Beware the Loudest Promising the Largest: What History Has Taught Us About Rural Connectivity

In this Fiber for Breakfast, drawing on his new book "Farm Fresh Broadband: The Politics of Rural Connectivity," Dr. Christopher Ali will talk about past efforts to connect rural areas, including the Rural Electrification Administration and the FCC’s high cost funding programs. With policymakers in the process of drafting the rules for the largest public investment in telecommunications in the nation’s history, it is vital that the failures of the past are not repeated.

Panelist Bio:

Dr. Christopher Ali is an Associate Professor of Media Studies at the University of Virginia, where his research focuses on broadband and telecommunications policy. He is the author of the new book, "Farm Fresh Broadband: The Politics of Rural Connectivity" (MIT Press, 2021), and has testified before the US Senate regarding broadband funding. He has written on the topic of broadband policy for The New York Times, The Hill, Realtor Magazine, Washington Monthly and Digital Beat.