Community Broadband Bits 16 - JD Lester and Larry Gates - Chanute, Kansas

Tue, October 09, 2012 | Posted by christopher

Following the release of our case study on Chanute, Kansas, we have an interview with City Manager JD Lester and Director of Utilities Larry Gates for our 16th podcast -- Community Broadband Bits.

JD Lester and Larry Gates discuss Chanute's network and its impact on their rural community. As detailed in the case study, Chanute built a fiber optic and wireless broadband network to connect schools, public safety, and local businesses. And they did it all without bonding or borrowing -- an impressive feat with implications for many other communities that have similar needs.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show - please e-mail us or leave a comment below. Also, feel free to suggest other guests, topics, or questions you want us to address.

This show is 20 minutes long and can be played below on this page or subscribe via iTunes or via the tool of your choice using this feed. Search for us in iTunes and leave a positive comment!

Listen to previous episodes here.

Thanks to Fit and the Conniptions for the music, licensed using Creative Commons.

Comments

Third World Commo

Submitted by jim (not verified) on October 14, 2012 - 4:30pm.

I recently discovered your site and audio files which are encouraging to hear as evidence of independant communication efforts. I've also recently discovered a group that works on workarounds to use in repressive countries/circumstances that's covered in Radio Berkman and wondered if the two of you might profit by sharing information. Then, lastly, I ran across a comment about the One Laptop Per Child effort in Peru that's hampered by internet access and wondered if it might make use of your efforts. I don't have a link to the Peru operation, but read about it on Twitter under the tag #NPREDCHAT at this link.

I put your last podcast in a weekly blog I do (Media Mining Digest) about useful audio files. It goes out each Friday and your work will be in the next one. Nice PDF on the Chanute project, too.

Thanks for keeping us informed about the grassroots.

Jim, Smithfield, VA