Tim Donovan, CEO of CCA, on Rural Wireless Advocacy, Capitol Hill, and AI Infrastructure | EP:15

Live at MCS 2026! CCA, Rural Carriers, Telecom Growth & the Future of Wireless | EP:18

In Episode 18 of Whiskey & Wireless, Ron Willett records live from CCA and sits down with three longtime leaders from the regional wireless ecosystem: • Kim Caronchi, Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) • Ron Whaley, IDI Billing Solutions • Slayton Stewart, CEO of Carolina West Wireless The conversations cover the evolution of RCA into today’s CCA, the relationships that have shaped the regional wireless industry for decades, and the growing challenges facing rural and regional carriers across the United States. From policy and advocacy in Washington to shrinking roaming revenue, AI adoption, private networks, and the fight to preserve local wireless providers, this episode offers an honest look at the realities of telecom today. The discussion also explores: -How CCA became a major advocacy force in Washington -Why relationships still drive the telecom industry -The financial pressures facing regional carriers -The decline of roaming and universal service funding -AI, automation, and operational efficiency in telecom -New revenue opportunities through APIs and private networks -Why local customer service still matters in rural America -The importance of supporting regional carriers and communities This episode is part industry history, part business strategy, and part behind-the-scenes look at the people helping keep regional wireless alive. If you work in telecom, wireless infrastructure, carrier operations, billing, policy, or rural broadband, this is a conversation worth hearing. Subscribe to Whiskey & Wireless for more conversations with the people shaping the telecom industry. #podcast #wireless #telecom

How Carriers Keep Up with Exploding Data Demand with Bill Basquin, VP of Sales at AppLogic | Ep:17

In Episode 17 of Whiskey & Wireless, Ron Willett sits down with Bill Basquin, VP of Sales, Americas at AppLogic, for a deep dive into how carriers manage the growing complexity of modern data networks. Bill shares his journey from startup setbacks to leading sales across the Americas, along with a behind-the-scenes look at how network traffic has evolved from early file-sharing days to today’s AI-driven, high-bandwidth environment. The conversation explores how carriers handle congestion, why adding more bandwidth doesn’t solve the problem, and how solutions like Total Traffic Manager (TTM) help optimize network performance while improving the end-user experience. From Netflix surges to AI traffic bursts, Bill breaks down what’s really happening inside the network. They also discuss emerging opportunities in enterprise services, satellite infrastructure, and how carriers can unlock new revenue streams through smarter data utilization without crossing the line on privacy. This episode offers a practical look at the technology powering modern networks and the strategies carriers need to stay competitive. If you work in telecom, network engineering, carrier operations, or infrastructure strategy, this episode provides valuable insight into how networks are managed at scale. Subscribe to Whiskey & Wireless for more conversations with leaders shaping the telecom industry. #podcast #telecom #wireless #networkoptimization

Alan Lewis of Hydeco on Saving Carriers Money on SMS, Carrier Tech and ClearSky Partnership | EP:16

Description: In Episode 16 of Whiskey & Wireless, Ron Willett sits down with Alan Lewis, CEO and Co-Founder of Hydeco, to talk about the newly announced partnership between ClearSky and Hydeco and why affordable, dependable SMS infrastructure still matters for regional and rural carriers. Alan shares the origin story behind Hydeco, from the paging software days to building one of the industry’s most trusted carrier-focused SMS platforms. He and Ron discuss why SMS is far from dead, how smaller carriers can reduce costs without sacrificing service, and why customer support, product reliability, and long-term relationships still win in telecom. The conversation also covers Hydeco’s carrier-first philosophy, the value of in-house development and support, and what it takes to stay relevant in a business where technology moves slowly until suddenly it doesn’t. This episode is part partnership story, part telecom history, and part lesson in building sticky, durable products for a changing wireless market. In this episode: -The ClearSky and Hydeco partnership -Why SMS still matters for carriers -Helping regional operators lower costs and improve service -How Hydeco built its first SMSC in 1998 -Why in-house code and support make a difference -The importance of customer-driven product development -How long-term carrier relationships are built and maintained If you work in telecom, carrier operations, messaging infrastructure, or rural wireless, this episode offers a practical look at how the right technology partners can create real value. Subscribe to Whiskey & Wireless for more conversations with the people shaping the telecom industry. #podcast #whiskeyandwireless #telecom

Tim Donovan, CEO of CCA, on Rural Wireless Advocacy, Capitol Hill, and AI Infrastructure | EP:15

In Episode 15 of Whiskey & Wireless, Ron Willett sits down with Tim Donovan, President and CEO of the Competitive Carriers Association (CCA), for a conversation about the forces shaping the future of rural wireless. Tim shares how CCA represents regional and rural carriers on Capitol Hill, advocating for policies that ensure smaller operators can compete, invest, and continue delivering connectivity across the United States. The discussion explores the policy battles behind spectrum, universal service, and why accurate coverage maps and strong industry advocacy remain critical for rural networks. The conversation also looks ahead at how AI infrastructure, satellite partnerships, and new technology demands could reshape the economics of connectivity. As data demand grows and infrastructure requirements expand, rural carriers may find themselves at the center of the next phase of wireless investment. This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at telecom policy, rural connectivity, and the evolving role of regional carriers in the wireless ecosystem. In this episode: Tim Donovan’s path to leading the Competitive Carriers Association How CCA advocates for rural and regional carriers in Washington The policy challenges facing rural wireless operators Why accurate coverage maps matter for funding and deployment AI infrastructure and the growing demand for network capacity Satellite partnerships and their potential impact on rural connectivity What the future may hold for regional wireless carriers If you work in telecom, rural broadband, wireless policy, or carrier strategy, this episode provides valuable insight into the conversations shaping the industry. Learn more about CCA: https://competitivecarriers.org Subscribe to Whiskey & Wireless for more conversations with leaders shaping the telecom industry. #podcast #whiskeypodcast

RCS Is Finally Here: Sinch’s Miriam Liszewski on What Changes Now | EP:14

In Episode 14 of Whiskey and Wireless, Ron Willett sits down with Miriam Liszewski, RCS Commercial Product Manager at Sinch, to talk about what’s changed in the last 18 months and why RCS is finally moving from “someday” to real adoption. Miriam shares her path from Google (starting in RCS back in 2018) to Sinch, how RCS for Business is reshaping brand-to-consumer engagement, and why Apple support was the tipping point that made enterprise conversations start happening for real. They also get into how RCS compares to SMS/MMS and WhatsApp globally, why “entitlement servers” suddenly matter, and what the next wave of messaging looks like as reach increases and fallback becomes the exception instead of the rule. #WhiskeyAndWireless #RCS #RCForBusiness #Sinch #Messaging #A2P #Telecom #MobileMessaging #CustomerEngagement #CPaaS