Episode 497: Jeff Gavlinski Discusses Broadband Growth, Innovation, and Mountain Connect 2026

Episode 497: Jeff Gavlinski Discusses Broadband Growth, Innovation, and Mountain Connect 2026

In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Pete Pizzutillo welcomes Jeff Gavlinski, CEO of Mountain Connect, to discuss the changes in the broadband industry and how conferences must evolve to deliver more than information. Jeff reflects on the growth of Mountain Connect from a small gathering of fewer than 100 attendees to one of the industry's premier independent broadband events, while sharing why he believes the next chapter of broadband will be defined by sustainable ISP business models, workforce development, strategic partnerships, and emerging technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and next-generation Wi-Fi. Jeff also previews the 2026 Mountain Connect conference, including new AI-powered attendee matchmaking, hosted buyer programs, interactive roundtable discussions, and a renewed focus on creating measurable outcomes for attendees. They explore industry consolidation, BEAD funding challenges, supply chain pressures, utility partnerships, and the importance of attracting a new generation of talent to broadband.

Episode 496: Rob Lawrence of Microsoft on Agentic AI Governance and Organizational Readiness

In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Pete Pizzutillo sits down with Rob Lawrence, Technology Strategist at Microsoft, to separate the reality of agentic AI from the growing hype surrounding autonomous systems. As organizations race to experiment with AI agents, Rob argues that the biggest challenges aren't the models themselves—they're the operating environments, governance frameworks, data quality, accountability structures, and organizational readiness required to deploy them successfully. Pete and Rob discuss why many AI pilots succeed while production deployments struggle, the return of disciplines like project portfolio management and process engineering, and why data governance may be the most important prerequisite for successful AI adoption. Rob also talks about the role of identity and permissions, the risks of poorly governed agents acting on flawed data, and why organizations need better observability into AI-driven workflows. Along the way, he shares advice for CIOs, CTOs, and broadband operators looking to move beyond experimentation and build a responsible foundation for agentic AI.

Episode 495: Anis Khemakhem on Fiber Innovation, Workforce Development, and Network Resilience

In this episode of the Broadband Bunch, recorded live at Fiber Connect 2026, host Pete Pizzutillo sits down with Anis Khemakhem, Chief Commercial Officer at Clearfield, to discuss the state of fiber broadband deployment, workforce development, and infrastructure innovation. Anis shares his journey from engineer to industry leader and explains how Clearfield has built its reputation by solving practical challenges for broadband operators while maintaining a strong commitment to underserved communities and workforce training initiatives. Anis tells about several of Clearfield’s latest product announcements, including the new Nova platform designed for data center and next-generation network environments, as well as a newly launched fiber-focused pedestal portfolio. He also discusses how operators can balance long-term network planning with rising material and labor costs, navigate BABA compliance requirements, and prepare for increasing demand driven by AI, edge computing, and hyperscale data centers. Anis highlights the importance of industry partnerships, supply chain collaboration, and resilient network design as broadband providers work to meet growing connectivity demands. The episode ends with a discussion on attracting the next generation of broadband professionals and how innovative training tools can help bridge the industry's workforce gap.

Episode 494: Rhyan Neble on Agentic AI, Telecom Automation, and the Age of Intelligent Operations

In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Pete Pizzutillo welcomes Rhyan Neble for a conversation about the evolution of artificial intelligence, agentic frameworks, and what these technologies mean for broadband operators. Drawing on decades of experience building telecom networks, OSS/BSS platforms, and software solutions, Rhyan explains how AI has progressed from a simple assistant to a true workforce multiplier capable of accelerating software development, automating complex workflows, and helping organizations solve problems that once required large teams and months of effort. Rhyan also shares practical advice for broadband providers looking to prepare for the next wave of AI adoption. Topics include open APIs, operational runbooks, AI agents as employee assistants, governance frameworks, security considerations, and the growing importance of data accessibility. They discuss both the opportunities and risks of AI, offering a balanced look at how operators can use these tools to improve efficiency, streamline reporting, surface operational insights, and empower employees while maintaining human oversight.

Episode 493: Josh Turiano Explains Blue Stream Fiber’s AI Strategy

This episode of The Broadband Bunch, sponsored by ETI Software and VETRO FiberMap, features a live conversation from Fiber Connect 2026 with Josh Turiano, Chief Innovation and AI Officer at Blue Stream Fiber. Josh joins host Pete Pizzutillo to share how Blue Stream Fiber is approaching AI adoption inside a broadband operator environment, from improving troubleshooting workflows and technician productivity to building internal GPT tools that help teams scale without dramatically increasing headcount. The discussion explores the importance of clean data, organizational readiness, and why successful AI adoption starts long before deploying a chatbot. Josh also dives into the broader future of AI infrastructure in telecom, including edge inference, network automation, resiliency concerns tied to hyperscalers, and the growing need for broadband providers to rethink how AI workloads are distributed. He explains how Blue Stream Fiber rolled out AI across departments, the lessons learned from early experimentation, and why operators that invest in data organization and practical AI workflows today may be better positioned to compete tomorrow. The conversation offers a look at how AI is already reshaping broadband operations while highlighting the cultural and operational changes still ahead for the industry.