Episode 465: AI in Broadband 101 – Why Interoperability Comes First

In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Brad Hine is joined by Jeff Boozer, VP of Broadband Strategy at ETI Software, and Don Eben, CEO of CORE Consults, for a conversation on what it really takes for broadband providers to succeed with artificial intelligence. While AI is being hailed as the future of telecom operations, the trio cuts through the buzz to explore the foundational elements that make AI effective—namely, high-quality data, robust integration, and a strategic focus on interoperability. Drawing on their experience across the broadband ecosystem, Jeff and Don explain why many providers are struggling to implement AI in a meaningful way. The discussion covers how to break down legacy data silos, the importance of defining a “gold” data standard, and how to move from isolated tools to an enterprise-level data and integration strategy. They emphasize that AI should not be viewed as a human replacement but rather as an enabler for faster, smarter decision-making—from customer service to network maintenance to executive dashboards. The conversation also explores the growing preference for best-in-class systems over end-to-end platforms and how this shift is driving the need for interoperability across OSS, BSS, GIS, and beyond. As Brad notes, AI success doesn’t begin with the model—it begins with the data architecture and the ability to integrate that data cleanly and contextually.