CoBank
All Day Digital
Welcome to All Day Digital, a CoBank podcast series dedicated to the U.S. telecommunications sector. Hosted by Jeff Johnston, lead communications economist with CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, All Day Digital connects you with industry executives and thought leaders for timely insights and in-depth market analysis.
Where to listen?
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Episodes
Lenders are getting more creative in digital infrastructure 10.06.2026 19:19
Demand for debt and equity capital is surging with the accelerating investments in AI infrastructure, data centers, fiber networks and broadband builds . In this episode of All Day Digital, CoBank credit leader Mike Harder outlines how competition among lenders is giving borrowers more flexibility and options with looser terms and higher leverage.
The rise of managed Wi-Fi in multi-family housing 13.05.2026 18:59
As rental demand rises, Gigstreem is making managed Wi-Fi in multi-family buildings mission‑critical infrastructure. In this episode of All Day Digital, CFO George Pollock explains how Gigstreem delivers property-wide, enterprise-grade connectivity—and why the segment is a growth opportunity at the intersection of real estate and digital infrastructure.
NTCA’s new CEO fixes on ‘service’ in Universal Service Fund 15.04.2026 21:39
In a fast-changing market, rural broadband providers need all the advocacy and tools they can get. NTCA’s new CEO Mike Romano shares his agenda in this episode of All Day Digital : Empower members to successfully navigate rapid tech shifts, intensifying competition and regulatory uncertainty.
How broadband providers can know it’s time to go mobile 11.03.2026 21:18
If you’re a regional broadband provider, ask yourself: In five years, will I have gained or lost customers if I don’t offer mobile service? In this episode of All Day Digital , Midco president and COO Ben Dold explains the why and how behind its imminent launch of Midco Mobile, including how the company is integrating systems and protecting its brand.
Why wireless infrastructure sharing may be inevitable 12.02.2026 19:33
Most Americans already own a smartphone—so how do wireless carriers sustain margins in a saturated market? One answer may be infrastructure sharing, much like competing trucking companies sharing the same road network. In this episode of All Day Digital , Wavsys president Tim Courtney explains why in‑building wireless and hybrid networks are central to his outlook.
What’s ahead for broadband and AI infrastructure in 2026 14.01.2026 17:52
In this episode of All Day Digital, Jeff Johnston shares his insights on three key areas of the digital infrastructure market in 2026: competition in broadband, M&A and valuations in broadband, and the AI infrastructure bubble.
Digital Infrastructure Financing Enters Its High-Stakes Era 18.12.2025 17:23
The amount of capital pouring into digital infrastructure is staggering, and new financing structures are attracting risk-tolerant capital across the institutional investor base. In this episode of All Day Digital, CoBank senior vice president of digital infrastructure Jackie Bove shares her frontline perspective of why, despite market challenges, investor appetite remains strong.
Open Access, Fixed Wireless, and Fiber Wars: Where Broadband Goes Next 13.11.2025 27:07
Broadband internet provider Nuvera has succeeded in southern Minnesota by balancing its strong willingness to adapt with a clear focus on rural communities. In this episode of All Day Digital, CEO Glenn Zerbe outlines how Nuvera is navigating the evolving broadband landscape by expanding fiber, adapting to new wireless and satellite competition, exploring open-access models and preparing for the d...
From Ma Bell to Meta, It’s Time to Rethink USF 10.10.2025 22:01
Now that the Supreme Court has upheld the Universal Service Fund, stakeholders are reengaging in the task of overhauling its outdated funding mechanisms. In this episode of All Day Digital, Mike Romano with NTCA lays out how USF supports rural broadband and what shape the funding mechanisms may take, potentially tapping broadband providers or big tech companies that benefit from connectivity.
Why Rural Towns Are Winning the Data Center Boom 10.09.2025 23:41
Rural towns are attracting huge data centers that handle artificial intelligence training work, due in part to their location agnostic nature. In this episode of All Day Digital, data center expert Scott Schneider looks at how these campuses impact rural communities, including local broadband partnerships, auxiliary service jobs and water use.
Are AI Infrastructure Investments Sustainable? 14.08.2025 21:45
The hyperscalers are transitioning to a new artificial intelligence platform, signaling a surge in computing power deployment is just ahead. In this episode of All Day Digital, Alan Bezoza, managing director at DigitalBridge, explains how this AI-driven investment cycle differs from previous money-losing cycles.
How Will BEAD 2.0 Re-shape the Rural Broadband Landscape? 09.07.2025 24:55
The new technology-neutral approach of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program means fixed wireless and satellite networks will likely play a larger role in rural broadband. In this episode of All Day Digital, expert Tim Courtney assesses the changing competitive landscape, the coming capacity of satellite providers, and ways rural broadband operators can lock in customer loyalty.
ABS Financing Spurs Data Center Builds 11.06.2025 22:15
Data center financing is becoming more creative, with asset-backed securities claiming the lion’s share. CoBank Vice President Omar Oronia says total outstanding data center ABS issuances will double by 2027 to $50 billion. In this episode of All Day Digital, Oronia talks cancelled leases, how new financing is accelerating builds, and what the growth means for rural markets.
How BEAD-Invested Operators Can Stay Nimble 14.05.2025 26:57
What will the new administration mean for broadband operators deeply invested in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program? In this episode of All Day Digital, Mike Romano of NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association shares what his organization is watching for, including a possible shift away from “fiber first” and how that squares up with the definition of priority broadband projects.
What to Know Before Planting Your Fiber Flag 09.04.2025 22:07
Rural broadband operators are feeling a sense of urgency to deploy new network builds, but proper execution is critical. In this episode of All Day Digital, Marc Dyman, chief development officer for SQUAN, draws from his experience as both an operator and third-party provider to weigh the benefits of turnkey providers.
Data Center Energy Use Will Spike in the Next Three Years. Then What? 12.03.2025 13:55
Data centers’ share of all U.S. electricity use could hit 12% by 2028 but beyond that is too hard to predict, according to a new DOE Lawrence Berkeley Lab analysis. In this episode of All Day Digital, researcher Dr. Arman Shehabi outlines the factors and efficient technologies that will shape future data center electricity consumption.
How Nuclear Energy Could Triple Capacity by 2050 12.02.2025 22:49
The data center industry is pouring billions of dollars to restart old nuclear facilities and develop new technologies as it searches for more energy sources. In this episode of All Day Digital, Mike King of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shares what the future of nuclear energy in the U.S. might look like.
The Rise of Satellite Internet 08.01.2025 14:47
In 2025, Amazon’s Project Kuiper service is entering the satellite internet residential market, joining Starlink, HughesNet and Viasat. In this episode of All Day Digital, expert Tim Courtney assesses Amazon’s clear opportunity for bundling, satellite’s impact for rural areas and its potential to disrupt fixed-line providers.
What’s Going on Behind Closed Doors in the Private Broadband Market 11.12.2024 19:31
Drawing from CoBank’s unique visibility into the private broadband market, Jeff Johnston shares his expert opinions in this year-end episode of All Day Digital. He explains why we’re seeing a decline in deal value, what’s behind the standoff between buyers and sellers and how investors could be lured back into the private broadband market.
Why Broadband Providers Should Embrace BEAD, Warts and All 13.11.2024 23:41
While the BEAD funding program is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand rural broadband coverage, some providers have decided the red tape burdens just aren’t worth it. In this episode of All Day Digital, Chad Duval with Moss Adams encourages small rural providers to think defensively and pursue BEAD funding for their service territories — otherwise, someone else will.
Delayed Rip and Replace Funding Shrinks Rural Wireless Coverage 09.10.2024 25:17
About six years ago, rural operators were told to rip out and replace non-compliant, Chinese-made equipment from communication networks. However, the mandate is underfunded, operators need assistance and solutions are stalled in Congress. In this episode of All Day Digital, telecom policy expert and Rural Wireless Association general counsel Carri Bennet shares what’s happening behind the scenes i...
The Bridge Across the Digital Divide Needs Maintenance 11.09.2024 24:02
Federal programs are helping bridge the digital divide, but what then? Maintaining, sustaining and keeping networks affordable is the next objective, says Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association. In this episode of All Day Digital, Bloomfield shares NTCA’s creative approaches to current rural broadband challenges.
USF Court Ruling Leaves Rural Telecom in Limbo 31.07.2024 19:57
The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the FCC’s Universal Service Fund is unconstitutional, a split from two circuit courts’ previous decisions. In this episode of All Day Digital, the former executive director of the FCC’s National Broadband Plan, Blair Levin, discusses what this means for rural telecom operators who rely on USF support and why he thinks the Supreme Court will take...
How Banks are Embracing High-Leverage Broadband Borrowers 10.07.2024 24:00
Competition, growth opportunities and the race to get broadband service to the un- and underserved is forcing some providers to think more creatively about funding their capital budgets. CoBank’s Mike Harder explains how banks are innovating their lending to this market as borrowers look to increase their leverage and risk.
Rural Broadband Operators on the Front Lines of National Security 13.06.2024 23:41
From Virginia to Alaska, the U.S. government is boosting national security investments, creating new opportunities and challenges for rural broadband operators. Telecom investor and Army veteran Chad Crank warns that as world geopolitics become increasing unstable, the U.S. government should work with the private sector to reduce risks from bad actors.
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