Rephonic
Artwork for Unbuffered
Starlink
Community Broadband
Broadband Access
Digital Equity
Digital Divide
Rural Broadband
Broadband
NTIA
Municipal Broadband
Affordable Connectivity Program
Digital Equity Act
Broadband Connectivity
Internet Access
FCC
Telecommunications
AT&T
Universal Service Fund
CBRS
Fiber Optics
Spectrum Sharing

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes715Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsScienceTech NewsSocial Sciences

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Unbuffered

Latest Episodes

What Vermont is getting right — and why Google’s AI search changes feel different

★ Support this podcast ★

A conversation about digital equity, dark money, and the fight over Internet access

★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of Unbuffered, Chris is joined by Ernesto Falcon, Program Manager of Communications and Broadband Policy with the Public Advocates Office for a conversation about competition, mergers, and how to make sure the lowest-income households... more

A conversation about AI policy, emergent systems, distributed knowledge, and why the things that are easiest to measure “might not be the right things to measure.”

★ Support this podcast ★

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Broadband Bunch
The Broadband BunchPete Pizzutillo
Fiber for Breakfast with Gary Bolton
Fiber for Breakfast with Gary BoltonFiber for Breakfast with Gary Bolton
The 7
The 7The Washington Post

Recent Guests

Bill Callahan
Director of Connect Your Community in Astabula, Ohio
Connect Your Community
Episode: The Digital Divide Is a Civil Rights Issue: The Fight for Digital Equity and the Battle Against Dark Money - Episode 9 of Unbuffered
Ernesto Falcon
Program manager, Communications and Broadband Policy, Public Advocates Office, California Public Utility Commission
California Public Utility Commission
Episode: When Giant ISPs Get Bigger, State Commissions Fight Back - Episode 8 of Unbuffered
Neil Chilson
Head of AI Policy at Abundance Institute
Abundance Institute
Episode: More Than the Sum of the Parts - Episode 7 of Unbuffered
Drew Garner
Director of Policy Engagement at the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society
Benton Institute for Broadband and Society
Episode: Unbuffered Live! - Episode 6 of Unbuffered
David Brower
Long-time Minnesota resident and reporter, invited guest
Twin Cities, MN
Episode: How and Why Minnesota's Network of Trust Organized Against Federal Occupation - Episode 4 of Unbuffered
Roger Tillman
Executive Director of Utopia Fiber
Utopia Fiber
Episode: The UTOPIA Model — Open Access and Community Broadband - Episode 3 of Unbuffered
Doug Dawson
Industry consultant and blogger on ISPs and telecom
Pots and Pans by CCG
Episode: Is the Internet Still a Public Good? - Episode 1 of Unbuffered
Gigi Sohn
Public interest advocate with a DC-based perspective on telecom and media policy
American Association for Public Broadband
Episode: Is the Internet Still a Public Good? - Episode 1 of Unbuffered
Karl Bodie
Industry writer and commentator on the Internet and policy
Various writings on Internet policy
Episode: Is the Internet Still a Public Good? - Episode 1 of Unbuffered

Host

Christopher Mitchell
Community broadband advocate and researcher; affiliated with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 35 ratings
  • Internet industry experts, unbuffered

    If you want to stay informed about how government and industry affects local access to digital opportunities and resources, you’ve found the right podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Crgreene73
    United States2 months ago
  • Warm duck shuffle

    Christopher out there putting in work. Best tech podcast hands down. Thank y’all!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Reflectomatron 9000
    United States6 years ago
  • MuniBroadband Bits Rocks!

    Always topical, always exciting, always fresh and fast-paced!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DrewClark
    United States8 years ago
  • Fantastic muni broadband info

    As a Systems Admin in a rural community who is two years into municipal fiber deployment, I enjoy hearing about others who have been down the road and the insights they provide.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EPD169
    United States8 years ago
  • Community Bits

    If you live in rural America and you want to get connected to high-speed internet, you should be listening to this podcast and sharing it with your representatives.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GetTheFlick
    United States9 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners value deep dives into policy and funding without losing sight of real-world impact.
The show is seen as essential listening for anyone involved in rural or municipal broadband efforts.
Many episodes are praised for topicality and pace, with practical takeaways for deployment.
Guests are frequently described as knowledgeable and credible voices in broadband access and regulation.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#198
United States/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#173
Canada/News/Tech News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How and Why Minnesota's Network of Trust Organized Against Federal Occupation - Episode 4 of Unbuffered
Q: Can you describe the top-line reasons Minneapolis and St. Paul were so resilient and how the community organized in response?
The interviewees explain that resilience came from pre-existing neighborhood networks, immigrant-led community groups, and a culture of mutual aid; they emphasize training, trusted networks, and leveraging secure communication (Signal) to coordinate legal observers, patrols, and mutual aid, which helped sustain resistance while protecting people from state violence.
Unbuffered Live! - Episode 6 of Unbuffered
Q: What's the latest on BEAD, and how are states progressing toward contracts and construction?
States have signed a majority of award agreements, with many ISPs under contract, but the process remains slow and complex due to environmental reviews, NEPA analyses, and coordination across multiple federal agencies and state offices; many projects face financing and contracting hurdles that could lead to defaults.
When Giant ISPs Get Bigger, State Commissions Fight Back - Episode 8 of Unbuffered
Q: How does the funding mechanism for Lifeline work and how do subsidies reach low-income households?
Funding comes from a surcharge on access lines across the state; the surcharge varies but typically is a small monthly amount that funds Lifeline, grants for rural broadband, and NGO engagement; the goal is to ensure high-quality, subsidized service that can be deployed broadly, with carriers providing the service and handling enrollment for eligible customers.
When Giant ISPs Get Bigger, State Commissions Fight Back - Episode 8 of Unbuffered
Q: What is the California Lifeline Broadband Pilot Program and how does it work?
The program replaces ACP subsidies with a new broadband subsidy: $20 per month for broadband service and $30 for broadband plus voice when bundled, administered through Lifeline enrollment by participating carriers; enrollment is verified against existing assistance programs to confirm eligibility, and it aims to improve adoption and access for low-income households over three years with potential permanency if successful.
The UTOPIA Model — Open Access and Community Broadband - Episode 3 of Unbuffered
Q: What were the major historical challenges Utopia faced?
Past issues included rapid growth with overbuilding, political interventions, and funding shifts that delayed project completion. These experiences highlighted the need for honest business modeling, sustainable financing, and community-backed governance.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Unbuffered

What is Unbuffered about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A tech-policy focused show that features in-depth conversations with practitioners and advocates shaping broadband access, with a heavy emphasis on digital equity, municipal networks, and funding programs. Episodes often unpack regulatory dynamics, funding mechanisms, and practical implementations in rural and underserved communities, featuring founders, activists, journalists, and researchers who bring on-the-ground experience and informed critique. A standout aspect is the mix of policy analysis with real-world deployments and startup perspectives, offering listeners actionable insights for building or sponsoring robust community broadband initiatives.

Where can I find podcast stats for Unbuffered?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Unbuffered. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Unbuffered and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Unbuffered get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Unbuffered, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Unbuffered?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Unbuffered, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Unbuffered have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Unbuffered has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Unbuffered?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Unbuffered:

1. The Broadband Bunch
2. Fiber for Breakfast with Gary Bolton
3. The 7
4. The Broadband Exchange
5. Up First from NPR

How many episodes of Unbuffered are there?

Unbuffered launched 13 years ago and published 715 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Unbuffered?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Unbuffered?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Unbuffered from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Unbuffered?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Unbuffered. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Unbuffered?

Recent guests on Unbuffered include:

1. Bill Callahan
2. Ernesto Falcon
3. Neil Chilson
4. Drew Garner
5. David Brower
6. Roger Tillman
7. Doug Dawson
8. Gigi Sohn

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days