“Only Certainty Is Uncertainty”: Live from Broadband Communities 2025

The broadband world doesn’t stop for uncertainty, and neither do we. 

That’s why we took Bandwidth on the road for a special edition episode, recorded live at Broadband Communities 2025 in Houston. It was sticky-hot outside and chaos inside, but we had the chance to do something we don’t normally do: bring on a guest. 

We sat down with Brad Randall, host of Beyond the Cable, right in the middle of the Pulse Podcast Lounge. The vibe was collaborative, gritty, and refreshingly honest ... exactly the energy this industry needs right now. This wasn’t just a podcast episode. It was a checkpoint for where we are as an industry,  and what’s next when nothing feels certain. 

Operators Are Tired of Waiting and Done Sitting Still 

If there's a phrase that came up more than any other during the show, it was this: 
“Hurry up and wait.” 

It’s the story of BEAD. 
Of the Digital Equity Act. 
Of USF reform. 
Of broadband guidance that changes mid-stride, and asks operators to keep marching like everything's fine. 

But the folks in that room weren’t complaining. They were planning, partnering, and building. Brad’s take was spot on: this industry gets stuff done. When the playbook isn’t clear, people write their own. 

We heard from state broadband leaders who skipped the show just to meet federal timelines. From ISPs who are tired of waiting on “maybe” funding. From municipal leaders ready to patch the gaps themselves. The consensus? This might not be what we hoped for, but it’s still a moment we can shape.  

Why We Brought Brad On (and Why It Matters) 

Normally, Bandwidth is just the 3 of us - no guests, no fluff. But Brad’s podcast, Beyond the Cable, shares a lot of DNA with what we’re doing here: No-nonsense conversations with people in the trenches of broadband. Real stories. Clear perspectives. Zero corporate jargon. 

We knew this conversation deserved to happen on-mic. 

We talked about BEAD’s shifting guidance. 
The danger of relying on political whims. 
The rollback of the Digital Equity Act and the legal gray area it's created. 
And how ISPs are quietly building the future in spite of it all. 

Brad also reminded us how important it is to stay anchored in the bigger picture, even when it feels like we’re getting whiplash from week to week. That kind of perspective is rare and valuable. 

What This Episode Uncovered 

Operators are rolling up their sleeves. 
They’re not paralyzed by uncertainty. They’re problem-solving around it. 

Partnerships are evolving fast. 
From co-ops to private equity, new funding models are taking shape. 

Multifamily is finally syncing with broadband. 
Smart building tech, revenue sharing, and PropTech tools are no longer fringe. 

The “good internet for all” promise is slipping. 
BEAD is still moving forward, but quality and access might not be equal across the board. 

We can’t assume people understand broadband. 
From nutrition labels to policy language, we’ve got a communication gap to close.

So What’s the Move?

If you’re an operator or GM, you don’t need more theory. You need signals from the field — what’s working, what’s not, and how to make decisions before the next round of changes hit. 

That’s what this conversation was about. That’s what Bandwidth is always about. 

We don’t sugarcoat the challenges. We’ve lived them. 
And whether you’re building in rural Texas or retrofitting a multifamily complex in the city, the message is the same: Nobody’s coming. Build anyway. 

Catch the special edition episode live from Broadband Communities 2025 featuring Brad Randall from Beyond the Cable.  Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.