All Day Digital

Edge computing is the next long-term growth opportunity for rural telecom operators as data storage and processing that supports low latency applications moves into smaller communities. In this episode, two experts at the forefront of the edge computing join CoBank’s Jeff Johnston with insights on how rural operators can reap the benefits of an expanding market. Listen to Jeff’s conversation with...

The metaverse is the next frontier in technology: personalized experience in digitally enhanced physical spaces with augmented and mixed reality. In other words, the world becomes your desktop or your home screen. What does this mean to enterprises, consumers, and communication providers? CoBank’s Jeff Johnston breaks it down with Qualcomm’s Brian Vogelsang, the company’s metaverse product managem...

Supply chains snags continue just as U.S. communications companies are working to “rip and replace” Chinese-made equipment from their networks. How can small, rural telecom operators compete with the larger national operators to get the equipment they need? CoBank’s Jeff Johnston speaks with David Strauss, senior vice president at Ace Technologies, on effective strategies rural telecom operators c...

The federal government promised to reimburse U.S. communication companies to “rip and replace” Chinese-made equipment from their networks. But Congress has yet to provide adequate funding, creating an environment of unusually high risk and uncertainty for rural operators. In this episode, CoBank’s Jeff Johnston speaks with Carri Bennett, a communications policy expert with the Rural Wireless Assoc...

Technology in precision agriculture has come a long way over the last several years and improved on-farm efficiency. As the ag economy grapples with ESG demands, labor challenges, and high fertilizer costs, better rural broadband is helping facilitate wide-spread adoption of cost-saving applications like robots, sensors, and artificial intelligence. In this episode, Jeff Johnston speaks with Kenne...

More and more electric co-ops are entering the broadband business and playing a vital role in bridging the digital divide. But building a broadband service can be complicated and demands a comprehensive approach to planning. In this episode, CoBank’s Jeff Johnston speaks with Marcellus Nixon, vice president, internet services for United Cooperative Services. Marcellus draws on his telecom backgrou...

Private wireless networks have the potential to deliver significant benefits for schools, businesses and other organizations throughout rural America, while helping to bridge the digital divide. In this episode, CoBank’s Jeff Johnston speaks with Tim Courtney, vice president of sales and strategy at Further Enterprise Solutions, to discuss the emerging role of private wireless networks. Listen to...

Investor interest in the communications market is red hot, as consumer demand for high-speed digital services seems unstoppable. The amount of money flowing into the communications industry is unprecedented and cable broadband valuations have never been higher. Consolidation within the industry should continue, as investors and strategic buyers look to quench their insatiable appetite for communic...

The rural broadband landscape should evolve significantly over the next few years, as an unprecedented amount of capital hits the market. In this inaugural episode of All Day Digital, CoBank’s Jeff Johnston visits with Bill Baker, CEO of Nextlink Internet. Nextlink has been involved in rural broadband buildouts in six states and Baker shares his perspective on how the industry has evolved and wher...