digital, uh, equity, but I, I think that, um, there is an opportunity to provide these types of funds in a way that's makes sense. I mean, I don't even know how to articulate that in the best way, is that if you, if you took a step back and you looked at the w- best way to distribute these funds to ensure sustainability by the organizations that deliver it, um, you could have more success. So in essence, if they can distribute it, we'll see. Mm-hmm. Um, uh, I think that the opportunity to do that, I, I do believe community, community-based providers- mm-hmm. ... are challenged on the capital side, no matter who they are. Right. And part of this, the structure of all, most of these funding initiatives is the need to capitalize and then get reimbursed to match and then do this.

(16:50):

Mm-hmm. Is there an opportunity from a BEAD funding perspective to mitigate those challenges for community anchor, community based, uh, providers? Um, is there an opportunity to come alongside some of the alternative types of technologies with, you know, again, an option?

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (17:10):

Mm-hmm.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (17:11):

You know, so I, I, we'll see.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (17:13):

Yeah, we'll see. <laugh> It's, it's interesting. <laugh> We definitely have ideas too of the, with the access and use buckets for sure- Yeah. ... and helping those smaller ISPs and community organizations. So we're, we're right, we're right along with you, walking in hand in hand there. Um, so, you know, we talked a little bit about North Carolina being rural. Yep. I, I want to touch on the issue with farmers and the need for connectivity there. What are you hearing from farmers and ranchers, because, uh, there is, I don't, I'm not sure how much of North Carolina is that- Huge. Huge. So talk about why it's important for them to have connectivity.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (17:48):

It's actually, for me, it's been a huge learning opportunity, right? Mm-hmm. I've, I've never lived in a rural community, um, but over the last five, six, seven years, I know every farmer, like, I don't know. <laugh> And it's been cool because I really like learning, but the amount of technology that a farmer has is unbelievable. Mm-hmm. It's unbelievable. Some IoT I've got a, I've got a young man who, um, has a farm and his, like, every, his tractor, his big giant machine, GPS and he's got the thing and he's got all this stuff and so connectivity, it's like, oh, hey, what are you doing? Well, what we do, we just compute the thing and the stuff and the thing and the thing and it's all magic and does the thing and it does all ... And I got IoT for my rain and I got the water thing and I've got, so it's huge.

(18:34):

It's unbelievable. They've got massive networks internally and massive needs for technology and, and the way they're delivering services today, which is very, very difficult because you, um, is either cell or some form of RF based. Mm-hmm. And it's, it's disaster for them. It's very difficult.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (18:52):

Yeah. I think there's this idea, uh, people haven't talked to farmers, I've been talking to them for the last seven years <laugh> that they're, they're the salt of the earth people and they don't know technology, but they're actually very innovative-

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (19:03):

Unbelievable. ... and

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (19:03):

Very forward thinking and they want to get more yield-

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (19:06):

Yeah. ... more,

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (19:07):

They want their health, they're herd to be healthy, all those things and technology helps. Yeah.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (19:11):

And having

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (19:11):

That, yeah, it's crazy.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (19:12):

Like we've got probably more chicken houses connected.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (19:15):

Oh.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (19:16):

Because so they can monitor the, the temperature and this and the other thing. It's unbelievable. It's, it's crazy. So yeah, very fresh. Very

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (19:23):

Interesting. Yeah. And then also, uh, North Carolina is a coastal state.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (19:26):

Yep.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (19:27):

So, uh, you have different kinds of climates and you also have an issue with storms.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (19:31):

Yep.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (19:31):

How do you, uh, do you tackle that? Is that something you guys talk about as a state with the different ISPs? Uh, is there a way that you work through that or no?

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (19:41):

We definitely plan for it. Uh-huh <affirmative>. Um, I don't know that you can ever, um,

(19:46):

Plan it off, right? Mm-hmm. I think that we, I had Hurricane Helene come through and the towns in, in Western, Southwestern, North Carolina were devastated. Mm-hmm. Um, MCNC in particular did a phenomenal job in reconnecting some of these locations before anyone else was able to do that. Um, so we do, again, I think that we, we leverage the, the experience and, and knowledge that MCNC has and then some of the things that we've got and we try and work together to, to do the best we can. I think that it's going to be, if you've got like, gosh, forever ago there was a massive ice storm- mm-hmm. ... and no one could've predicted or planned or s- you know, you just got to do the best you can and work together to get it all, all done.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (20:28):

Mm-hmm. And the, uh, storms now are so they, even Tornado Alley seems like it's moved a little bit.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (20:34):

<laugh>

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (20:34):

Yeah. It's crazy. Um, so, um, I see the head of, of, uh, Shelby sitting there and he's one, my next interview. So I do want to ask you about Shelby and why it's important to be a part of that.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (20:44):

Well, I think that again, working together with organizations that have the same focus and goals and can come alongside and support some of the efforts that we're trying to accomplish and do so in a way that, again, what I always like to say is, you know, thinking that you're the smartest person in the room, regardless of the room is just idiocy. <laugh> Right? So leveraging the experience, knowledge, and span of, of organizations like Shelby and being able to take advantage of the experience they've got, the, the funding they've got, the focus they've been able to, to preserve, um, is for us, um, hugely beneficial. Mm-hmm.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (21:22):

And now I would be remiss if I didn't ask about you and I warned you I was going to do this.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (21:26):

All right.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (21:26):

So talk a little bit about your background and what brought you to Encore <laugh>.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (21:31):

So, so, um, many, many years ago when we were, uh, all using horses and buggies, um, there was something called, um, broadband that came about in the cable industry- mm-hmm. ... using, uh, something called HFC Hybrid Fiber Coax that a gentleman named Jim Chitdix created and there were two entities, one was At Home, which is out west, which was a conglomeration of, uh, 13 or 16 telcos run by a Rockefeller, and then there was Roadrunner- mm-hmm. ... which was a, a partnership between Time Warner-

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (22:06):

I remember Roadrunner.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (22:07):

... Media won Microsoft and Comcast. Mm-hmm. So, uh, in the '90s, that was what I did. So I was responsible and helped launch Roadrunner- Oh wow. ... and then ran that corporately for a very long time. Mm-hmm. Um, and then did, left and did some other things, sold a couple businesses and then came out of that and looked for a, an opportunity to leverage the experience I had to actually do something- Good.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (22:34):

Good.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (22:35):

Yeah. ... and help

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (22:36):

Others.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (22:36):

Yeah. So- That's awesome. Yeah. And so that was what we, that was kind of what this was.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (22:41):

And you said that you've only been in a rural town for a little while. Excuse me. Uh, where did you grow up?

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (22:49):

I was, uh, I'm a Southern Californian person. So I grew up, um, in Huntington Beach, California. Oh,

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (22:54):

Nice.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (22:54):

Yeah. Yeah. And, and- Does

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (22:56):

Everybody ask you, can you surf?

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (22:57):

Oh, yeah. Yes. So yeah, we always, that was a rule. If you didn't surf, then you might be-

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (23:02):

Longboard or shortboards. See, I know a little

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (23:04):

Bit. Oh, shortboards. I was a shortboard, yeah, shortboard.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (23:07):

Shortboard. Oh,

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (23:08):

You're

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (23:08):

Better than I was.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (23:09):

Yeah.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (23:09):

I've only done a longboard like twice and it's because it's easy to, it's like floating on a boat. It's

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (23:13):

Easy to kill. Oh yeah. No, skateboards and surfing, that's all, all you did, yeah.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (23:17):

So what would you want our audience to remember about Encore, um, which I will include in just the, uh website and the description of this podcast as well as your LinkedIn in case people want to talk to you about- Yeah,

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (23:27):

Well thanks.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (23:28):

Um, what would you want people to really take away from our conversation?

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (23:31):

Uh, I think that Encore is an opportunity that, that for collaboration to deliver services to the un-underserved and overlooked and that we're going to do, I think it's a unique partnership that is focused on delivering the services and the both infrastructure but also come alongside in the digital divide to create an opportunity for those that have been left behind for 30 years to come to, to, to be served finally, to get the services that they, they deserve.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (24:03):

Well, we love to see it. Everyone at Connect Nation applauds you guys, so keep up the, get it Encore.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (24:08):

Encore. Applaud. Yes, I love ... Oh,

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (24:10):

That was good. That was good. Thank you

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (24:12):

Beau

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (24:12):

Coughlin, who's the president of Encore. Much appreciate your time.

Bo Coughlin, President, eNCore  (24:15):

Well, thanks for having me. I appreciate it. Good time.

Jessica Denson, Podcast Host (24:17):

I'll continue my coverage from Fiber Connect 2026 in upcoming episodes of the Connected Nation podcast. Until then, I'm Jessica Denson and this is Connected Nation. If you want to know more about us, head to connectednation.org and you can find our latest episodes on your favorite podcast platform.