Light Reading Podcasts

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SCTE's TechExpo will pack plenty of tech, with a bigger focus on the 'experience' Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

SCTE's Janelle Morse joins the podcast to preview themes at this year's TechExpo in Atlanta, including what's next for broadband and how AI is being implemented as operators put more weight into the overall customer experience. Release date: 9/23/2026 Show notes: https://www.lightreading.com/cable-technology/scte-s-techexpo-will-pack-plenty-of-tech-with-a-bigger-focus-on-the-experience-

The Divide: How Oklahoma is meeting digital needs with Community Access Portals Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, we hear from Mike Sanders, executive director of the Oklahoma broadband office, a role he assumed in 2023 during a time when he says the state's broadband office itself lacked high-speed connectivity. That has since been rectified, and Oklahoma is now 95% of the way toward reaching statewide connectivity, with BEAD builds still ahead. But deploying last-mile broadband networks is just one aspect of closing the digital divide. Ensuring people can access and use essential digital services is another. Release date: 9/8/2026 Show notes: https://www.lightreading.com/broadband/the-divide-how-oklahoma-is-meeting-digital-needs-with-community-access-portals

Unpacking 6G with Omdia's Gabriel Brown Sep 01, 2026

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Omdia's Gabriel Brown joined the Signal Strength podcast to discuss and dissect Qualcomm's '6G Leadership Day,' which dug into emerging use cases, potential moneymakers and anticipated product timelines. Release date: 8/31/2026 Show notes: https://www.lightreading.com/6g/unpacking-6g-with-omdia-s-gabriel-brown

The Divide: Why digital inclusion needs a new funding model Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

This week: Connect Humanity's Samantha Schartman and Mission Telecom's Mark Colwell discuss their 'Alt Funding Field Guide,' which explores a new approach to co-investing in digital adoption initiatives focusing on six sectors. Release date: 8/3/2026 Show notes: https://www.lightreading.com/broadband/the-divide-why-digital-inclusion-needs-a-new-funding-model

Policy, tech and convergence to collide at The Independent Show Jul 19, 2026

Show notes

NCTC's Lou Borrelli and ACA Connects' Grant Spellmeyer hop on the podcast to preview The Independent Show, set for July 26-29 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, which will dig into top policy issues and tech trends for small and midsized operators. Release date: 7/20/2026 Show notes: https://www.lightreading.com/cable-technology/policy-tech-and-convergence-to-collide-at-the-independent-show

The Divide: SHLB's Joey Wender on the fight to save E-Rate Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

This week: Joey Wender, executive director of the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB), joins to discuss the FCC's 'war on the E-Rate program' and what E-Rate advocates can do to help save it. Release date: 7/6/2026 Show notes: https://www.lightreading.com/broadband/the-divide-shlb-s-joey-wender-on-the-fight-to-save-e-rate

The Divide: NDIA's Angela Siefer on the fight to restore the Digital Equity Act Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

This week: NDIA's Angela Siefer returns to the podcast to discuss what's happened in the digital inclusion space since the Digital Equity Act was 'ended' by President Trump last year as well as ongoing efforts to restore funding. Release date: 6/15/2026 Show notes: https://www.lightreading.com/broadband/the-divide-ndia-s-angela-siefer-on-the-fight-to-restore-the-digital-equity-act

The Divide: Gigi Sohn on how to defeat opponents of public broadband Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

This week: Gigi Sohn discusses how 'dark money' defeated a public broadband plan in Longmeadow, Mass., why anti-muni-broadband efforts work in some towns but not others and why grassroots buy-in is key to public broadband success. Release date: 6/1/2026 Show notes: https://www.lightreading.com/broadband/the-divide-gigi-sohn-on-how-to-defeat-opponents-of-public-broadband

The Divide: How permitting problems delay broadband builds May 07, 2026

Show notes

Fixing problems with broadband permitting has long been a goal of the telecom industry. But the need for broad reforms has been highlighted in recent years, particularly with the creation of the $42 billion BEAD program, which will soon inject roughly $21 billion into broadband deployment, giving providers four years to complete their builds. In this episode, we hear from three ISP leaders – Pamela Sherwood, VP of the regulatory, compliance and broadband office at Brightspeed; Jessica Epley, VP of regulatory and external affairs, Ziply Fiber; and Brad Welch, COO, CentraCom, and mayor of Fairview, Utah – about the biggest barriers to obtaining permits for fiber broadband deployment projects and what can be done about it. Release date: 5/7/2026 Show notes: https://www.lightreading.com/fttx/the-divide-how-permitting-problems-delay-broadband-builds

Wireless Infrastructure Association CEO braces for the AI and 6G era Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

Guest: Patrick Halley, president and CEO, Wireless Infrastructure Association Release date: 4/20/2026 Amid the ongoing deployment of macro cells, small cells and indoor, private networks, the nation's wireless infrastructure continues to expand. That expansion is expected to continue in the US as regulators look to make hundreds of megahertz of spectrum available for wireless, including next year's upper C-Band auction. Among the organizations keeping tabs on today's buildouts and what's around the corner is the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA), an organization that represents a broad mix of companies and operators that build, operate and maintain everything from 200-foot macro towers and rooftop towers to small cells. WIA also runs Connect(X), with the 2026 event set for May 4-6 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Show notes: https://www.lightreading.com/5g/wireless-infrastructure-association-ceo-braces-for-the-ai-and-6g-era

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