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
AT&T
Telecommunications
Universal Service Fund
CBRS
Fiber Optics
Internet Service Providers

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes718Founded14 years ago
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Social SciencesNewsScienceTech News

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Artwork for Unbuffered

Latest Episodes

Chris, Sean, Jordan, and Karl break down SpaceX IPO and Starlink, before Chris sits down with Jeff Gavlinski to preview this year’s Mountain Connect conference in Denver.

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A conversation about Longmont's NextLight network, community broadband, affordability, and what it takes to build one of the most successful ISPs in the country

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What does it take to build a sustainable model for closing the digital divide? How DigitalC grew to nearly 10,000 subscriber households

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

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Key Facts

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

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Jeff Gavlinski
CEO of Mountain Connect
Mountain Connect
Episode: What the Tech!?! SpaceX IPO Edition - Episode 13 of Unbuffered
Valerie Dodd
Executive Director, NextLight (Longmont, CO)
Episode: How NextLight Became the #1 Internet Service Provider in the Country - Episode 12 of Unbuffered
Scott Roche
Public Relations and Marketing Specialist for the city of Longmont
City of Longmont
Episode: How NextLight Became the #1 Internet Service Provider in the Country - Episode 12 of Unbuffered
Jordan Pittman
Editor or production staff for the podcast
Unbuffered / ilsr.org
Episode: How NextLight Became the #1 Internet Service Provider in the Country - Episode 12 of Unbuffered
Joshua Edmonds
CEO of DigitalC
DigitalC
Episode: DigitalC at 10,000 Subscribers - Episode 11 of Unbuffered
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
Heather Mills
Principal consultant with ITG Communications, panelist on broadband policy
ITG Communications
Episode: Unbuffered Live! - Episode 6 of Unbuffered

Hosts

Christopher Mitchell
Host of Unbuffered, focused on guiding discussion and introducing guests; long-time advocate for community broadband and municipal networks.
Sean Gonsalves
Co-host / Associate Director of Communications; helps curate guests and topics with a local-networking focus.

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 States3 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.

Great for understanding municipal networks and BEAD implications.
Fresh takes on AI governance and platform power complement classic broadband topics.
Accessible yet technically solid, good for sponsors targeting policy-minded tech audiences.
Experts and insiders provide clear, pragmatic takes on broadband policy.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#79
United States/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#216
Canada/News/Tech News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What the Tech!?! SpaceX IPO Edition - Episode 13 of Unbuffered
Q: How do you think media coverage affects public perception of tech billionaires like Musk?
Media mythologizing can distort understanding of actual engineering challenges and business fundamentals, making it harder for the public to assess real value and risk.
What the Tech!?! SpaceX IPO Edition - Episode 13 of Unbuffered
Q: Why bring Mountain Connect into this episode, and what makes your event different from traditional conferences?
Mountain Connect focuses on outcomes and actionable connections, with a hosted-buyer program to pair buyers with builders and sustain long-term impact beyond just talks.
What the Tech!?! SpaceX IPO Edition - Episode 13 of Unbuffered
Q: What is your take on SpaceX's IPO and the idea of an 85% control by Elon Musk?
We see it as a classic power consolidation move that could benefit insiders and the founder, but raises red flags about governance, accountability, and whether the broader investor base will truly benefit.
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.

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 thoughtful deep-dive into how connectivity is built and governed, with a focus on universal access, digital equity, and locally driven solutions. Episodes frequently explore community networks, municipal fiber projects, permitting, funding (BEAD, ACP), and regulatory dynamics, alongside broader tech policy topics like AI governance and platform power. The show tends to blend practical case studies from cities and utilities with policy analysis, inviting guests from public agencies, advocacy groups, and industry to illuminate how local action can shape national outcomes. It stands out for its hands-on, local-first lens on broadband deployment and for unpacking complex policy questions in accessible terms, making it useful for listeners who... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Unbuffered?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Unbuffered:

1. The Broadband Bunch
2. The Broadband Exchange
3. Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer
4. The Bulwark Podcast
5. Pivot

How many episodes of Unbuffered are there?

Unbuffered launched 14 years ago and published 718 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?

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What guests have appeared on Unbuffered?

Recent guests on Unbuffered include:

1. Jeff Gavlinski
2. Valerie Dodd
3. Scott Roche
4. Jordan Pittman
5. Joshua Edmonds
6. Bill Callahan
7. Ernesto Falcon
8. Neil Chilson

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.

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