New Books Network Christopher Ali, "Farm Fresh Broadband: The Politics of Rural Connectivity" (MIT, 2021)
Nov 9, 2025
Christopher Ali, an Associate Professor at the University of Virginia, discusses his book on rural broadband connectivity. He explores the significant urban-rural digital divide and argues for a cooperative model reminiscent of rural electrification. Ali offers insights into the failures of U.S. broadband policy, the higher costs rural residents face, and the need for local accountability. He shares a successful example from Rock County, Minnesota, and emphasizes the importance of democratizing broadband access, especially in light of COVID-19's impact on connectivity.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Follow The Rural Electrification Model
- Rural broadband should follow the rural electrification model that built electric and telephone co-ops in the 1930s–40s.
- Local cooperatives and telephone co-ops now lead rural fiber deployment and deserve similar federal support.
Dial-Up Persists On Farms
- Christopher Ali reports 2.1 million Americans still use dial-up, including 60,000 farms.
- He and his students encounter dial-up users in rural Virginia and Iowa, illustrating persistent access gaps.
Broadband Definition Is Too Low
- The FCC's broadband definition (25/3 Mbps) is inadequate for modern multi-user needs and upload-heavy uses like telehealth and tele-education.
- Christopher Ali argues for a symmetric 100/100 Mbps minimum to support production and real-time video uses.
