Inside ARDC: Bdale Garbee KB0G on Funding the Future of Ham Radio

Bdale Garbee KB0G is the President of Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), the private foundation quietly reshaping the future of ham radio. With deep roots in the early internet and the historic allocation of 44Net, ARDC today manages a $100M+ endowment, granting millions each year to fund innovation, education, and community growth. In this conversation, Bdale traces the remarkable journey from ham radio’s early experiments with packet radio and TCP/IP, through the unexpected windfall of 44Net’s value, to the creation of a professional, forward-looking foundation now driving some of the most ambitious projects in amateur radio. He offers an inside look at how ARDC evaluates grants, what defines success, and why the foundation’s long-term vision matters for anyone who cares about the future of communication, experimentation, and connection.

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