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Unbuffered

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.

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23 episodes
weekly
Avg 47 min
English

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Episodes 23

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#29
Tuesday · 52 min
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 fatigue surrounding the BEAD program. ★ Support this podcast ★
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#28
October 7 · 49 min
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 ★
#27
September 30 · 48 min
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 ★
#26
September 23 · 42 min
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 ★
#25
September 15 · 46 min
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 ★
#24
September 8 · 56 min
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, and how cities can use creative, low-cost solutions to retain control over their own data. ★ Support this podcast ★
#23
August 25 · 55 min
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 ★
#22
August 18 · 31 min
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 ★
#21
August 11 · 35 min
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 ★
#20
August 4 · 40 min
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 ★
#19
July 28 · 59 min
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 ★
#18
July 23 · 54 min
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 ★
#17
July 14 · 32 min
Protecting Tribal Access to Spectrum - Episode 17 of Unbuffered
#16
July 7 · 48 min
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 ★
#15
July 1 · 53 min
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 ★
#14
June 23 · 53 min
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 ★
#13
June 17 · 53 min
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 ★
#12
June 9 · 39 min
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 ★
#11
June 2 · 53 min
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 ★
#10
May 26 · 30 min
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 ★

Showing 1–20 of 23 episodes