1 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:04,960 Speaker 1: I'm with Lucas and this is black tech, green money. 2 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:10,800 Speaker 1: Culture Wireless is a black owned Internet service provider which 3 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 1: delivers fast, reliable, affordable Internet solutions, and Jerome Howard is 4 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: chief operating officer, working to empower communities with high quality 5 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 1: and affordable Internet service. Surprisingly, at least to me, the 6 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: digital divide is still a thing. There are still communities 7 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 1: all across our nation that do not have access to 8 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: high quality, high speed Internet service, and the twenty nineteen 9 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: COVID pandemic exacerbated many of these issues, disconnecting families from 10 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 1: each other and friends from community. Culture Wireless and shies 11 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: that won't happen again. So I asked Jerome about the 12 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 1: founding story of this company and how the pandemic provided 13 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: an opportunity for these innovatives. 14 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 2: An idea that was born out of the pandemic. 15 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:05,680 Speaker 3: Myself being a technologist, our CEO being a technologist, and 16 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:12,119 Speaker 3: our friend, our co founder, Bam Sparks, being a culture innovator. 17 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 3: We saw how our community was impacted by the pandemic, 18 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 3: and then we discovered that the fastest fiber or Internet 19 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:22,959 Speaker 3: in Atlanta ran up under this one particular Internet or 20 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 3: up under this one particular community, and we said, hey, 21 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 3: these are the kind of problems that arose from the pandemic, 22 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 3: and this is what we should be solving. So what 23 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,400 Speaker 3: does it look like if we provided internet for the hood. 24 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 3: And so from there, our CEO went to work and 25 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:41,399 Speaker 3: started building out the designs and saying, hey, this is 26 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 3: something doable. 27 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:44,680 Speaker 2: I think we can do this, and that's how culture 28 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 2: Willis was born. 29 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:47,560 Speaker 1: Yes, I want to start I want to start to 30 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: talk with talking about the digital divide. You know, is 31 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 1: that's still a thing in twenty twenty four, Like what 32 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 1: is the landscape like geographically for connectivity in the United States. 33 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, so that is definitely something that is still a thing. 34 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 3: And you talk about AI and all of these things 35 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 3: that are being introduced, and that the gap is just 36 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 3: even going to grow. So right now, as you can imagine, 37 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 3: even our colleges are in danger. I'm sure you've seen 38 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:16,639 Speaker 3: the post that Robert Smith made that eighty two percent 39 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 3: of our HBCUs are still in broadband deserts. And then 40 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 3: if we know the makeup of those HBCUs, they usually 41 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:26,800 Speaker 3: sit in a community that is full of you know, 42 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:29,639 Speaker 3: our people. And so now you think about that and 43 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 3: growing out not even just limiting to HBCUs and urban areas. 44 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 3: Think about the rural areas of America, your South Georgia's 45 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 3: your Mississippi, where things are even worse than we've predicted. 46 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:45,359 Speaker 2: You know, people having to drive to. 47 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:48,519 Speaker 3: A local grocery store or McDonald's just to have Wi 48 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:49,360 Speaker 3: Fi for internet. 49 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:50,959 Speaker 2: So it's definitely still a thing. 50 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: How I mean, there seems to be so many businesses 51 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,519 Speaker 1: and companies that want to take advantage of the market opportunity. 52 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,079 Speaker 1: How how is the digital divide where you can get 53 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 1: high speed internet in so many places? How is that 54 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 1: still a thing these days? 55 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:11,080 Speaker 3: So you have to look at the companies that are 56 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:14,360 Speaker 3: providing internet right now. So there are three major companies 57 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 3: and their focus is to find their their their customer profile, 58 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:21,919 Speaker 3: so they have to go where that bill makes sense. 59 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,799 Speaker 3: So if you're looking at going to a fluent neighborhood 60 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:27,959 Speaker 3: versus you know, a mixed income neighborhood, you're going to 61 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 3: make the best business decision for your company. And that's 62 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 3: kind of what has driven us to this this pandemic 63 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 3: or this area that we're in right now. It's not 64 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 3: just about providing and making sure that access is available 65 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 3: for everyone. 66 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 2: It's about the bottom line. 67 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 3: So by us being a smaller company having the ability 68 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 3: to be flexible with technologies and not have such large overhead, 69 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 3: we can find opportunities where these major, large corporations can. 70 00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:00,119 Speaker 1: Is there is there a difference between being able to 71 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: connect to the Internet from a cell phone versus like 72 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 1: a laptop, And what I mean by that is a 73 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: difference in the opportunities and how you're able to take 74 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 1: advantage of resources. And here's why I bring that up. 75 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: I have a small business and somebody who works in 76 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: my company, we were in a team meeting and we 77 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 1: were talking about how, you know, you can access a 78 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,159 Speaker 1: certain app that we use, certain piece of software that 79 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:24,600 Speaker 1: we use through you know, an app or a laptop, 80 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:27,599 Speaker 1: right because she was having a difficulty getting access to 81 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:29,719 Speaker 1: a certain thing from her phone. I'm like, well, just 82 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 1: use a laptop. And she's like, you know, I'm not 83 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:34,479 Speaker 1: rich like that to where I've got, you know, just laptops, 84 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 1: you know, sitting around, And I'm like, to me, like 85 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 1: it was it was I almost took for granted that 86 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 1: like everybody doesn't have a laptop sitting around, and it 87 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 1: was just like revealing to me as somebody who I 88 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:50,839 Speaker 1: try to be, you know, understanding of what's happening around me. 89 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 1: It just never clicked that most people don't have a laptop. 90 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 2: Yep, yeah, most people don't have a laptop. 91 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:00,120 Speaker 3: And you think about now, most of the kids that 92 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:02,719 Speaker 3: are growing up now probably have never used a laptop 93 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:05,720 Speaker 3: outside of their class where when we grew up, having 94 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 3: a laptop was necessary to do your classes and to 95 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:09,839 Speaker 3: do anything. 96 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 2: But now that's not the case anymore. 97 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 3: And then when you go out to affordability, most of 98 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 3: these laptops are. 99 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:19,159 Speaker 2: Not they're not cheap. They're not cheap. 100 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:23,160 Speaker 3: So you know, without the ACP and those affordable programs 101 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 3: to help subsidize that costs, the gap grows even wider 102 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 3: because our community doesn't have the access nor do we 103 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 3: have a lot of those funds just to allocate to 104 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 3: buying all of these devices. If you think about most 105 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 3: of our community or most of the people that suffer 106 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 3: from the pandemic, their their own subsidized living or subsidized income. 107 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 2: And so that's been the challenge over the couple of 108 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:47,480 Speaker 2: past years. 109 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,359 Speaker 1: And so when you decide, hey, we're going to go 110 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: start a new ISP, like, like how does like what's 111 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 1: the first step you take. And it's like because I'm thinking, like, okay, 112 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 1: you know, if I want to go create new app, 113 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 1: you know, I'll just you know, pull out, you know, 114 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:05,039 Speaker 1: a text editor and start coding and just get to it. 115 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:07,679 Speaker 1: Like it's super touper simple, because like nothing to get started. 116 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 1: But if you want to start at ISP, like there's structural, 117 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 1: infrastructural things you got to do, I imagine, And so 118 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: like what's the first things you do when you try 119 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:18,040 Speaker 1: to try to start a company like this? 120 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, so this place was new to me. 121 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 3: I came from security, I mean joined you know, our 122 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 3: co founders and building this company and our CEO who 123 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 3: comes from the telecom industry and over thirty years of 124 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:34,360 Speaker 3: experience from AT and T to bail South to you know, 125 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 3: the various companies. And the first thing he did was 126 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 3: to look at the lay of the fiber, seeing what's 127 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:44,479 Speaker 3: available in the area, seeing where the towers are, seeing 128 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 3: where you know, the last company has laid fiber, Where 129 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 3: would we be able to access it, and if we did, 130 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 3: how how far is that from the actual community that 131 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,280 Speaker 3: we wanted to connect to. So that's the first thing 132 00:06:57,320 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 3: you have to do is just understand the lay of 133 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 3: the land. And then the second thing you have to 134 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 3: do is just get your LLC. It's really that simple. 135 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:07,880 Speaker 3: It's really that simple. 136 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 2: Like it's not a permit that you need to start 137 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 2: an ISP. 138 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 3: It's not like you have to have so many certifications 139 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 3: to do this type of technology. 140 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 2: You just really have to start. And that's exactly what 141 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 2: we did. 142 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 3: And we said, you know, putting our expertise together and 143 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 3: putting out wheel and you know how bad we want 144 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 3: this to happen, we can do it. And so it 145 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 3: was just that simple figuring out what was available, figuring 146 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 3: out and trying to find partners that were able to 147 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 3: help us, and then just doing it and staying committed 148 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 3: to the task. 149 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: We recognize in our community that there's a value in 150 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 1: having really strong partnerships with companies that an't bigger, you know, 151 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 1: and they're more establishing, etc. I know, you guys are 152 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 1: partners with Verizon, T Mobile and probably others. Can you 153 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 1: talk about, you know, some of the critical things you 154 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 1: needed to do to be prepared for those opportunities when 155 00:07:56,640 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 1: those opportunities presented themselves. 156 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, So first we had to show that we had growth, 157 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 3: we had an actual business, and we had a customer 158 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 3: base to actually market to, and then they wanted to 159 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 3: see our marketing strategy. How are we activating in the community, 160 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 3: How are we getting these customers to be interested in 161 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 3: culture Wirelens. 162 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 2: So that was the biggest thing. 163 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 3: Show our commitment and show our actual numbers of you know, 164 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 3: what our predictions. 165 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 2: Were and just from all of the groundwork we've laid. 166 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 3: So it had to be interesting to them in order 167 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:33,200 Speaker 3: to even be interested in our partnership. And then we 168 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 3: had to show them our commitment to just investing into 169 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 3: the community. So while we do have those partnerships, we 170 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:41,840 Speaker 3: feel that it is valuable for us to own the 171 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 3: infrastructure that we're laying into these communities. So we're actually 172 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 3: spending our own dollars and not depending on these partnerships 173 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 3: our major networks to lean on their infrastructure solely, but 174 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 3: actually developing and investing our own dollar to have this 175 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 3: infrastructure for ourselves so that we can build upon that 176 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 3: as well. And I think that helps our message to 177 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 3: show that you know, these guys are serious, these guys 178 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 3: are committed to their goals, and why wouldn't we want 179 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 3: to partner with someone who's from the community, knows the 180 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 3: community and it just the message has traveled very well. 181 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 1: Where there certain programs that they had or when you say, 182 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 1: you know, well, look Verizon has this one particular program. 183 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 1: If we reach out to them about this, we can 184 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 1: find our way in. Like what was that relationship introduction? 185 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 2: Like well, so. 186 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 3: They all have a sort of situation or a partnership 187 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 3: set up where any small carriers can partner with larger 188 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 3: major carriers to resell their services. So that is the 189 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:46,319 Speaker 3: thing it's called MBN or where smaller companies can resell 190 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 3: those packages. But what most people don't know is those 191 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 3: connections are many where you have direct connections to like 192 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 3: a T Mobile or Verizon, those are very few where 193 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 3: you have to have some type they have to feel 194 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 3: connected to your brand. 195 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 2: In order to have a direct connection. 196 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 3: They'll let you resell all day, But to get the 197 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 3: wholesale numbers or to get the best numbers that are 198 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:14,840 Speaker 3: very possible, you have to have a direct connection to 199 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 3: the major providers, and for that, your messaging has to 200 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 3: align with their company goals. And I think we fit 201 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:25,280 Speaker 3: a lot of the things and places that they're looking 202 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:28,440 Speaker 3: to expand into. And I think, like I said, the 203 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:32,479 Speaker 3: message has carried very well, whenever we're out pitching cultural violence. 204 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 1: In solving the digital divide, I find this quote that 205 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 1: you had mentioned sometime ago in another interview where you said, 206 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:40,719 Speaker 1: we know that solving the digital divide is more than 207 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,559 Speaker 1: just about having internet. We have to look a look 208 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 1: at this from a holistic approach. In order to solve 209 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:48,960 Speaker 1: the divide, we have to create a pipeline, pipeline for 210 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 1: kids to enter into STEM fields, even at an early age. 211 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 1: And I want to talk about that particular thing, because 212 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 1: there is one thing to get them connected, it's another 213 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: thing for them to be able to see the opportun 214 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:03,319 Speaker 1: t unity that technology allows them to have and not 215 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: just be consumers, which we over index as consumers only 216 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:09,839 Speaker 1: internet and not building products. Can you talk about what 217 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,880 Speaker 1: culture Wireless is doing and what you guys as are 218 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:15,320 Speaker 1: serious about in order to you know, make sure that 219 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 1: we're getting educated in STEM fields. 220 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 3: Right, so you know, we're very passionate about this, just 221 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:27,520 Speaker 3: because that's that's exactly what I experienced growing up. So 222 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 3: I'm from a rural town in Georgia by the name 223 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 3: of Alimo, Georgia. I was I think I was the 224 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 3: only kid on my block that had a computer and 225 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 3: if it wasn't for my parents, you know, being educators, 226 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 3: I probably wouldn't have had the opportunities that I had, 227 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 3: just going to different camps and actually experiencing different technologies, 228 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:52,320 Speaker 3: and that's what grew my my my excitement about the field. 229 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 3: And it's all about exposure and so growing up knowing 230 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 3: that how can you start a company that is about 231 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 3: technology and not being able to trigger them early to 232 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:05,640 Speaker 3: want to start something, and so we had to find 233 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 3: partners in the community where we've gone ahead and thrown 234 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 3: these stem labs where we teach people how to you know, 235 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 3: we teach them about technology, but doing it in a 236 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 3: way where it is interesting to them. So for young 237 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 3: ladies having a STEM lab where you're making lipsticking and 238 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 3: you're building apps. What you're doing dragging code, but you're 239 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:28,960 Speaker 3: playing music at the same time and to the app. 240 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:31,160 Speaker 3: You have to make it interesting for them to be 241 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:33,719 Speaker 3: attracted to it. You have to show them how it's 242 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 3: connected to something that they want to do. Like on 243 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 3: the NBA Games, there's a statistician that is giving the 244 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:42,640 Speaker 3: person all of the numbers that stem and so you 245 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:45,320 Speaker 3: have to make that connection where you don't think of 246 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 3: it or technology or stem being an office job. 247 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 2: Or someone in a lab in a white. 248 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 3: Cod doing running experiments and you're never talking to anybody. 249 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 3: Technology is much more than that, but you have to 250 00:12:56,960 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 3: give them that exposure and so culture Wildy we understand 251 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 3: that and we have to develop that pipeline very early. 252 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:07,480 Speaker 3: So we seek out partners in the community that are 253 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 3: holding those type of events so that we can bring 254 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 3: in engineers and it not be the first time that 255 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 3: you know, you see an engineer whenever you get to college, 256 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 3: but you see them when you're in elementary school in 257 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:21,320 Speaker 3: the middle school, so you can expire to be that person. 258 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 3: And then we also do the same thing with seniors, 259 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 3: letting them know that hey, you still can have a 260 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:33,440 Speaker 3: bunty for life and you know, still be active with 261 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:37,280 Speaker 3: computer skills. So we go from grade school to the elderly, like, 262 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:38,959 Speaker 3: you know, you don't have to sit in your home 263 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 3: and just not be tech savvy. We can teach you 264 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 3: how to interact with different games or how they interact 265 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:49,440 Speaker 3: with your family, be a zoom or find some type 266 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 3: of remote job. So that's the basis of how we 267 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:56,079 Speaker 3: connect to the community, just finding different partners on how 268 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:57,120 Speaker 3: we could get in there. 269 00:13:57,520 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 2: And actually let them. 270 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 3: Experience, have hands on labs teaching them about ACP whenever 271 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:06,839 Speaker 3: it was available. How do you get those codes or 272 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:09,240 Speaker 3: get those discounts to apply? 273 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 1: And what is the ACP like, talk to me more 274 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 1: about that. 275 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 3: So ACP was a program that the government had called 276 00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 3: Affordable Affordable Connectivity Program. It actually ended yesterday and hopefully 277 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 3: the bill gets passed that it is extended. But that 278 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 3: was a discount program for anyone that qualified. Pretty much 279 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 3: anyone that seek government assistance would get thirty dollars a 280 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:40,480 Speaker 3: month off of their technology bill or out for their 281 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 3: internet bill. 282 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:43,080 Speaker 2: And if you're on tribal. 283 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 3: Land that that cut down that that discount increased to 284 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 3: seventy five dollars. So, like I said, that funding actually 285 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:53,720 Speaker 3: ran out and so the end of that program is able. 286 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 3: But the last day to sign up was yesterday, which 287 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 3: was February seventh, and we are waiting to see if 288 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 3: that bill is gonna be passed. But you know, we 289 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:08,440 Speaker 3: use programs like that to incentivize and get people to 290 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 3: come out. So you know, hey, participate in the STEM lab. 291 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 3: We can give your a discount of device and then 292 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:17,320 Speaker 3: you get internet service from that. And so that's kind 293 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 3: of how we drove engagement to get people interested in 294 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 3: the technology and then connecting them and then just showing them. 295 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 3: You know, first of all, they had to be about 296 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 3: community service, you know, helping them and and going a 297 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 3: little bit above the extra mile just to get them 298 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 3: connected and say hey, we're with you through this entire process. 299 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 3: We're not just gonna let you give your device and 300 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 3: throw you out there and call us if you need 301 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 3: help accessing that device. We can do that and that's 302 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 3: how we've been able to grow throughout the community. 303 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 1: And so can you talk about where the needs are 304 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 1: when we talk about as you mentioned AI and coding, 305 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 1: we talked about you know, when we talk about some 306 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:59,280 Speaker 1: of our most vulnerable like because a lot of the 307 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 1: times and brought up seniors, they get left out of 308 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 1: the conversation when we talk about technology. Can you talk 309 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 1: about where the needs are and what you're seeing. 310 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:13,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, So, as far as in the industry, if you're 311 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 3: if you're like I said, if you're not aware, there's 312 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 3: a big push and I'm just gonna talk about it 313 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 3: from a for an ISP standpoint, there's going to be 314 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 3: a lot of companies going out and installing fighter around 315 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 3: the country right now, So there's going to be a 316 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 3: big need for technicians in the field to do this work, 317 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 3: from construction work to land fiber optics, understand how fiber 318 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:47,040 Speaker 3: options work works, and then going to the communities installing 319 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 3: those fiber option services throughout the community. 320 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 2: So that's one a space. 321 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 3: If you have no desire to sit in the office, 322 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 3: or if you have no desire to be on a 323 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:57,360 Speaker 3: computer all day, if you're an outside person, there's a 324 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 3: need for you in that space if you're coming and 325 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:03,520 Speaker 3: you want to learn more technical skills. One of the 326 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 3: biggest growing areas right now is security. How do we 327 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 3: secure these networks, how do we secure their devices, how 328 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:13,120 Speaker 3: do we secure the apps? How do we secure our 329 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:18,360 Speaker 3: programs that are connected to credit cards and financial institutions. 330 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:22,240 Speaker 3: Security is one of the most the highest growing spaces 331 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:26,480 Speaker 3: in now, and so those are the real two big 332 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 3: areas that I see a need in AI of course, 333 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 3: but you know AI. Everyone is talking about AI right now, 334 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 3: but you're still gonna need security on top of any 335 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:38,119 Speaker 3: technology that is being released. So those are going to 336 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:40,879 Speaker 3: be my two. And I'm always gonna leave security because 337 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:44,679 Speaker 3: that's my background. But I've seen that space is spanning 338 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 3: over time like crazy man. 339 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:50,480 Speaker 1: It was another quote I found from you where you said, 340 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:52,720 Speaker 1: you know, America is made up of different cultures, but 341 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:55,480 Speaker 1: our culture just so happens to be black. But that's 342 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:58,120 Speaker 1: not the only culture that we're trying to connect. When 343 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 1: you think about the vulnerable people in our country and 344 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:06,000 Speaker 1: who could take advantage of the things that you provide, 345 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:09,840 Speaker 1: where's like, how do you direct the market opportunity because 346 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:13,199 Speaker 1: this is culture wi, So do you talk about we 347 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 1: are building for black people by black people, or this 348 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:18,679 Speaker 1: is for just people. Talk to me about how you 349 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 1: think about that. 350 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:24,439 Speaker 3: Yeah, so this is a black company, but we're not 351 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 3: a black company, if that makes sense. We're not only 352 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:32,440 Speaker 3: trying to connect black people. The connectivity problem. Our issue 353 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:35,680 Speaker 3: is not just for black people. We have rural America 354 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:39,560 Speaker 3: where most those people don't look like us. Those farming 355 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 3: communities are those communities that are not located anywhere near city. 356 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:47,120 Speaker 3: All of those don't look like black people, but they 357 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 3: still have culture. 358 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:49,120 Speaker 2: That's their culture. 359 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:53,359 Speaker 3: If I like going out and hunting and being in 360 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 3: a wilderness or farming, that's a culture. That's not my culture, 361 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:01,360 Speaker 3: but that is a culture. So we wanted to make 362 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 3: something a brand that lets you know, like, hey, we're 363 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 3: all about culture is what makes us. It doesn't have 364 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 3: to be one specific culture, but culture is what makes America. 365 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:16,200 Speaker 3: Culture is what connects us. And so, you know, while 366 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:19,800 Speaker 3: I'm very proud and supportive but my culture, I recognize 367 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:23,159 Speaker 3: and understand that other cultures have needs and it just 368 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:26,879 Speaker 3: doesn't look like one thing or another. We have connectivity 369 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 3: issues in the hood, but we also have connectivity issues 370 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 3: in the country. 371 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:33,760 Speaker 2: It's all culture, and we're here to solve that need. 372 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:37,399 Speaker 2: This is a black company, but we're not a black company. 373 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:43,760 Speaker 1: So so how does like a remote workforce change the 374 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 1: dynamic when you talk about, you know, the digital divide 375 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:49,879 Speaker 1: and our lack of connectivity in so many areas, you know, 376 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:53,280 Speaker 1: because I imagine it would widen the gap of the 377 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 1: digital guide. 378 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 3: So if you think about it, if you have a 379 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:00,280 Speaker 3: community that is sixty eight percent black and most of 380 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:04,000 Speaker 3: those guys are are most of those people are want 381 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 3: team or only have available warehouse jobs or working at 382 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 3: the prison, they have no option to even apply for 383 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:17,400 Speaker 3: a remote job because one they don't have the connectivity 384 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 3: that supports it. 385 00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:21,919 Speaker 2: Two they don't have the device to even apply for 386 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 2: those jobs. Let alone hold those jobs. 387 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:29,320 Speaker 3: So that even widened this gap and limits what income 388 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:32,440 Speaker 3: they can have they have and that speaks to my 389 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:33,880 Speaker 3: hometown as well. 390 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:38,560 Speaker 2: Like most of the people there and they are limited. 391 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:41,440 Speaker 3: To working at the warehouse, or working at the prison, 392 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 3: or working at the factory, and they don't have the 393 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:48,400 Speaker 3: option to apply for a remote job. So what does 394 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:50,679 Speaker 3: it look like if we go to that community and 395 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:54,880 Speaker 3: now we provide four G cbrs five G network called 396 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:58,120 Speaker 3: fiber network, so that they now can apply for those 397 00:20:58,119 --> 00:20:58,960 Speaker 3: type of jobs. 398 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:00,760 Speaker 2: They can sit at home home and. 399 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:05,480 Speaker 3: Have a job that is above memum wage without leaving 400 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:08,560 Speaker 3: the comforts of their home. So it's very important that 401 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:11,720 Speaker 3: we touch these communities and provide the communications or the 402 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:17,119 Speaker 3: technologies for them in order to just expand the horizon. 403 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:20,400 Speaker 2: And it's not and it's not the only thing limit 404 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:21,760 Speaker 2: to them is where they live. 405 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:25,199 Speaker 3: That that shouldn't be. That shouldn't be, not an America, 406 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:28,280 Speaker 3: not in twenty twenty four, It shouldn't be. So that's 407 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:31,680 Speaker 3: that's that's that's why we feel our mission is so important. 408 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 1: When you're doing the work that you're doing, you know, 409 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 1: community service, word, job training, you know you're assisting in. 410 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:38,840 Speaker 2: Areas like that. 411 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:42,600 Speaker 1: How does a startup do so many things successfully? 412 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:46,640 Speaker 3: It goes back to partnerships. You know, we understand that 413 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 3: we're good at what we're good at. We have to 414 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 3: have great partners that understand the makeup of the community. 415 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:55,320 Speaker 3: They know the residents a little bit more than we 416 00:21:55,359 --> 00:21:58,320 Speaker 3: would in a particular area. So you have to go 417 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 3: where you have to partner with people who know how 418 00:22:02,119 --> 00:22:04,399 Speaker 3: to do the things that you're not good at. And 419 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 3: so that has been a successful cultural Wireless, making sure 420 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:10,480 Speaker 3: that we partner with organizations that you know, are from 421 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:13,919 Speaker 3: the communities that we're looking to serve, and then asking 422 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:16,479 Speaker 3: them how can we be of help? How can we 423 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 3: be of service to you so that we can help 424 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 3: everyone in the community achieve a goal. And so it's 425 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:27,160 Speaker 3: all about it's all about partnerships. It comes down to partnerships. 426 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:31,520 Speaker 1: And you know, congratulations, you recently started a fiber roll out. 427 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:35,440 Speaker 1: You know you're not just mobile anymore. You talk about 428 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:38,199 Speaker 1: what that means. I have an imagination of what it 429 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:40,520 Speaker 1: might mean to be in the fiber, but can you 430 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 1: tell me about that. 431 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:45,679 Speaker 3: Yeah, so fiber right now is the fastest connection that 432 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:50,560 Speaker 3: you can get. But understandably that is also the expensive 433 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:56,399 Speaker 3: the most expensive technology or expensive process in order to 434 00:22:56,440 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 3: deliver services or deliver technology to a community. 435 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:02,160 Speaker 2: So we've been lucky to one join an. 436 00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:06,359 Speaker 3: Open access network down in Clayton County where we partner 437 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:09,960 Speaker 3: with an infrastructure company that recently bought up one hundred 438 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 3: and thirteen miles a fiber and then they wanted to 439 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:17,840 Speaker 3: connect the residents of that area, so they actually had 440 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:21,800 Speaker 3: the foundation and we came on as the ISP to 441 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 3: operate as the service for that company. So we didn't 442 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:27,199 Speaker 3: build in that way, but we also just want a 443 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 3: project in Crenshaw Destination Crenshaw where they're looking to connect 444 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:37,520 Speaker 3: twenty seven thousand residents and businesses along that development, where 445 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:40,240 Speaker 3: we will be rolling out and building our own fiber. 446 00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:40,640 Speaker 2: And so. 447 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:45,920 Speaker 3: Like again, that's one of those things where we take 448 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:49,240 Speaker 3: pride and owning the infrastructure of these communities so that 449 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:53,800 Speaker 3: we can figure out the best way to advance technologies 450 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:57,959 Speaker 3: or advance that community. Maybe it's providing sensor so that 451 00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:01,920 Speaker 3: crime goes down, or we can under stand the air 452 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:05,000 Speaker 3: quality and the areas that we're living in. Owning that 453 00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:09,840 Speaker 3: infrastructure and laying that fiber allows us the ability to 454 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:13,800 Speaker 3: expand and really develop some type of community as a 455 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:19,119 Speaker 3: service and platforms that we could really change our neighborhoods upon. 456 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 2: And you know, the fiber it allows you to do 457 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:23,800 Speaker 2: so much. 458 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:27,480 Speaker 3: It gives you the ability to do so much in 459 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 3: our communities, from smart cities to you name it, and 460 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:35,719 Speaker 3: so owning that infrastructure and putting that in the ground 461 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:39,159 Speaker 3: has been a great asset for our company. 462 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 1: You know, I want to talk about pivots a little bit, 463 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:45,040 Speaker 1: because you know, almost every startup has to. You know, 464 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:47,520 Speaker 1: we come in the game with a certain idea of 465 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:50,480 Speaker 1: what might work in the marketplace, and you know, you 466 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:51,840 Speaker 1: you you do a little bit thing, a little bit 467 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:53,880 Speaker 1: different over here, you change a little bit over there 468 00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:57,080 Speaker 1: to find that product market fit. Talk to me about 469 00:24:57,119 --> 00:25:00,920 Speaker 1: things that you guys assumed in the be and things 470 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:02,720 Speaker 1: that you said, you know what, let's let's kill this 471 00:25:02,760 --> 00:25:05,119 Speaker 1: over here and focus more on what's working over here. 472 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'll say one thing that we probably assumed is that, 473 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 3: you know, because we're going to areas where no internet 474 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:19,959 Speaker 3: service provider is that people would automatically just signed up 475 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:22,600 Speaker 3: like Hey, this is the fascinating that here, this is 476 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 3: the thing, this is the newest hottens. These guys are 477 00:25:25,920 --> 00:25:28,240 Speaker 3: you know, really a part of the community. We're just 478 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:29,360 Speaker 3: gonna go ahead and sign up. 479 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 2: Yeah. Nah. 480 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:35,879 Speaker 3: Now, so you know, we had to really educate people. 481 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:38,560 Speaker 3: So you know, we had to tell what is fiber, 482 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:41,600 Speaker 3: what does fiber look like? What is the difference between 483 00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:46,560 Speaker 3: five grand wireless? Is our network built by somebody else? 484 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:50,320 Speaker 3: Or we are we owned by somebody else? Those are 485 00:25:50,320 --> 00:25:52,439 Speaker 3: the type of questions that you know, we had to 486 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:55,840 Speaker 3: go and really just sit in front of the community 487 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:58,359 Speaker 3: and say, hey, you know, we are trying to build 488 00:25:58,359 --> 00:26:01,600 Speaker 3: this ourselves. We're not on by anyone, We're not a 489 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 3: face for anyone. We're coming in the community and building 490 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:09,760 Speaker 3: this ourselves. These are the type of programs know, whenever 491 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:12,640 Speaker 3: we sign you up from ACP, no, we're not inviting 492 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:15,320 Speaker 3: the government into your home to click on to see 493 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:16,720 Speaker 3: what you're watching and clicking on. 494 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:19,359 Speaker 2: We have to have those type of conversations. 495 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:23,120 Speaker 3: So we really had to embed ourselves and make sure 496 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:25,600 Speaker 3: that we were answering those little bitty questions that we 497 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:28,600 Speaker 3: never thought anybody would ask. We have to answer those 498 00:26:28,640 --> 00:26:31,200 Speaker 3: and make and show them like, hey, you know, we're 499 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:33,400 Speaker 3: a part of the community. We're gonna answer every question 500 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:35,880 Speaker 3: that you have. But we're providing this technology for. 501 00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:40,119 Speaker 1: You because you're doing things in communications. I wonder you 502 00:26:40,160 --> 00:26:42,280 Speaker 1: know what your experience has been like having to work 503 00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:46,120 Speaker 1: with governments and how that is navigating it and getting support. 504 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:47,280 Speaker 1: Can you talk about that? 505 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, so, you know, I'm in Atlanta, so uh so 506 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:56,160 Speaker 3: a lot of our government officials look like us. And 507 00:26:56,359 --> 00:26:58,240 Speaker 3: you know, Atlanta is one of the few cities where 508 00:26:58,280 --> 00:27:02,480 Speaker 3: I feel like everyone support everyone, you know, as long 509 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:06,440 Speaker 3: as you have a good mission or right a good business. 510 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:08,640 Speaker 3: I feel like Atlanta is one of those places where 511 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:12,280 Speaker 3: we have a good mixture between business and the government, 512 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:16,439 Speaker 3: the school system, the entrepreneurs of the city, like we 513 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:20,280 Speaker 3: all work together, and just being able to have that 514 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:23,679 Speaker 3: one on one relationship or knowing someone that you went 515 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:28,280 Speaker 3: to high school with or for Andre Mayor Dickens. He 516 00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:30,879 Speaker 3: was an advisor at Georgia Take while I was there, 517 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:33,600 Speaker 3: so I had him prior to being a mayor. So 518 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:37,120 Speaker 3: whenever he came to our grand opening or our kickoff, 519 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:40,040 Speaker 3: our lunch party, and so it's having those type of 520 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:44,280 Speaker 3: relationships in the government that you know, it's beneficial whenever 521 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:46,600 Speaker 3: you're trying to grow a company or trying to do 522 00:27:46,680 --> 00:27:49,720 Speaker 3: something in the community. Because they know you, they know 523 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:52,720 Speaker 3: they've seen the work you've put in, they've known the. 524 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:55,720 Speaker 2: Things that you've done in the community. So that definitely helps. 525 00:27:57,400 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 3: On the federal side, we've started working with this and 526 00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:04,680 Speaker 3: what we found there is it's all about relationships. Making 527 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 3: sure that your your face is seen, making sure that 528 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:11,240 Speaker 3: your voice is heard, attending those meetings, and actually being 529 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:14,280 Speaker 3: involved even if it doesn't benefit you. You know, hey, 530 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:16,480 Speaker 3: you might have to volunteer for something, or you might 531 00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:18,720 Speaker 3: need to go to an event that has nothing to 532 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:22,400 Speaker 3: do with your business, be seen, be an asset, and 533 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:24,680 Speaker 3: those are the ways that you you know, you are 534 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:28,000 Speaker 3: able to partner with the government. Now, the process is long. 535 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:30,879 Speaker 3: You may not get paid on something that you know 536 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:34,320 Speaker 3: for a while, but that's that's procurement. That's the process 537 00:28:34,359 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 3: that they have. You know, it takes some time to 538 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:39,360 Speaker 3: get paid by the federal government. You have to build 539 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:41,960 Speaker 3: a business that you're not just solely depending on that. 540 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:44,160 Speaker 3: But you just have to make sure you have a 541 00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:48,280 Speaker 3: good relationship, networking, make sure you attend those events. Like 542 00:28:48,320 --> 00:28:50,800 Speaker 3: I said, make sure your face is seen and your 543 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:55,280 Speaker 3: voice is being heard, and doing positive things things throughout 544 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:58,600 Speaker 3: the community. And that's the only way that you'll be 545 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:01,880 Speaker 3: able to have some type of relationship or some type 546 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:04,760 Speaker 3: of great partnership with government entities. 547 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:08,600 Speaker 1: You know, there's a quote that I love, and maybe 548 00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:11,160 Speaker 1: it's not a quote, but it's more philosophy in that 549 00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 1: you can do well while doing well. You can do 550 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 1: good while doing good. And you know a lot of 551 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:19,560 Speaker 1: what I hear you talking about is passion for you know, 552 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:23,600 Speaker 1: helping communities who deserve and should have a right to 553 00:29:23,720 --> 00:29:27,240 Speaker 1: be connected and have an equal playing field like many 554 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:29,120 Speaker 1: of us. Do you know you and I are on 555 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 1: a high speed internet right now. I assume you're on, 556 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 1: and so there are communities who are held down because 557 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:37,479 Speaker 1: they don't have that access. At the same time, you're 558 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:43,240 Speaker 1: building a business that hopefully, you know, becomes humongous in time, 559 00:29:43,880 --> 00:29:45,640 Speaker 1: and so can you talk to me and I guess 560 00:29:45,640 --> 00:29:48,560 Speaker 1: talk to entrepreneurs who are listening to this in your 561 00:29:48,800 --> 00:29:52,000 Speaker 1: thinking about doing well while doing well? 562 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:56,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think that, like you said, you can do 563 00:29:56,800 --> 00:29:59,960 Speaker 3: well while doing well making sure that your money does good. 564 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:03,120 Speaker 2: Good capital a good use of capital. 565 00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:07,480 Speaker 3: I let me see the best way to ask this 566 00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:13,560 Speaker 3: question from from from our standpoint or from how I 567 00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:14,520 Speaker 3: look at it. 568 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:16,520 Speaker 2: Our community has been one. 569 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:22,160 Speaker 3: Of the least developed areas and most oftentimes everything that 570 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:26,400 Speaker 3: is associated to our community or our group or our demographic. 571 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:29,680 Speaker 3: You know, we get the last bit or we get 572 00:30:29,680 --> 00:30:30,920 Speaker 3: the last portion of it. 573 00:30:31,040 --> 00:30:33,640 Speaker 2: So we have the biggest room to grow. 574 00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:37,920 Speaker 3: We have the best margins that you can think of 575 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:42,600 Speaker 3: because we are the least development and so there's opportunity 576 00:30:42,680 --> 00:30:45,320 Speaker 3: in that. But at the same time, you have to 577 00:30:45,320 --> 00:30:49,479 Speaker 3: make sure that you're not using our people and just 578 00:30:49,560 --> 00:30:51,920 Speaker 3: trying to come and get money out of the community 579 00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:54,720 Speaker 3: and go do something else with it. And I think 580 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:59,760 Speaker 3: when you have an authentic message, our community really sees that. 581 00:30:59,840 --> 00:31:02,320 Speaker 3: We can tell that, and we can tell who is 582 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:06,040 Speaker 3: really just coming to take from the community or who's 583 00:31:06,080 --> 00:31:11,520 Speaker 3: really really trying to invest and make sure that the 584 00:31:11,560 --> 00:31:12,440 Speaker 3: community as. 585 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:13,400 Speaker 2: A whole does better. 586 00:31:14,120 --> 00:31:17,360 Speaker 3: And whenever you have that authentic voice along with the 587 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:21,320 Speaker 3: good product, I believe that the community sees that and 588 00:31:22,040 --> 00:31:24,520 Speaker 3: you can definitely do well once you invest in your 589 00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:28,520 Speaker 3: people or in these communities, because we haven't we haven't 590 00:31:28,560 --> 00:31:30,840 Speaker 3: had that development I heard I had. 591 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:32,520 Speaker 2: I went to a. 592 00:31:32,920 --> 00:31:39,560 Speaker 3: A session where Ambassador Andrew Young was speaking and he 593 00:31:39,680 --> 00:31:43,120 Speaker 3: was talking about, you know, look at everybody wanting to 594 00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:46,360 Speaker 3: have interest in Africa. Right now, everybody is trying to 595 00:31:46,640 --> 00:31:49,520 Speaker 3: move to Africa or have some type of business set 596 00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:52,760 Speaker 3: up in Africa because it's been the least development. And 597 00:31:52,800 --> 00:31:55,960 Speaker 3: so now it's about making sure that we have the 598 00:31:56,040 --> 00:31:58,440 Speaker 3: right companies that are going to Africa, we have the 599 00:31:58,520 --> 00:32:01,440 Speaker 3: right partnerships that are going to so that we can 600 00:32:01,480 --> 00:32:05,800 Speaker 3: build an actual connection and expand the community there. But 601 00:32:06,160 --> 00:32:09,960 Speaker 3: with the right intentions and so there are a lot 602 00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:14,440 Speaker 3: of ways that you can do well while doing well, 603 00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:16,960 Speaker 3: and you know, I feel like there's a lot of margin, 604 00:32:17,040 --> 00:32:18,800 Speaker 3: a lot of opportunity in our companies and we just 605 00:32:18,840 --> 00:32:22,520 Speaker 3: hope that everyone that comes or tries to work in 606 00:32:22,560 --> 00:32:26,000 Speaker 3: this space has an authentic Going. 607 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:43,600 Speaker 1: To Black Tech Green Money is a production of Blavity 608 00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:46,280 Speaker 1: Afro Tech on the Black Effect podcast network in night 609 00:32:46,360 --> 00:32:49,840 Speaker 1: Heart Media. Is produced by Morgan Debonne and me Well Lucas. 610 00:32:50,360 --> 00:32:52,200 Speaker 1: Learn more about my Guess and other technics. Up is 611 00:32:52,240 --> 00:32:56,120 Speaker 1: the innovators at afrotech dot Com enjoying Black Tech Green Money. 612 00:32:56,920 --> 00:33:01,320 Speaker 1: Share with somebody, go get your money, Peace and love.