Episode 453: Mission-Driven Broadband: Lessons from the Surf Internet Team

In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Pete Pizzutillo sits down with Gene Crusie (CEO and Head Coach), Kevin Bush (Chief Revenue Officer), and Amber Rodriguez (Senior Director of Growth Marketing) from Surf Internet. Together, they share the story behind Surf’s mission to bring future-proof fiber connectivity to underserved communities across the Great Lakes region. From their early roots as a fixed wireless and dial-up ISP to their bold “Go Big or Go Home” strategy that now fuels their aggressive fiber deployments, the Surf leadership team discusses what it means to lead with integrity, build trust in local communities, and drive measurable impact through public-private partnerships. You’ll hear real stories of lives changed—like a college student able to care for her dying mother thanks to fiber access, and a family saved from job loss through rapid deployment. The conversation also explores Surf’s approach to BEAD funding uncertainty, their investment in AI-ready networks, and how they maintain top-tier Net Promoter Scores by staying local, transparent, and customer-first.