Podcasts

NOVOS FiBER’s CTO has no regrets about the Dallas-area ISPs decision to sit out BEAD, the government’s multi-billion-dollar broadband spend.

By Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

There are no regrets from NOVOS FiBER’s chief technology officer, Rob Johnson, at⁠ Connected America⁠ as he reflected on his company’s decision not to participate in the federal government’s multi-billion-dollar broadband spend, known as BEAD.

Johnson said he knows people in the industry who have quickly turned sour on BEAD once reading the fine print.

“States have taken and made these things very patchwork,” he said, citing one example where two providers were told to split a street by taking every other house on the street.

“Well, they’re both going to build the whole street,” he said, referring to both providers. “Now they’re competing with each other and all of the demographic data that they thought was driving their decision goes out the window.”

Johnson also touched on some of the shifting dynamics of the broadband marketplace. He said competition is fiercer today than it was several years ago but said staying local can give those operating close to home an edge.

“A lot of people like the idea of shopping local,” said Johnson, who represented the company while appearing on Beyond the Cable in Irving.

To listen to the full interview with Johnson on Apple Podcasts, click here.

Get this news in your inbox. Subscribe to the Broadband Communities newsletter!