Board Treasurer

Christopher Mitchell is the Director of the Community Broadband Networks Initiative with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) in Minneapolis, Treasurer on the Board of Waskawiwin, and co-founder of the Tribal Broadband Bootcamp events.

Mitchell built CommunityNetworks.org, the comprehensive online clearinghouse of information about local government policies to improve Internet access. Its interactive community broadband network map tracks more than 600 networks. He also hosts audio and video shows online, including Community Broadband Bits and Connect This!

With Matthew Rantanen and many others who generously shared their time and expertise, Christopher Mitchell co-founded the Tribal Broadband Bootcamp events that have worked with people from more than 75 Tribes across North America and well over 400 participants since 2021.

Public Knowledge presented Christopher with its Internet Protocol award in 2021, which honors those who have made significant contributions to Internet policy. In 2019, the Coalition for Local Internet Choice gave Mitchell its “Indispensable” Award and the Blandin Foundation of Minnesota presented him with a “Courageous Leadership” award. In 2015, the White House used Mitchell’s research as building blocks in a National Economic Council report encouraging community networks. He was honored as one of the 2012 Top 25 in Public Sector Technology by Government Technology, which honors the top “Doers, Drivers, and Dreamers” in the nation each year. Christopher helped to found Next Century Cities and served as Director of Policy for its first five years.

He earned a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Hubert Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Macalester College.

He is also a professional sports photographer, shooting regularly for the University of Minnesota’s Golden Gophers and other clients in Minnesota. Previously, he worked as a server administrator, web geek, and in automated quality assurance for software.

• Bluesky