Light Reading Podcasts

The utility grid is undergoing a massive change, transforming in a similar way to the cable network 30 years ago, according to Dr. Robert Cruickshank, managing member of Power Networks."Now with distributed solar, and storage, you know, battery storage in people's homes, we actually have content creation and storage at the edge," said Cruickshank on the podcast.The "unprecedented change" to the grid isn't without growing pains, explained Cruickshank. Extreme weather conditions, increased electricity usage and a reduction in traditional energy sources such as fossil fuels have all placed a strain on the utility grid.On the bright side, the US is moving toward a smarter grid, supported by efforts such as the SCTE 267 standard, explained Cruickshank."And we actually, in the Society of Cable Telecom Engineers, we created a standard called SCTE 267. And in that standard, we define how you can communicate with devices, and tell them exactly what you were saying," said Cruickshank.You can download an unedited transcript of the podcast here. If you want to skip around and listen, here are a few more things covered in this interview:Current state of US power grid (00:33)Potential issues if utility grid isn't updated (03:23)What can be done to update the power grid (04:00)Smart grid transformation (05:02)SCTE 267 standard and importance of demand response (08:19)Large scale examples of smart grids (10:03)How cable operators and broadband providers can support smart grid transformation (11:54)Cyber security challenges to the smart grid (12:58)How long the smart grid transformation will take (17:10)Additional resources (18:09)Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the range, scope and variety of damaging botnet attacks on the rise, businesses large and small need to prioritize cybersecurity and ensure they are taking proactive and iterative measures to protect against potentially devastating attacks. "Cyber[security], like many things in life, is a journey. It's not a destination," said Ivan Shefrin, executive director for managed security services at Comcast Business, who joined the Light Reading Podcast to discuss the rising threat of botnets. "Even the largest companies in the world are not fully mature. You can always improve continuously and get better." Shefrin said adopting such an approach is critical for businesses as cybersecurity threats increase. The 2021 Comcast Business DDoS Threat Report found that distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) botnet attacks have risen 14% since 2019, and 41% since 2021. "We're in an arms race now," Shefrin said. "Machine learning and automation are the leading edge of that arms race … It unfortunately means that botnets are only going to grow in size and scope and complexity – and the difficulty in defending them." You can download a lightly edited transcript of the podcast here. If you want to skip around and listen, here are a few topics discussed during this podcast:A brief introduction to the world of botnets and the threat they pose to businesses (1:13)The number and variety of attacks that can be perpetuated by botnets, and how network providers can play a role in mitigating threats (4:50)Discoveries made and trends detected by Comcast's latest DDoS Threat Report, including a rise in the number of DDoS botnet attacks and how modernized attacks are difficult to defend against (9:30) Why DDoS botnet attacks are on the rise (11:20) How unpatched systems have created targets for cybercriminals, and why keeping those systems patched presents a major challenge for larger companies (16:00) How botnets have evolved to become fungible assets for cybercriminals (21:15) — Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor, Light ReadingSign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's a new collaboration on the horizon for the streaming video world. Earlier this month, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) announced that HBO Max and Discovery+ will be combined next year."One of the big things that kind of came out of the call, the recent earnings call, is a plan to launch HBO Max and Discovery+ as a single service and kind of a global brand, initially in the US next summer, and then a bunch of international markets in the following couple of years," said Light Reading's Jeff Baumgartner.Baumgartner said the name of the combined service is yet to be announced. It's going to be a bit of a waiting game to see if the combined video service of HBO Max and Discovery+ will be able to scale, and if it'll bring in a bigger and broader audience.Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter.You can download an unedited transcript of the podcast here.Related stories and links:Record number of streamers cut the pay-TV cord – studyAmazon, HBO Max on path to a new streaming deal – reportWarnerMedia-Discovery merger could spell trouble for Roku Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lou Borrelli, CEO of the National Content & Technology Cooperative (NCTC), joins the Light Reading Podcast to reflect on the recently concluded The Independent Show in Florida, and reactions to the new name of the organization, which kept the NCTC designation but dropped the "cable" and "television" labels. Borrelli, who joined the podcast from his boat moored in Martha's Vineyard, also provided a few updates on the organization's major, new initiatives, including a "Connectivity Exchange" and a plan to offer mobile options to the NCTC membership by the fourth quarter of 2022. This year's show, which returned as an in-person event after 2021's all-digital confab, was marked by "pent up energy, for wanting to reconnect," Borrelli recalled. "The Independent Show is really the last standing old school cable show. It's the only one that combines programming and technology, just like the good ol' days. And it had that feel to it." And what about that name change? "I think a lot of people felt like it was overdue," Borrelli said. "I haven't had any negative feedback about the name. I think the fact that we kept the acronym the same, to me, was important." Borrelli said the NCTC is on track to have multiple mobile options available to its membership of 700-plus operators. "The deal that we're contemplating is flexible. From the members' perspective, they can choose how much or how little they want to actually take on for themselves," he said. You can download a lightly edited transcript of the podcast here. If you want to skip around and listen, here's a sampling of topics discussed during this podcast:Reflections on The Independent Show returning to an in-person event, and a recap from the event for those who didn't make the trip to Florida (00:57)Reaction to the recent name change from the National Cable Television Cooperative to the National Content & Technology Cooperative. (09:00) How and why the NCTC shifted to focus on its collective broadband base rather than its historical focus on collective video subscribers. (11:00) On the opportunity and challenge to get hundreds of independent operators – big, medium and small – focused on similar projects and goals. (13:41) How mobile became a priority at the NCTC and updates on the organization's plan to have multiple mobile service options available to members by the fourth quarter of 2022. (18:45)An anticipated timeline on when NCTC members will be able to take advantage of a new "Connectivity Exchange" that will enable independent operators to participate in national RFPs for last-mile connectivity. (25:30) Borrelli participated in the podcast from his sailboat. How does he stay connected from the water? (30:30) —Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor, Light ReadingSign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DENVER – MEF Annual Members Event – Orange Business Services VP Franck Morales returns to the podcast to share how the service provider is utilizing MEF's Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) APIs.In addition to working to further automate transactions with other service providers and enterprise customers via the APIs, Morales said his role as a member of MEF's board provides him with the opportunity to help develop SD-WAN and SASE standards.You can download an unedited transcript of the podcast here. If you want to skip around and listen, here are a few more things covered in this interview:Orange's use of the MEF LSO APIs (00:23)Development of SD-WAN and SASE standards (03:17)New Integrated Trust Network (ITN) and blockchain groups (04:25)How use of APIs improves automation of business functions (11:00)New MEF security standard (16:27)Standardized definition of SASE (17:20)Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we're joined by Jonathan Chambers, a partner with Conexon; and Herschel Arant, senior vice president of energy supply and external services at Central Georgia EMC, a rural electric cooperative serving parts of 14 counties in central Georgia. We discuss their partnership to build out a fiber broadband network to an unserved region of the state and how their collaboration led to the creation of Conexon's ISP arm, Connect. We also get into why electric cooperatives are especially well placed to close the digital divide in the rural US and Chambers' view that they should receive the bulk of federal broadband funding.Read an unedited episode transcript here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this podcast, Verizon's Mark Paff described in detail the service provider's role in emergency response scenarios and explained that Verizon's efforts are "all done in close coordination with the local responders that are setting up that incident command center after the event."Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many industries are feeling the squeeze of supply chain challenges, and the open RAN and semiconductor businesses are no exception.Despite the flexibility that open RAN promises from an equipment and technology standpoint, supply chain speed bumps plus geopolitical factors are presenting new challenges to that market, Light Reading's Iain Morris explained on the podcast."Open RAN for people who aren't that familiar with it is really just a set of interfaces that allow you to mix and match components and software from different companies," said Morris. "But the idea is that because you don't need an end-to-end portfolio, it's a lot easier then for smaller companies and specialists to come into the mix and kind of compete."Morris recently reported on one of the most prominent players in the open RAN game, Parallel Wireless, which had to lay off employees."They've had to let go of a lot of their staff," he said. "It depends on what reports you read how many have gone, but there are some saying it's up to 80%, which sounds pretty disastrous, really, for a company to lose that many."In addition to discussing open RAN woes, Morris explained why a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan could have a major impact on the semiconductor market.You can download an unedited transcript of the podcast here.Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DENVER – MEF Annual Members Event – Lumen's sights are set on developing a customer experience where connectivity service orders are placed through a portal or API for a more digital, automated experience, Andrew Dugan, CTO of Lumen Technologies, told Light Reading.Accomplishing that goal requires automation of Lumen's infrastructure via the use of APIs, said Dugan. He added that the service provider is currently partnering with an enterprise customer on testing and deploying MEF's Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) APIs.In addition to explaining how Lumen is utilizing the LSO APIs, Dugan shared updates on developments of MEF's standards for SD-WAN and SASE.You can download an unedited transcript of the podcast here. If you want to skip around and listen, here are a few more things covered in this interview:Lumen's experience implementing LSO APIs for automation of business functions (00:34)Impact of MEF's efforts to standardize SD-WAN and SASE on how operators deploy those services (02:55)Importance of a SASE definition to clear up confusion in the industry (05:00)Impact of hybrid workforce trend on SD-WAN and SASE deployments (06:20)MEF passes W128 security standard for LSO APIs (08:00)Differences between zero trust and zero trust network access (08:36)Future developments of APIs (09:52)Use of blockchain for managing transactions between service providers and enterprise customers (11:17)Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're joined by David Zumwalt, president and CEO of the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA), a trade organization that represents the fixed wireless industry. Zumwalt assumed his role roughly two months ago, in June 2022, after former CEO Claude Aiken stepped down from his post at the organization in April. We discuss what he learned about the digital divide from his prior role at an ISP in the US Virgin Islands, and his vision for WISPA as the federal government prepares to hand down tens of billions in grants for states to eradicate their broadband gaps. We also get into the important role that WISPs play in closing the digital divide, and why he likens them to "first responders."Read a full transcript of this episode here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's no shortage of change and disruption being meted out by the streaming market. Netflix, which benefits from a sizable chunk of TV viewing time, is pursuing an ad-supported option to help restoke customer growth. Meanwhile, sports rights are rapidly gravitating to deep-pocketed streaming platforms and the world of Big Tech. Even the NFL is getting into that act with a new "NFL+" premium streaming service for superfans as the league negotiates a new deal for its coveted Sunday Ticket package, with Apple rumored to be in the lead to land it. Beneath all of that, the traditional pay-TV bundle continues to struggle as customers flee from fat bundles paired with high prices and continue to see the best shows and TV series get funneled to direct-to-consumer (DTC) services that aren't inherently part of those bundles. Brett Sappington, a long-time industry analyst who leads the video and entertainment research practice at Interpret, recently joined the Light Reading Podcast to sift through and make sense of some of these trends, how they impact pay-TV and what the pay-TV players can do to stay relevant and perhaps benefit from those trends. You can download an unedited transcript of the podcast here. If you want to skip around and listen, here's a snapshot of topics discussed during this podcast: Sappington's reaction to Netflix's Q2 earnings, which saw better-than-expected subscriber losses and initiatives focused on clamping down on account sharing. (1:20) How Netflix's sizable and growing share of TV viewing time could play a role in the success of the streamer's new ad play. (11:25) As major programmers and studios continue to strip-mine their best content for direct-to-consumer services and alter the traditional availability windows of new shows and movies, what will that mean for the already-struggling pay-TV bundle? (14:00) How new streaming deals for live sports, long viewed as the glue holding the pay-TV bundle together, stand to further disrupt the video marketplace. (18:08) The role the National Football League's new NFL+ premium streaming service for superfans could play in the streaming market. (23:31) As more entertainment content and live sports shift to streaming and direct-to-consumer offerings, what is the future role of the pay-TV package as consumers create their own bundles? How can pay-TV distributors stay relevant as the market amplifies its focus on streaming and the direct-to-consumer sales model? (28:24) Is streaming ushering in a "Great Rebundling" that can provide lower prices, or is this merely a shift toward an aggregation model in which consumers are forming "collections" of streaming services devoid of discount benefits? (31:42) — Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor, Light Reading Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DENVER – MEF Annual Members Event – Service providers have long been working toward automated networks. One way service providers are reducing manual processes is by adopting MEF's Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) Sonata APIs. Currently, 22 service providers are in production with the APIs, which automate inter-carrier transactions of connectivity services such as Carrier Ethernet.Stan Hubbard, principal analyst for MEF, said an additional 90 service providers are now tracked in the LSO Sonata adoption lifecycle – from interest through to implementation. Of those 90 operators, 41 are committed to using the APIs."We launched our LSO framework about five or six years ago," said Hubbard. Service providers that utilize the LSO APIs can improve their service delivery, accelerate time to revenue and improve the customer experience, he added."Service providers had to deal with lots of manual processes up until now," said Hubbard. " … We're saying, 'Invest in the APIs, standardize APIs one time, and be able to use that with your partners on the buy and sell side. It has huge potential to save time in the long run'."You can download an unedited transcript of the podcast here. If you want to skip around and listen, here are a few more things covered in this interview:Background on MEF's Annual Members Meeting (00:33)Update on MEF's new Technology Advisory Board (TAB) (01:28)Service provider adoption of LSO Sonata APIs to manage and automate transactions of business functions (02:16)How the use of APIs moves the needle on network automation (04:30)Initiatives to develop standards for SD-WAN and SASE services (08:45)Educating enterprise customers on SASE (09:52)Using blockchain to verify billing and settlement (12:40)Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Roese, the global CTO at Dell Technologies, said the influx of federal funding to help alleviate the digital divide should be used to solve broadband coverage gaps as efficiently as possible. He said that those efforts could be hampered if federal and state agencies let legacy networking requirements limit the number of potential technology suppliers. For new broadband builds, Roese said, a new 5G standalone network is a great solution and could be provided by a wide range of companies: Dell (of course), Amazon, Microsoft and Google, plus the traditional telecom providers."There's no reason to have 4G, 3G, 2G – there's no reason to have a voice service on it," Roese said. "And yet, our general tendency is, every time we talk about broadband, we talk about all generations of broadband, all the legacy, all possible permutations," Roese said.There are plenty of cases where 3G or 4G or fiber would be required, but some new unserved or underserved areas "might actually look like legacy-free environments," Roese said. "They might start with no technical debt, no legacy hangover, and we have to be just very deliberate about what problem we are solving."You can download an unedited transcript of the podcast here. If you want to skip around and listen, here are a few more things covered in this interview:Do enterprises see the need for private 5G? (09:30)What is the competitive dynamic between cloud providers, telcos and others working to build private 5G networks? (13:50)How Dell views the edge and why it's a big growth area. (17:14)Keeping edge workloads separate from edge infrastructure. (23:39)Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The concept of "digital equity" has been a hot topic as the FCC and private entities attempt to resolve the issue of accurate broadband mapping and uncover where resources need to be applied to get people connected in underserved and unserved rural areas. That work also extends into cities, where broadband might be available but factors like affordability or access to devices and digital training can limit the rate of adoption.Broderick Johnson, who joined Comcast just over a year ago, has a history of focusing on the pursuit of digital equity. In fact, it's right there in his title: EVP for public policy and EVP for digital equity. "This goes back … really decades," he explained, noting that the digital divide was part of the discussion during his time at the Clinton White House, where he served as deputy assistant to the president for legislative affairs. "Back then, it was more about access," recalled Johnson, who recently was in Denver to meet with community leaders and representatives from state and local government about how they and Comcast can better collaborate on digital adoption. Over time, he said, the discussion has "morphed into a more complicated set of issues" with respect to where investments are being made and what other barriers exist where deployments are happening. "We do know that there has been, over the course of these decades though, really difficult disparities based on race and economic class, and where people live," Johnson explained.Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter.Here's a snapshot of topics discussed during this podcast: How Johnson defines "digital equity" (2:20)Beyond access and affordability, other barriers are keeping consumer adoption at bay (4:05) An update on projects at Comcast focused on bridging the digital divide – including Internet Essentials, which was launched more than a decade ago, Project UP, Comcast Rise, and the deployment of more than 1,000 Wi-Fi-connected "Lift Zones" in venues such as community centers and libraries (6:30) The roles that community-trusted Digital Navigator volunteers can play in boosting Internet adoption with respect to getting access to devices and obtaining digital skills and training, and how that can translate to projects such as the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) (10:30) — Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor, Light Reading Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Light Reading's Mike Dano joins the podcast to discuss Cox Communications' new mobile service. He explains why it was a long time coming, why T-Mobile tried to slow Cox's deployment with a lawsuit, which service provider Cox ultimately chose to partner with on the mobile service, and more.Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter.Related stories and links:Cox to enter US wireless industry this fallNew ruling reopens door for Cox's mobile launchHere's how Cox blew its mobile launchCox readies a re-entry into mobile Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil Harvey joins the podcast to discuss Light Reading's Leading Lights Awards and how to enter a submission. In addition, we share advice for how to craft a solid entry, tell you when the deadline to enter is, how much it costs and more.Here are just a few things covered in this podcast:Background on the Leading Lights Awards (01:10)How the award winners will be announced (03:50)How the judging process works (06:20)Advice for how to craft a solid entry and tips on what to avoid (09:15)What we mean by "innovative," and the importance of supporting documentation (14:27)How to enter, deadlines and early bird discounts (21:10)Related stories and links:Enter now: The 2022 Light Reading Leading Lights awardsAwards CategoriesGeneral Information and FAQsLeading Lights Awards entry systemSign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're resharing an episode of the Light Reading Podcast featuring Nick Feamster, director of research for the Data Science Institute at the University of Chicago. He joined Light Reading's Phil Harvey and Kelsey Ziser last month to discuss his team's research based on the Internet Equity Initiative data portal, which uses Ookla Speedtest data to map out Internet inequities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Light Reading's Iain Morris joins the podcast with insight into why Ericsson's stock price took a hit despite a solid second quarter."I was a bit surprised to see the share price, they opened at about 11% down, which is a big drop ... and normally that's the kind of thing that happens when they have a bad news item like the investigation for some of their activities in Iraq where there were various wrongdoings going on," said Morris.Morris provides background on Ericsson's missteps in Iraq, but explains that this is an example of poor choices from previous management. While current management's efforts have righted the ship in some ways, the sins of Ericsson's past continue to make investors skeptical.Related stories and links:Ericsson's market share has rocketed, yet investors are unhappyEricsson gets US clearance for Vonage take-offSign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the pace of broadband subscriber growth showing signs of slowing after big surges during the early days of the pandemic, some service providers are expanding their influence into the management and security of IoT devices that are proliferating on the home network. While not all of those strategies have aligned perfectly among ISPs, an analysis of the data on the home Wi-Fi network can provide lots of insight about which brands and device types consumers are gravitating to. Plume, a data and cloud services specialist that manages Wi-Fi in more than 40 million homes worldwide, recently issued its latest Plume IQ report, with this one focused on the IoT brands driving the most consumer loyalty. The report found that Amazon is seemingly in the cat bird's seat, atop of Apple and Google. Notably, Amazon's position in the IoT market runs relatively independent of the smart phone being used while Apple's position is largely determined by whether the consumer is an iPhone user. Bill McFarland, Plume's chief technology officer, recently joined the Light Reading podcast with Editor-in-Chief Phil Harvey and Senior Editor Jeff Baumgartner to dig into the data and the numbers, extrapolate some broad IoT trends and explain how this kind of data can benefit the strategies of broadband operators. To pinpoint some of that activity and gather trends and insights, Plume uses AI and machine language techniques to enable "device typing" to determine what kind of device is connecting to the network. "It's not as easy as it might sound because there isn't a protocol or a standard message they send about what kind of device they are," McFarland said. "You have to kind of look at the way they're behaving, the protocols they are using and so forth, and then compare that with other devices you've seen of that type and you do a matching." Here's an outline of topics covered in this podcast:The technical basis of the Plume IQ report, and how it relies on data to uncover and identify industry trends and indicators. (1:40)Thoughts on why Amazon was high on the IoT brand loyalty list and why it seems to broadly attract consumers independent of the rest of their device ecosystem, including smartphones. (5:30) What other kind of data can be collected to help broadband service providers manage the home network and make better decisions that can cut down on the cost of their broadband delivery. (14:30)How the role of the service provider in IoT and IoT security is evolving as consumers continue to adopt more connected devices that hook into the home network. (17:00)Beyond the likes of Amazon, Apple and Google, what other products, brands and device types are making a mark in IoT? Where does Sonus and even connected cars, for example, fall in the pecking order? (26:30)— Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor, Light ReadingSign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Light Reading's Jeff Baumgartner joins the podcast to provide an update on some of the major players in the streaming video market. He also delivers insight into a recent report on the pay-TV market and why both traditional providers and OTT-TV players are struggling to keep their subscribers. We wrap up with our predictions on which shows win Emmys this year.Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ji Soo Song, broadband advisor at the US Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology (OET), joins the show to discuss the impact of the digital divide on students and the role his department plays in expanding access and affordability. We also discuss what he's learned through the Department of Education's Digital Equity Education Roundtables (DEER) initiative and how states and schools can use infrastructure funding and the Digital Equity Act to help close the digital divide for students. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Light Reading's Mike Dano discusses growth predictions for the wireless industry in 2022 and why Verizon's forecast might be a little bleaker than those of AT&T and T-Mobile. He also explains the battle between WCO Spectrum and T-Mobile over the purchase of 2.5GHz spectrum licenses from academic institutions.Here are just a few things covered in this podcast:Update on wireless industry and growth predictions for 2022 (01:10)Why postpaid customers are more valuable to wireless providers (03:00)AT&T and T-Mobile pull ahead of Verizon in growth of postpaid customers (04:37)Impact of inflation on the wireless market (06:18)WCO Spectrum and T-Mobile battle over 2.5GHz spectrum licenses (08:29)Benefits of leasing versus owning spectrum (12:04)Impact of T-Mobile's right of first refusal to purchase the licenses (13:30)Related stories and links:US wireless bubble to deflate a little, but it hasn't popped yetWCO's Winnick takes huge swing at T-Mobile: 'You should be ashamed'Inside the messy world of T-Mobile's midband 5G spectrum licensesSign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode features Matt Larsen, CEO of Vistabeam, a fixed wireless provider covering underserved areas of Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming. He joins the podcast to discuss the important role of fixed wireless and unlicensed spectrum in reaching underserved and unserved US populations. We also get into the role of federal funding in closing the digital divide, and why Larsen thinks more funding could negatively impact broadband expansion in the US. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Juniper CTO Raj Yavatkar joins the podcast to discuss how the telecom industry can improve energy efficiency and service expectations for 5G deployments while also reducing the cost of running 5G networks. He also shares new use cases for private 5G and explains how Juniper is partnering with Rakuten Symphony on developing RAN Intelligent Controllers (RICs).Here are just a few things covered in this podcast:Opportunities for Juniper and its customers with 5G (01:00)Growing interest in private 5G and new use cases (03:20)Partnership with Rakuten Symphony on 5G deployments (06:30)How to reduce the cost of running a 5G network for service providers (09:20)Dynamic network capacity management and improving the energy efficiency of the network (12:00)New approaches to data analytics and updates on Mist AI (13:07)Automated service assurance (17:50)Related stories and links:BIG 5G Event newsJuniper CEO: The new networking – experience, speed and scaleJuniper jumps on O-RAN bandwagonSign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ATSC 3.0, the new IP-based broadcast signaling standard branded as "NextGen TV," targets the TV with a blend of enhanced capabilities such as 4K, high dynamic range (HDR), on-demand video, immersive audio and advanced advertising. But the standard is also being touted as a downstream broadband distribution pipe that can support a much wider range of use cases, including mobile applications. That mobility angle is starting to lead to apps and services for connected automobiles, including the distribution of info and entertainment services and the delivery of other large files. In the US, some of those use cases are starting to emerge at the Motown 3.0 Open Test Track in Detroit, Michigan, where a mix of technology demos are underway. Pearl Television, a consortium of several US broadcasters, serves as the test manager at the test track. "We always thought automotive was a natural extension to our television service," Anne Schelle, managing director of Pearl TV, said on the Light Reading Podcast. "We've demonstrated in multiple markets that this is a really robust signal ... meaning it's easy to receive it in a car even when you're in a garage or underground." Schelle said Pearl TV and other broadcasters view ATSC 3.0 as a distribution pipe that can complement cellular and even satellite. "Automakers need every option," she said, noting that companies that run fleets of trucks or limousines are among the areas of the automotive market that could suit this use case. South Korea, a market that is about two years ahead of the US with the standard, is also exploring the connected car use case. There, Hyundai Mobis is developing a lineup of cars that will come equipped with ATSC 3.0 receivers starting in 2023. Here's a snapshot of topics covered in this podcast:The origins of the Pearl TV consortium and its involvement with the ATSC 3.0 standard (1:30)How the delivery of data to autos is a natural extension to the new IP-based signaling standard (8:50) Background on the Motown 3.0 Open Test Track and some details and findings from the recent trials conducted there (10:15)How ATSC 3.0 is expected to fit in with other wireless and mobile network types, including 5G and satellite (12:15)Potential other use cases for NextGen TV/ATSC 3.0 (19:30) A brief overview of the regulatory environment on the new standard, including thoughts on the FCC's fresh inquiry into voluntary adoption of the new standard and what technical challenges might be faced by cable operators and other multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) in redistributing those signals (23:00) — Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor, Light ReadingSign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we're joined by Heather Gate, vice president of digital inclusion at Connected Nation, a nonprofit organization founded in 2001 that works with communities across the US to increase broadband access and adoption. We discuss the organization's work, including its broadband mapping projects and how states are using them. We also discuss the infrastructure law and how Connected Nation is helping states get and deploy the funding they need.Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amid all the hoopla about the deployment of fiber-fueled access networks, it's sometimes easy to forget the critical importance of middle-mile networks that feed and interconnect them. Middle-mile networks take on even higher standing when trying to deliver high-quality connections to unserved or underserved parts of rural America. Without a solid middle-mile, the last-mile network will suffer. A consortium of telco cooperatives and Rural Electric Membership Cooperatives (REMCs) are looking to remedy that situation in Indiana with Hoosier Net, a newly formed entity that aims to develop (and build, where necessary) a statewide middle-mile network. Accord Telecommunications Collaborative, a group of 21 Rural Electric Membership Cooperatives (REMCs) and telephone cooperatives, recently announced an investment in Hoosier Net.Drawing a bead on BEADHoosier Net is taking form as federal and state authorities prepare to mete out billions of dollars in broadband grants under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The group came together after another statewide network in Indiana, called the Intelligence Fiber Network, was sold to Zayo in June 2021.That became an issue as "ISPs in Indiana lost control of their own destiny," Rob Shema, CEO of Hoosier Net, Independents Fiber Network in Ohio and Com Net Inc. (CNI), said on the Light Reading podcast. CNI, a company that provides backend services to ISPs, is also an owner of Hoosier Net and currently serves as the organization's managing partner."If [our] network has an outage, you'd better believe I have skin in the game, because at the end of the day, I'm owned by these companies. It's my job to get that Internet connection back up as quickly and as efficiently as possible," Shema said. "They want one throat to choke, and that throat's mine." Shema estimates that the current plan for Hoosier Net will cover about 90% of Indiana, enabling a cohesive unit that can be presented to the NTIA as a way to provide backbone connectivity for several ISPs in the state. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is tasked with implementing the $42.5 billion in BEAD funding and $1 billion tagged for middle-mile infrastructure funding. Here's a snapshot of topics covered in this podcast:An overview of Hoosier Net, including how it started (2:10) Why it's important that ILECs and REMCs are coming together on the project (6:50) Why the middle-mile is important, particularly in rural areas (8:30) An update and expected timeline on the Hoosier Net project (16:00)— Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor, Light ReadingSign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now that many cable operators around the globe are also wireless network operators in some form or fashion, CableLabs has embarked on several projects and initiatives focused on network and service convergence. Following the formation of two groups – The Convergence Council and the Mobile Convergence Committee – CableLabs is taking aim at multitenancy at the edge and the convergence of both hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) and 5G networks. The initial focus is on the melding of network stacks into a common, collocated platform. "Because more than half of the CableLabs members are both mobile and cable system operators, we think this unique insight into operations of both network types will be a catalyst for driving convergence requirements," Carmela Stuart, director of the future infrastructure group at CableLabs, explained on the Light Reading podcast. Much of that work is detailed in a new white paper (PDF): Best Practices for Deploying 5G into a Shared Environment. And while the initial focus involves 5G vendors, CableLabs expects to run a similar exercise with HFC component vendors, and particularly with suppliers of virtual CCAPs (converged cable access platforms), Stuart explained. Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter.Here's a snapshot of topics covered in this podcast:How the role of CableLabs is evolving to focus on network and service convergence (1:12)How CableLabs is working specifically toward the convergence of 5G and HFC at the edge of the network (3:00)What security issues need to be ironed out as network operators attempt to collocate different vendor apps on the same Kubernetes cluster. (4:30)An outline of convergence goals that are being pursued by CableLabs and its members. (6:20) An overview of the aims of a relatively new "10G" lab that's focused on interactivity and the testing out of various use cases involving cloud native 5G cores, virtual RANs and virtual CCAPs. (9:30) How and why open source is playing a role in these network convergence projects. (11:00) — Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor, Light Reading Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GCI is doing more than going the extra mile to bring fiber to the Aleutian Chain in Alaska. In fact, it's going hundreds of extra miles below the surface of the ocean to accomplish the feat. Alaska's top service provider is making significant progress on the so-called GCI Alaska United Aleutians Fiber Project, an initiative that will soon start to deploy more than 800 miles of subsea fiber that will serve as the backbone for 2-Gig broadband and other services for communities in the remote, hard-to-reach region. In this case, we're talking about a subsea fiber that will provide baseline connectivity for more than 7,000 people along the Aleutian Chain in the extreme Western end of the state, which includes the Unalaska region and Dutch Harbor of Deadliest Catch fame. The $58 million project (funded by a $25 million grant from the US Department of Agriculture's ReConnect program and $33 million of direct investment by GCI) recently reached a key milestone, as more than 3.7 million pounds of custom-built fiber started its sea journey from Germany to Unalaska aboard the 330-foot-long M/V Vertom Thea cargo ship. Once the fiber reaches British Columbia, it will be loaded onto two cable-laying vessels to complete its journey across the Gulf of Alaska to Unalaska. GCI is in the process of matching its subsea fiber deployment with fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) access networks that will deliver services to homes and businesses along the Aleutian chain. Here's a snapshot of topics covered in this podcast:The scope of the project and why it's important to the region. (1:30)How 2,000 tons of specially-built subsea fiber is being delivered by cargo ship – starting in Germany, and eventually reaching the Unalaska area later this year for deployment by cable-laying vessels. (5:00) How GCI will connect homes and businesses to 2-Gig broadband services once the subsea fiber is deployed and lit up. (10:25) What other services, beyond broadband, that GCI will deliver to homes and business in the region. (17:00)— Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor, Light ReadingSign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scott Woods, vice president of community engagement at Ready, and former director of the Office of Minority Broadband Initiatives at the NTIA, joins the show to discuss the NTIA's notices of funding opportunity for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) and Digital Equity Act programs. He explains what the agency got right and where its rules "missed the mark." We also discuss his current role at Ready and how the software company is helping ISPs and other broadband stakeholders prepare for funding opportunities.Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Craighead Electric Cooperative Corp. (CECC), an 85-year-old electrical co-op in rural Arkansas, first started delivering fiber in 2018. Initially, it was for internal purposes: "We needed to communicate with critical electrical infrastructure out on the grid," said Jeremiah Sloan, CEO of CECC. But the realization that 44% of its membership lacked access to Internet service of 25/3 Mbit/s led CECC to start delivering fiber to customers as an ISP called Empower Broadband."Fast forward to today, we've got about 4,000 miles of fiber, and we have 13,000 subscribers and roughly 25,000 premises passed," said Sloan.Sloan joined Light Reading at the Fiber Connect conference to discuss CECC's work in rural Arkansas and a new partnership between Craighead Electric and other electric co-ops across the state to deliver wholesale fiber."Our primary mission with that organization is to make Arkansas the most connected state in the country," he said.Here are just a few topics discussed in this video:CECC's history and role as a broadband provider (00:50)What's different about getting broadband from an electric co-op (03:00)Why CECC "mothballed" its fixed wireless project (04:00)How Craighead streamlined its fiber deployment (06:30)New middle mile partnership with other electric co-ops (07:40)Plans for federal funding (11:10)Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter.Related stories and links:Render's Sam Pratt on using tech to streamline fiber network buildsArkansas electric co-ops band together for bandwidthHow Render uses geospatial data to get fiber builds up to speedEPB's Katie Espeseth on delivering the 'world's fastest Internet' in Chattanooga Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nashville-based singer/songwriter Autumn Nicholas, who performed this week at the Fiber Connect 2022 event, said that bold storytelling is what sets her songs and lyrics apart.Related stories and links:Autumn Nicholas (Spotify, Linktree and Instagram) The Kentucky GentlemenTroubadour BlueBlack Opry (A resource for Black artists and fans of country, blues, folk and Americana music.)Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan Davidson, EVP and GM of Cisco's Mass-Scale Infrastructure Group, discusses Cisco's desire to help close the digital divide."We're focused on powering an inclusive future for all. That's not just a tagline; that's what we believe we are here to do from a purpose perspective," he said.Here's a list of topics that were covered in this podcast: The digital divide as an opportunity for networking projects (2:00) The status of Cisco's digital divide work (4:30) How Cisco works with service providers, agencies and partners to accelerate programs aimed at helping alleviate the digital divide (6:30) Being reactive versus proactive on connectivity projects (9:50) Which issues require the most attention (11:15) Where Cisco's private 5G-as-a-service fits in (12:50)Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The story of what the so-called "metaverse" will be or should be is just getting started, and views differ widely between high expectations driven by hype and the realities of today's technologies and those on the viewable horizon. Masum Mir, VP and GM of engineering at Cisco, recently joined the Light Reading podcast during the Cisco Live event in Las Vegas to offer some of his insights about the metaverse and its potential. Here's a snapshot of topics discussed during this podcast: What's a realistic view of what the metaverse will be in the next three to five years? (1:10)How do the expected capabilities of the metaverse cross into the domain of 10G, the cable industry's program focusing on symmetrical 10-Gig speeds, low latency and strong security? (5:45)Why the Internet must evolve – rather than be "reconstructed" – to support the demands of the metaverse. (7:15)The expanding role of cybersecurity, from reactive one-offs to fully integrated ecosystems that are built-in during the early days of metaverse development rather than bolted on sometime down the road. (10:30) How Cisco's role in the cable industry has evolved as the company's attention continues to shift away from traditional access network hardware components such as amplifiers and nodes. (14:00)Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Pearson, president of 5G Americas, joins the podcast to provide an update on global expansion of 5G, new revenue opportunities for private 5G networks and breakthroughs in addressing the digital divide. Pearson also provides a brief recap of his keynote at the Big 5G Event in May.Here are just a few things covered in this podcast:Big 5G Event recap and global growth of 5G (02:24)Why "spectrum is the lifeblood of the industry" (04:40)New revenue opportunities for private 5G networks (07:30)Breakthroughs and mile markers for FWA and satellite in addressing the digital divide (12:50)Setting realistic expectations for 5G (18:50)Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Light Reading's Alan Breznick provides a preview of what to expect at the Cable Next-Gen Europe Digital Symposium, which will focus on how European cable operators and their American counterparts are taking different roads to reaching 10G.During the event, executives from Liberty Global and Vodafone and experts from SCTE, CableLabs and Omdia will discuss the latest in Distributed Access Architecture (DAA) technology, DOCSIS and more. The online event takes place Tuesday, June 21 and is free to attend. To register, click here.Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Orange Business Services' John Isch, practice director of the network and voice center of excellence, and Franck Morales, VP for secure digital infrastructure, join the podcast with an update on the service provider's deployment of nearly 1,200 SD-WAN sites for customer Siemens."It's probably one of the most complex deployments as we've also been deploying during the evolution of [Siemen's] IT, their SD-WAN, and changing nearly 100% of the underlay because the decision was clear from Siemens to move away from MPLS and to go maximum to Internet," said Morales.In addition, Isch and Morales explain Orange's new Service Manage-Watch feature that monitors network and application performance via data analytics and an AIOps tool.Here are just a few things covered in this podcast:Orange Business Services' deployment of SD-WAN to nearly 1,200 Siemens sites (01:20)Bringing customers' network, IT and security teams together (15:34)Orange's Service Manage-Watch tool (20:16)Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter.Related stories and links:Orange brings SD-WAN to nearly 1,200 Siemens sitesOrange Business Services Unveils Service Manage-Watch to Supervise Performance of Enterprise IT ServicesPodcast: Orange injects AI and automation into supply chain management Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Leifer, Dryden Town Supervisor; Ryan Garrison, director of technology at HUNT Engineers, Architects & Surveyors; and Gina Nienaber, director of portfolio marketing at Ciena, join the podcast to discuss Dryden Fiber: a new municipal fiber network being deployed in Tompkins County, New York. We discuss the digital divide in Dryden, how the decision to create a municipal broadband network came about, the timeline for this project and much more.Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The five components of Internet equity include accessibility, infrastructure, affordability, adoption and performance/reliability, says the University of Chicago's Nick Feamster.In his latest return to the podcast, Nick Feamster, director of research for the Data Science Institute at the University of Chicago, shares findings from his team's research that supports the Internet Equity Initiative data portal, which uses Ookla Speedtest data and other data sets to map out Internet inequities."This important work shows the disparity of Internet access and performance, as well as a variety of different demographic measures, including race, wealth and education by Census tract," said Ookla in a recent newsletter.The Internet Equity Initiative deployed Internet measurement devices in over 100 households in Chicago to measure disparities in Internet performance and reliability between low-income and high-income neighborhoods, according to Ookla.Here are just a few things covered in this podcast:Background on the Internet Equity Initiative (01:40)The five components of Internet Equity (05:40)Comparing digital conferencing tools (11:26)Data and research behind the Internet Equity Initiative (15:53)Conclusions reached based on available data (21:57)Challenges with speed testing (34:21)Preview of upcoming research paper: "Benchmarks or Equity?" (35:21)Related stories and links:Internet Equity Initiative mapA Tale of Two GigsUnderstanding Chicago's Digital Divide: What Does Census Data Tell Us?What Can We Learn from Selected, Unmatched Data: Measuring Internet Inequity in Chicago Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

<p>  Nextlink Internet has been able to push gigabit-level speeds over fixed wireless access (FWA) in a limited fashion, but is now looking to scale up and expand that capability by tapping into fresh spectrum in the 6GHz band. </p><p>  That band, already supported in the home in the Wi-Fi6E standard, is poised to become an important data conduit for FWA as the FCC works out some final details on how that band will accommodate both new and legacy users.  </p><p>  As the FCC irons out some of those details, Nextlink Internet has already <a href="https://www.lightreading.com/opticalip-networks/nextlink-sizes-up-gigabit-speeds-over-fixed-wireless/d/d-id/777759">conducted FWA tests in the 6GHz band</a> using an experimental license. Nextlink's test showed that throughputs in excess of 1Gbit/s downstream and 500Mbit/s upstream were achievable via a 160MHz channel at a distance of two miles using access points from Cambium Networks powered by Qualcomm silicon. </p><p>  Claude Aiken, the <a href="https://www.lightreading.com/opticalip-networks/claude-aiken-joins-nextlink-internet/d/d-id/776877">recently appointed chief strategy officer and chief legal officer of Nextlink Internet</a>, recently joined the Light Reading podcast to discuss the trial in more detail, what's likely to come next, and to provide an update on the regulatory landscape for the 6GHz band for fixed wireless access. </p><p>  Nextlink, which also provides fiber-based broadband services and participated in the CBRS auction, is "really taking an all-of-the-above approach to spectrum access," said Aiken, an industry vet who most recently served as the president and CEO of the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA). "We want to be able to utilize this [6GHz spectrum], and put this in our toolkit as soon as possible … We're pretty bullish about what this spectrum means for high-speed, rural fixed wireless service." </p><p>  FWA in the 6GHz band will use automated frequency coordination (AFC) to mitigate interference in the band with incumbent users. But Aiken contends that the implementation for the 6GHz band is "much simpler" than the complications that the industry had to overcome in the CBRS band. Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter.</p><p>  — Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor, <ahref="http://www.lightreading.com">Light Reading</a></p> Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AUSTIN – Big 5G Event – In this fireside chat during the Women in Telecoms workshop, experts from T-Mobile and Verizon explain the difference between a mentor, sponsor and coach; how to develop relationships with career allies; and how to develop a personal board of directors.Yasmin Karimli, senior director of device technology & development for T-Mobile; and Krys Grondorf, director of communications for Verizon also share how relationships with mentors, sponsors and coaches evolve over the course of a career. "Over this 25-plus year career, you have built relationships that aren't one way, you don't just go to them when you need something, but they come to you when they need something," said Grondorf. "Now it's fulfilling on both sides and you're having those conversations both ways."Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter.Here are just a few things covered in this fireside chat:The difference between a mentor, sponsor and coach (04:20)Evolution of relationships with mentors, sponsors and coaches over the course of a career (09:25)Karimli and Grondorf share examples of their experiences as mentors (14:50)How to identify a mentor, sponsor or coach and how to foster that relationship (19:00)Assembling a personal board of directors (22:22)Check out more news from the Big 5G Event here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the wheel, NTT and IndyCar are using tools such as predictive data analytics and digital twins to improve the race experience for both IndyCar teams and fans of the sport."NTT is taking a lot of the unseen and we're working to make it more visible to the fans to help them understand what's going on in the race, what they should look for and where they should look for it to happen," said SJ Luedtke, VP of marketing for IndyCar.Luedtke and Bennett Indart, VP of SMART world solutions for NTT, join the podcast to explain what it takes from a network standpoint to collect and analyze the data produced during the race."We're using predictive analytics in a lot of different places," said Indart. That includes analyzing pit strategies and anticipating which drivers will make a move during the race."We're trying to take and distill stories buried in billions and billions of messages coming off the cars during the day, and we're allowing artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to do that," he explained.Editor's note: This podcast was recorded ahead of last weekend's IndyCar race in Detroit, Michigan.Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter.Here are a few highlights in the podcast:Impact of predictive data analytics on the race and fan experience (01:00)Data monitoring technologies and private networks (05:20)Popularity of IndyCar and the draw for fans (09:06)Applying learnings from IndyCar to smart cities applications and other entertainment venues (12:53)Digital twins, data twins and visual twins (16:14)Utilizing trends in historical data for future races (19:07)Related stories and links:Podcast: Digital twinning the Tour de FranceNTT revs up Indy 500 with AI and IoT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AUSTIN – Big 5G Event – In this fireside chat during the Women in Telecoms workshop, experts from AT&T, Boingo and MetTel discuss the "credibility conundrum,”"and how women in the industry can better demonstrate their value and best utilize their skill sets to advance their careers.Layli Amiri, lead member of technical staff: network infrastructure and services for AT&T; Lori Thomas, SVP of strategic engagement & transformation for MetTel; and Rachel Rea, SVP of operations for Boingo; discuss how to access leadership and continuing education programs, the importance of speaking up and taking credit for personal success, and how to identify allies and support in the workforce.Attracting female talent to the telecom industry continues to be a challenge – "It does have to start young and you have to breed that interest. You also need women in roles and responsibility of influence," said MetTel’s Lori Thomas. "If you look across Fortune500 countries today, there’s 15% [female] CEOs which is 74 women. It is not enough."Here are just a few things covered in this fireside chat:How the telecom industry can attract more female talent (03:31)Opportunities to reskill to establish credibility (06:55)Accessing leadership programs (08:54)Identifying allies and advocates (10:13)Making your voice heard inside and outside your organization (16:49)Becoming more comfortable with self-promotion (19:17)Changing course after constructive criticism (22:00)What to do when you don’t have all the answers (24:10)Check out more news from the Big 5G Event here.Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AUSTIN – Big 5G Event – In this fireside chat during the Women in Telecoms workshop, Ericsson North America CMO Ciricia Proulx and Rogers Communications VP of Advanced Services Tess Van Thielen, share their perspectives and experiences about why diversity is important for business, how the industry can move in a more positive direction to support diversity, and why studies show it could take nearly 150 years to reach gender parity in the workforce. Proulx and Thielen weave statistics and real-world examples into the conversation to explain why there's still a long road ahead to achieve gender and diversity parity in business."There's a perception that there has been such a strong desire to hire female or diverse talent but if you look at the numbers as you go up in leadership, that's not the story they're telling," said Proulx. "If you look at telecom, entry level we have about 37% female and by the time you get to more senior leadership it's less that 27%, so it's actually going down and is even lower if you look at additional diversity … unless we're having those conversations and the male leadership is understanding the impact, we won't progress."  Here are just a few things covered in this fireside chat: A look at female representation and diversity in telecom (01:52)Estimating female representation at the Big 5G event (05:25)How to share personal experiences to create change (06:00) Gender parity in the workforce will be achieved in 139 years (07:08) "Women vote with their feet" – telecom loses women that don't receive adequate support (11:23)Internal programs and initiatives that support diversity (12:10)Challenges that remain: "tightrope/double bind," and "prove it, then prove it again" (18:10)Having honest conversations and finding support from coworkers (25:31)Explaining "gender deafness" (29:17)Parting professional advice (31:50)Check out more news from the Big 5G Event here. Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we hear from John Paul Farmer, chief innovation officer at WeLink Cities, and the former chief technology officer of New York City. We discuss the fixed wireless technology WeLink is using to deploy broadband in cities, and the company's efforts to deliver affordable service. We also get into WeLink's new Cities Challenge: a $100 million effort to partner with cities on rapid broadband deployments.Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US Ignite's Mari Silbey discusses how public-private partnerships can help with some big 5G issues, like resolving the technical challenges in open RAN networks and feeding better network data sets to AI and machine learning engines.Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Kochan, a telecom veteran and former CEO of US Ignite, talks to Light Reading about his new role as the executive director at the National Spectrum Consortium (NSC), where he aims to promote stronger tech partnerships between government, academia and industry.Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we're joined by Elizabeth Page, national sales director at Ribbon Communications; and Aaron Young, chief operating officer at Tri-Co Connections, a fiber broadband provider in rural Pennsylvania powered by Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative, and a customer of Ribbon's. We discuss why, how and when Tri-Co started deploying broadband to its service area and the state of its rollout, why electric co-ops are well-placed to fill in broadband gaps in the rural US, Ribbon's role in rural broadband delivery – and much more.Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Light Reading's Mike Dano joins the podcast to discuss Dish Network's 5G-focused analyst day event. Dano explains analysts' reactions to Dish's business projections, what Dish has planned for the retail space and for enterprise private wireless customers, the launch of Boost Infinite and more.Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this podcast, Diane Christman, new CEO of The Cable Center, digs into the genesis, purpose and takeaways of the organization's first annual Intrapreneurship & Innovation Report, and offers a look ahead to this year's Cable Hall of Fame event in New York.Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.