With utilities receiving millions of dollars in funding for broadband buildouts, it’s vital that companies follow the requirements for their loans or grants. Scott Goodale tells us how JSI is encouraging utilities to use an all-hands-on-deck attitude for large projects until the job is accomplished.

Apprenticeships in broadband markets may be a great way to help solve the workforce shortage. The programs are a great alternative to a college education and offer excellent training for a future career. Craig Barber, founder and CEO of Hatbox, joins the podcast to discuss how he began working in the broadband industry as an apprentice, and what he’s doing now to support apprenticeships in the telecom industry.

The fifth round of ReConnect opened up in spring 2024. A total of 148 applications were submitted, amounting to $1.97 billion in funding requests. However, only $700 million is available for awards. At the time of recording, only 10-11 awards had been determined, but more are expected to be announced in the coming months.

James Wilson and Tyler Hayes, RUS representatives for Kentucky and Tennessee respectively, join the podcast to tell us what they are seeing across the landscape and what they are expecting to occur in the future.

Leif Oveson, vice president of government affairs at NTCA, discusses the 5th Circuit Court’s decision in regards to the constitutionality to of the Universal Service Fund and what the legal process is going forward. He also discusses the BEAD program and some of the hurdles smaller broadband providers are facing in pursuing those grant and loan dollars.

The BEAD program has started rolling out, and each state has different requirements. It's like having 50 different trains, leaving 50 different stations, for 50 different destinations. Brooke Coleman, account manager at Nokia, joins the podcast to give us an update on the BEAD program from her perspective. What can broadband service providers expect during the next few years as grants are awarded and construction begins?

Tyler Campbell, executive director of the Kentucky Rural Broadband Association, joins the podcast to discuss the upcoming 2024 Fall Conference & Supplier Showcase scheduled for Oct. 21-23.

You can register for the event here.

The annual TNBA Convention & Showcase will be here before we know it! What changes have been made and what can attendees expect from the 2024 convention? Charlie Boring, this year’s convention committee chair, joined the show to tell us all about it.

The convention is June 4-6. Register today at www.tennesseebroadband.com/events.

National Engineers Week is Feb. 18-24. To celebrate, Matthew Boynton, engineer at BTC Fiber, joined the podcast to tell us about his journey to telecom engineering, and to help our listeners understand how engineering impacts every area of our daily lives.