In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, sponsored by ETI Software and VETRO FiberMap, Pete Pizzutillo catches up with Chris McKenzie, VP of Network Operations at Rapid Fiber, while at Calix ConneXions 2025. Chris shares his unconventional journey from the music industry to corporate IT to rural broadband, and how that experience shaped Rapid Fiber’s fast-moving deployment strategy. In just two years, the team has grown from zero to 7,000 subscribers while building out their entire network—staying a full quarter ahead of schedule. He explains why they rejected traditional demand aggregation and instead marketed fiber availability feeder-by-feeder, dramatically improving customer satisfaction and community engagement.
Chris also breaks down how AI is quickly becoming essential for small, efficient broadband teams. Rapid Fiber is using automation to reduce truck rolls, stay ahead of network issues, and keep subscriber experiences strong. He also highlights the value of Calix ConneXions, where operators gain direct access to industry leaders and emerging technologies. Tune in to learn how Rapid Fiber is scaling rural broadband with precision, creativity, and AI-driven operations.
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In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, sponsored by ETI Software and VETRO FiberMap, Pete Pizzutillo catches up with Chris McKenzie, VP of Network Operations at Rapid Fiber, while at Calix ConneXions 2025. Chris shares his unconventional journey from the music industry to corporate IT to rural broadband, and how that experience shaped Rapid Fiber’s fast-moving deployment strategy. In just two years, the team has grown from zero to 7,000 subscribers while building out their entire network—staying a full quarter ahead of schedule. He explains why they rejected traditional demand aggregation and instead marketed fiber availability feeder-by-feeder, dramatically improving customer satisfaction and community engagement.
Chris also breaks down how AI is quickly becoming essential for small, efficient broadband teams. Rapid Fiber is using automation to reduce truck rolls, stay ahead of network issues, and keep subscriber experiences strong. He also highlights the value of Calix ConneXions, where operators gain direct access to industry leaders and emerging technologies. Tune in to learn how Rapid Fiber is scaling rural broadband with precision, creativity, and AI-driven operations.
Episode 462: How Drew Beverage is Driving 360 Broadband’s Transformation in Rural America
The Broadband Bunch
34 minutes 15 seconds
2 months ago
Episode 462: How Drew Beverage is Driving 360 Broadband’s Transformation in Rural America
In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Brad Hine sits down with Drew Beverage, Chief Operating Officer of 360 Broadband, from the floor at Mountain Connect in Denver. Drew shares the story of 360 Broadband’s evolution from a fixed wireless provider to a hybrid network operator bringing fiber to some of the most rural areas in Oklahoma and Texas. With 96 competitors in their expansive 12,000-square-mile footprint, Drew emphasizes that price is not their differentiator—customer experience is.
The conversation explores how 360 Broadband is using innovative tools and AI-powered platforms like GoCare, QC.AI, Actifai, and Sonar to meet customers where they are, proactively communicate during outages, and personalize service at scale. Drew walks through the operational benefits of text-based support, intelligent call scoring, and AI-driven self-service sales that happen even after midnight—all backed by real-time data and seamless system integrations.
Listeners will also hear Drew reflect on his personal journey from tower climber to telecom COO, his early days in the family business, and the leadership values that continue to guide his team today. With his trademark humility and wit, Drew offers insight into the changing broadband landscape, from BEAD funding complexities to the future of rural connectivity, and why an open ecosystem of best-in-class vendors is key to staying competitive.
The Broadband Bunch
In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, sponsored by ETI Software and VETRO FiberMap, Pete Pizzutillo catches up with Chris McKenzie, VP of Network Operations at Rapid Fiber, while at Calix ConneXions 2025. Chris shares his unconventional journey from the music industry to corporate IT to rural broadband, and how that experience shaped Rapid Fiber’s fast-moving deployment strategy. In just two years, the team has grown from zero to 7,000 subscribers while building out their entire network—staying a full quarter ahead of schedule. He explains why they rejected traditional demand aggregation and instead marketed fiber availability feeder-by-feeder, dramatically improving customer satisfaction and community engagement.
Chris also breaks down how AI is quickly becoming essential for small, efficient broadband teams. Rapid Fiber is using automation to reduce truck rolls, stay ahead of network issues, and keep subscriber experiences strong. He also highlights the value of Calix ConneXions, where operators gain direct access to industry leaders and emerging technologies. Tune in to learn how Rapid Fiber is scaling rural broadband with precision, creativity, and AI-driven operations.
