Bytes & Bandwidth

ustelecompodcast

An original podcast series created specifically for the U.S. broadband industry, discussing the many life-changing opportunities made possible by broadband and how innovation is connecting communities. read less
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Empowering Communities: The Impact of Affordable Broadband
Feb 8 2024
Empowering Communities: The Impact of Affordable Broadband
In episode 4, host Brandon Heiner, senior vice president of government affairs at USTelecom, sits down with Jonathan Cannon, a policy counsel in technology and innovation at R Street Institute, and Dr. Fallon Wilson, vice president of policy at the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC). The three talk about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and how affordable broadband impacts communities and residents across the country.    Show notes Jonathan Cannon is a policy counsel in Technology and Innovation. He researches and writes policy papers, op-eds and blog posts about a variety of telecommunications issues including spectrum, net neutrality and the digital divide. Jonathan also engages directly with leaders on key policy issue areas and interacts with a range of national and local media outlets to educate and provide context on the most impactful technology and innovation policy. Prior to R Street, Jonathan worked as an Attorney Advisor in the Office of Legislative Affairs at the Federal Communications Commission, he also served as the Acting Legal Advisor in the Office of FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington, and as an Attorney Advisor in the Wireline Competition Bureau, Pricing Policy Division.   Dr. Fallon Wilson, Vice President, Policy, leads MMTC’s work on three focus areas in the tech, media, and telecommunications (TMT) sectors. The sectors include: Technology, Data Privacy, Artificial Intelligence, and Civil Rights in the Digital Age; Infrastructure, Broadband Connectivity, and Digital Inclusion; and Multicultural Media Ownership and Content Diversity. Prior to joining MMTC, Dr. Fallon Wilson co-founded #BlackTechFutures Research Institute and is the former Research Director of Black Tech Mecca. At Black Tech Mecca, Dr. Wilson created the Smart Black Tech Ecosystem Assessment to support local city leaders with building a thriving black tech ecosystem. Recently, she was awarded a Kauffman Foundation’s 2020 Open Knowledge grant to launch #BlackTechFutures Research Institute. #BlackTechFutures Research Institute builds a national network of city-based researchers and practitioners conducting research on sustainable local black tech ecosystems.   Bytes & Bandwidth is produced by Association Briefings.

Episodes

Empowering Communities: The Impact of Affordable Broadband
Feb 8 2024
Empowering Communities: The Impact of Affordable Broadband
In episode 4, host Brandon Heiner, senior vice president of government affairs at USTelecom, sits down with Jonathan Cannon, a policy counsel in technology and innovation at R Street Institute, and Dr. Fallon Wilson, vice president of policy at the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC). The three talk about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and how affordable broadband impacts communities and residents across the country.    Show notes Jonathan Cannon is a policy counsel in Technology and Innovation. He researches and writes policy papers, op-eds and blog posts about a variety of telecommunications issues including spectrum, net neutrality and the digital divide. Jonathan also engages directly with leaders on key policy issue areas and interacts with a range of national and local media outlets to educate and provide context on the most impactful technology and innovation policy. Prior to R Street, Jonathan worked as an Attorney Advisor in the Office of Legislative Affairs at the Federal Communications Commission, he also served as the Acting Legal Advisor in the Office of FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington, and as an Attorney Advisor in the Wireline Competition Bureau, Pricing Policy Division.   Dr. Fallon Wilson, Vice President, Policy, leads MMTC’s work on three focus areas in the tech, media, and telecommunications (TMT) sectors. The sectors include: Technology, Data Privacy, Artificial Intelligence, and Civil Rights in the Digital Age; Infrastructure, Broadband Connectivity, and Digital Inclusion; and Multicultural Media Ownership and Content Diversity. Prior to joining MMTC, Dr. Fallon Wilson co-founded #BlackTechFutures Research Institute and is the former Research Director of Black Tech Mecca. At Black Tech Mecca, Dr. Wilson created the Smart Black Tech Ecosystem Assessment to support local city leaders with building a thriving black tech ecosystem. Recently, she was awarded a Kauffman Foundation’s 2020 Open Knowledge grant to launch #BlackTechFutures Research Institute. #BlackTechFutures Research Institute builds a national network of city-based researchers and practitioners conducting research on sustainable local black tech ecosystems.   Bytes & Bandwidth is produced by Association Briefings.
Connecting Louisiana: A Blueprint for Broadband Deployment
Dec 27 2023
Connecting Louisiana: A Blueprint for Broadband Deployment
In episode 3, host Lynn Follansbee, vice president of strategic initiatives and partnerships at USTelecom, sits down with Veneeth Iyengar, executive director of ConnectLA, the state of Louisiana's broadband efforts. The two talk about Louisiana's success in being the first state to have NTIA approve its Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) proposal, specific aspects of the plan, meeting the low income option of the proposal, timeline for implementation, and best practices for approval.    Show notes Veneeth Iyengar is the first executive director for the state of Louisiana's broadband efforts (also known as ConnectLA). He is responsible for coordinating efforts among federal, state and local leaders in allocating nearly $1.6 Billion in federal funds to eliminate the digital divide in Louisiana by 2029. He and his team are considered thought leaders in the broadband community for their rapid scale up and execution of federal dollars to impact the 1.7 million residents in Louisiana who lack high speed internet. Louisiana's efforts have been recognized nationally, and he is often asked to speak at events hosted and or organized by the Pew Charitable Trusts, National Governors Association, Consumer Electronics Show, Fiber Broadband Association, National Conference of State Legislators, US Department of Commerce's SelectUSA Summit, Federalist Society, American Enterprise Institute, Brookings Institute and leading other organizations. ConnectLA's work also has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Politico, Axios, Fierce Telecom, Telecompetitor, Associated Press, Semafor, The Advocate, USA Today's network of newspapers and other leading telecom publications.   Bytes & Bandwidth is produced by Association Briefings.
Combatting Robocalls and Future Challenges
Nov 9 2023
Combatting Robocalls and Future Challenges
In episode 2, host Josh Bercu, vice president of policy and advocacy at USTelecom, sits down with Loyaan Egal, Bureau Chief of the Federal Communications Commission Enforcement Bureau. The two talk all things illegal robocalls, including how they impact the lives of consumers and businesses, new tools and strategies the FCC is using to combat them, and how the bureau is staying ahead of future challenges. Show notes Loyaan A. Egal is the Bureau Chief of the Enforcement Bureau. He leads the FCC unit (including regional and field offices in 13 locations across the country) responsible for enforcing violations of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and FCC regulations under Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Mr. Egal previously served as a Deputy Chief in the Foreign Investment Review Section (FIRS) of the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) National Security Division (NSD). In his capacity as Deputy Chief, he directly oversaw FIRS’s and NSD’s roles in representing the Attorney General as the Chair of the “Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector,” which is also known as “Team Telecom,” pursuant to Executive Order 13913. In addition, he supervised the coordination of parallel reviews involving Team Telecom and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), as well as DOJ’s referrals to the Department of Commerce, pursuant to Executive Order 13873, involving foreign ownership, control, or investment in the U.S. telecommunications and information and communications technology services (ICTS) networks and infrastructure supply chains. Mr. Egal worked closely with the FCC, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Security Council, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Intelligence Community, the U.S. Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Commerce, State, and the Treasury, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, among others, to reach consensus on policies and actions that impacted U.S. national security, law enforcement, diplomatic, economic, and trade equities in the telecommunications and ICTS sectors.   Bytes & Bandwidth is produced by Association Briefings.
Mitigating Supply Chain Risks
Oct 11 2023
Mitigating Supply Chain Risks
In our inaugural episode, host Robert Mayer, senior vice president of cybersecurity innovation at USTelecom, sits down with Jeanette McMillian, assistant director of supply chain and cyber with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and Mona Harrington, assistant director for the National Risk Management Center at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The three talk about key risks and the priorities currently facing our supply chain ecosystem, how supply chain risks are communicated within the government, how artificial intelligence might be leveraged to identify and mitigate supply chain risks, and some of the biggest challenges we face in implementing AI solutions.   Show notes Jeanette J. McMillian serves as the Assistant Director for the Supply Chain and Cyber Directorate (SCD) of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC). In this role, Ms. McMillian participates in interagency strategic programs and National Security Council initiatives to bolster the security of cyber and supply chains across the federal enterprise. She works closely with NCSC directorates, Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) components, and other Departments and Agencies, specifically the Departments of Homeland Security and Defense, to address supply chain security as a critical component of the National Counterintelligence Security and National Cyber Strategy.   Mona Harrington was selected to lead the National Risk Management Center (NRMC) at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in September of 2022. As Assistant Director, she collaborates with public-private partners to identify, analyze, and mitigate risk from cyber and physical threats to critical infrastructure. Under her leadership, the NRMC is advancing its integrated analytic capabilities to support how government and industry share information, manage risk, and prepare and respond to threats.   Bytes & Bandwidth is produced by Association Briefings.
Bytes & Bandwidth Trailer
Sep 28 2023
Bytes & Bandwidth Trailer
Join an array of hosts as they chat with key voices in the U.S. broadband industry. During each 30-minute episode, we’ll discuss the many life-changing opportunities made possible by broadband and  innovation is connecting communities. The inaugural season kicks off October 2023. Check out the trailer for season one, presented by Marie Johnson, senior vice president of communications for USTelecom.