https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/ Writing on broadband analytics, reporting, GIS and AI for fiber operators, from the team that builds the data platforms behind them. en-us https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/ai-agents-vs-chatbots/ https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/ai-agents-vs-chatbots/ Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT For most providers, the AI they have actually used is a chat window, which quietly sets the expectation that AI is something you go and ask. The split between an assistant and an agent is what we spent the most time on at our FISPA webinar in August. Patrick Hutto AI Fiber Operations https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/ai-data-privacy-broadband/ https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/ai-data-privacy-broadband/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT It is the first question providers ask us, usually before anything else on the agenda. The one that matters more arrives when you stand up AI on your own data, and three things Databricks has shipped this year land on exactly that. Patrick Hutto AI Data Governance https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/serving-area-reporting/ https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/serving-area-reporting/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Distribution area, fiber serving area, fiberhood. Every operator has a different word for the same shape, and at Metro Connect this year almost every reporting conversation we had came back to it. Patrick Hutto GIS Reporting Fiber Operations https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/rapid-dash/ https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/rapid-dash/ Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT The person who needs the answer is usually the one furthest from the tools, and a two week wait quietly filters out the interesting questions. This year we got early access to something that closes that gap, and we packaged it for broadband as Rapid Dash. Patrick Hutto Analytics Dashboards https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/vibe-analytics/ https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/vibe-analytics/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT When an operator asks a question nobody has a chart for yet, the old answer was to come back in a week or two. At COLLIDE 2025 in Atlanta we presented how we close that gap, and where the approach stops being useful. Patrick Hutto AI Analytics https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/permits-to-penetration/ https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/permits-to-penetration/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT Ask for footage built, homes passed, and take rate and you get three answers, from three systems, from three different people. There is usually no one person who has all three. At Fiber Connect 2025 in Nashville we walked two use cases from opposite ends of the build to show what changes once they sit together. Patrick Hutto Analytics Fiber Operations https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/stranded-assets/ https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/stranded-assets/ Thu, 29 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT While building fiber infrastructure fast is the goal for most broadband operators, duct often gets placed that can’t serve customers for years. Patrick Hutto Analytics Fiber Operations https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/data-apps/ https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/data-apps/ Thu, 13 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT BBI did a webinar with Data Science Connect where we showcased our analytics platform and how it helps ISPs unlock deeper insights. The main highlight was an LLM powered chatbot integrated directly into the app, making it super simple to extract insights. Patrick Hutto Analytics Dashboards https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/time-series/ https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/time-series/ Sat, 08 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT Capturing time series data is much more valuable for broadband providers to review historical trends and insights versus live data alone. Patrick Hutto Data Engineering Reporting https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/geohash/ https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/geohash/ Thu, 19 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT Getting and matching up address data from across the tech stack is a fundamental challenge in telecom. We have found success with a simple algorithm – the geohash. Patrick Hutto GIS Data Engineering https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/katapult-muni/ https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/katapult-muni/ Fri, 11 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT In collaboration with Katapult Engineering, we built a sample dashboard showing the feasibility of municipal fiber builds by using pole data from Katapult Pro Patrick Hutto GIS Dashboards https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/sales-video/ https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/sales-video/ Fri, 20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT Aggregating data from the broadband tech stack for sales and marketing is a top use case for BBI’s analytics platform. Check out our short video and key highlights. Patrick Hutto Analytics Fiber Operations https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/vulcan-ryg/ https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/vulcan-ryg/ Fri, 26 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT In preparation for Fiber Connect we finished up a “Red Yellow Green” make ready assessment dashboard in collaboration with Vulcan Line Tools. Patrick Hutto GIS Dashboards https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/bead-analysis/ https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/bead-analysis/ Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT We published an interactive version of an in-depth analysis done by the Pew Center on the BEAD Challenge process. Patrick Hutto Broadband Policy Analytics https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/acp-analysis/ https://broadbandinsights.net/blog/acp-analysis/ Fri, 23 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT With the ACP enrollment closed and the funding expected to run out in April, we wanted to release a map to show the impact if this program ends Patrick Hutto Broadband Policy Analytics