CoBank Launches All Day Digital Podcast Focused on Communications Sector

DENVER (November 17, 2021)—CoBank, a cooperative bank serving agribusinesses, rural infrastructure providers and Farm Credit associations throughout the United States, today announced the launch of All Day Digital, a monthly podcast dedicated to the U.S. telecommunications industry.

Jeff Johnston, lead communications economist with CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, hosts All Day Digital. His guests include communications industry executives and thought leaders who dissect the policy changes, technology advances and capital investments that are fueling major market changes.

“The pace of change within the communications industry is accelerating rapidly and we’re on the cusp of some significant historical developments,” said Johnston. “The amount of capital flowing into the communications market is really unprecedented. And it’s enabling innovative technologies and services that will have a profound impact as society accelerates its adoption of digital services across the board.”

The podcast provides an additional platform for CoBank to connect with its communication industry stakeholders and other listeners to provide expert analysis on the forces that are converging to drive rapid industry change, added Johnston.

The inaugural episode of All Day Digital features Bill Baker, founder and CEO of Nextlink Internet, a rural communications company that’s been at the center of broadband buildouts in six states. Baker lends his perspective on several factors, including when to deploy fixed wireless versus fiber and how the evolution of technology and consumer behavior have impacted rural broadband. He also explains why the rural broadband landscape will look vastly different in just a few years.

Investor interest in the communications market is expected to remain extremely high, driven largely by infrastructure investment funds and private equity sponsors. Steve Soraparu, managing director with Stifel Financial Corp., will join All Day Digital in December to share insights on the red-hot investment climate, mergers and acquisitions and rising valuations. Soraparu will explain how investors are currently thinking about the industry and what prospective sellers need to consider.

Other upcoming episodes of All Day Digital will cover the emergence of private wireless networks and the opportunities available for rural electric cooperatives to add broadband to their portfolio of service offerings.

Listen to available episodes and subscribe to All Day Digital on CoBank.com or in your favorite podcast player.

About CoBank

CoBank is a $155 billion cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 75,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country.

CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and maintains an international representative office in Singapore.