Vernonburg Group encourages communities to look at all broadband options

In this latest Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked to Paul Garnett, the founder and CEO of the Vernonburg group. Vernonburg recently issued a new white paper showing that broadband funding achieves more than twice the impact when invested in adoption-focused programs rather than network overbuilds in already-served areas. The new report, Avoiding the Overbuild Trap: Adoption, Not Overbuilding, Drives Connectivity and Digital Opportunity, challenges the practice of using public funds to subsidize new broadband networks in areas where high-speed service is already available. The three authors of the report—Paul Garnett, Breese McIlvaine, and Alexander Jeffery—urged policymakers to develop and implement comprehensive digital opportunity programs that address what they argue are the real drivers of the digital divide.  Leveraging Vernonburg Group’s Digital Opportunity Map and other sources, the report discusses publicly available data on broadband availability and adoption -- with specific community examples -- and details principles that should guide broadband funding programs. Here’s a timeline of the interview: Opening | 0.00 Host introduces the guest | 0:06 Vernonburg’s new broadband white paper | 0:39 Public vs. privately funded broadband networks | 4:10 Public/Private (P3s) broadband partnerships | 6:07 Technology choice | 7:48 Driving broadband adoption | 11:07 The role of digital navigators | 14:48 Final thoughts | 16:37 Outro | 19:00 About the Podcast  In the Lightwave+BTR Broadband Pulse podcast, we address the key issues affecting the optical and broadband industry segments. Join us every week for insights from industry leaders on these topics. Visit our website at www.lightwave.com and click on our podcast site at www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com.

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