World’s largest fiber broadband event set to “Light It Up” in Nashville

WASHINGTON, D.C – (October 15, 2024) – The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) today opened the Call for Speakers for Fiber Connect 2025, the world’s largest fiber broadband conference, held June 1 – 4, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn.

Fiber Connect 2025 will navigate the advancement of fiber broadband as the industry starts to “light it up” with the first BEAD-funded networks. The event is expected to draw more than 5,000 attendees from across the fiber broadband ecosystem as network operators, service providers, state broadband offices, technology innovators, and broadband industry leaders gather to collaborate, gain knowledge, and further advance the fiber industry.

“The fiber broadband industry is at a pivotal moment with nearly all Initial BEAD Proposals approved. We must build on this progress, and Fiber Connect delivers the experts, insight, and networking opportunities to advance connectivity initiatives,” said Evann Freeman, FBA Conference Committee Chair, FBA Board Member, and EPB Vice President, Government & Community Relations. “We’re curating the Fiber Connect 2025 agenda with content and speakers that will help service providers and network operators ‘Light Up’ the fiber broadband deployment maps by the end of the decade, ensuring that every American can connect to the possibilities only fully unlocked with fiber broadband.”

Fiber Connect 2025 is accepting speaker submissions for breakout sessions only. These breakout sessions are 100% panel-based and focused on key issues driving the fiber broadband industry forward. FBA is seeking industry experts to share insights, experience, and best practices. Submissions should be non-commercial in nature and focus on what the individual speaker can share with the audience. The Call for Speakers is not looking for panel suggestions as part of this process.

Individuals interested in participating in a breakout panel session should submit their qualifications via the Speaker Submission Portal before Friday, November 22, 2024. More information on the speaker submission process can be found on the FBA website here. The topics for submission include:

• Deployment Best Practices: Addressing challenges, opportunities, and solutions in the deployment of fiber broadband, this track will focus on how operators will take fiber further, especially to new, unserved markets.
• Networks at Work: The What, When, and How of Expanding Fiber Footprints: Operational and management insights as operators expand the range and reach of fiber broadband networks and services.
• Fiber Economics: Creating the Connections that Lead to Growth: Financial considerations and opportunities operators need to consider when deploying fiber broadband services in either greenfield or existing network environments in both rural and urban environments.
• Tribal Broadband: Key Considerations and Expectations: Sustainable paths for connecting tribal communities with fiber broadband in accordance with individual nations’ laws and customs.
• Outside Plant: Digging in as BEAD Doles Out: Exploring the realities of deploying fiber broadband to new locations and the technologies and systems available to help operators expand.
• Middle Mile: Keeping It All Connected: Deployment of middle mile networks in supporting network operator fiber broadband expansion in rural broadband expansion.
• Service Provider Ecosystem: Building Teams That Move Business Forward: How the fiber broadband industry can improve the service providers’ experience by addressing industry challenges and reducing silos.
• Digital Equity and Workforce Development: Efforts to create workforce development programs to help close the digital divide.

All Fiber Connect 2025 speaking submissions will be reviewed by the FBA Conference Committee with the following considerations: expertise on subject matter, involvement with FBA, and relevant speaker experience. No submissions featuring or focused on specific company products or solutions will be considered. For questions about submissions, contact Program Director Richard Williams at rwilliams@fiberbroadband.org. To learn more about product presentations, contact Lucy Green at lgreen@fiberbroadband.org about sponsorship opportunities at Fiber Connect 2025.

###

About the Fiber Broadband Association
The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists dedicated to the advancement of fiber broadband deployment and the pursuit of a world where communications are limitless, advancing quality of life and digital equity anywhere and everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers, communities, and policy makers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations, and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build the critical infrastructure that provides the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in North America, LATAM, Europe, MEA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.

Press Contact:
Autumn Minnich
Connect2 Communications for the Fiber Broadband Association
FBA@connect2comm.com

Fiber Broadband Association Bundles Membership with OpTIC Path Workforce Development Program

Combination provides access to fiber broadband ecosystem, resources, and workforce training program

WASHINGTON, D.C.—(September 23, 2024)—The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) today announced its OpTIC Path Membership Bundle that combines FBA membership with FBA’s Optical Telecom Installer Certification (OpTIC Path) program. The bundle offers access to a deep ecosystem of broadband operators, suppliers, policymakers, and innovators, and is a wise option for organizations investing in workforce development and training.

Workforce development is a critical issue that the broadband market must overcome. A recent study published by FBA and the Power & Communication Contractors Association (PCCA) found that the current unprecedented level of broadband funding requires an extraordinary volume of engineering and construction activity that the market is not prepared to support and will result in broadband deployment delays. The study reported that the industry needs to recruit and train nearly 180,000 workers over the next 10 years to complete the networks that federal and state governments are currently preparing to fund.

FBA’s OpTIC Path program is a comprehensive training solution designed to address the growing need for skilled fiber optic technicians in the telecommunications industry. The program equips individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to design, install, maintain, and troubleshoot fiber optic networks. FBA is currently engaged with 40 states to roll out the OpTIC Path program, with 44 service providers and 70 community colleges and training institutions. The program is expected to graduate around 1,200 new fiber techs per year over the next five years as the need for skilled labor continues to grow.

“The fiber broadband industry needs to do everything it can to address the workforce shortage. This membership bundle creates a direct path to training materials, certifications, upskilling, safety practices, and more that will produce credentialed technicians ready for employment,” said Deborah Kish, Vice President of Research and Workforce Development at the Fiber Broadband Association. “Combining our program with the FBA membership benefits will foster growth, innovation, and a competitive edge in the dynamic broadband industry.”

“Evolving our membership options and packages to fit the changing needs of the industry is a high priority for FBA,” said Jennifer Vassil, Director of Membership, Fiber Broadband Association. “Workforce development is a challenge that is top of mind for many broadband businesses, and the OpTIC Path program makes it easier for the industry to properly train and hire the technicians that are so urgently needed. The new membership bundle will put the keys to workforce improvement directly in the hands of those that are building networks and connecting communities.”

To learn more about the OpTIC Path program, visit fiberbroadband.org/education-and-certification/fba-optic-path. To learn more about FBA membership, visit fiberbroadband.org/become-a-member. Or, subscribe to FBA’s Fiber Forward Weekly newsletter here.

###

About the Fiber Broadband Association
The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists dedicated to the advancement of fiber broadband deployment and the pursuit of a world where communications are limitless, advancing quality of life and digital equity anywhere and everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers, communities, and policymakers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations, and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build the critical infrastructure that provides the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in North America, LATAM, Europe, MEA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.

Press Contact:
Autumn Minnich
Connect2 Communications for the Fiber Broadband Association
FBA@connect2comm.com

Industry experts guide collaboration to achieve successful deployment of broadband connectivity

WASHINGTON, D.C.—(September 4, 2024)—Today, a group of leading broadband organizations published a strategic paper titled “Permitting Success: Closing the Digital Divide Through Local Broadband Permitting.” The paper will help local governments and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) navigate broadband network construction challenges and maximize investments in broadband connectivity for all Americans.

The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, in partnership with the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy, the American Association for Public Broadband, Fiber Broadband Association, Brightspeed, and GFiber, wrote the Permitting Success paper. 

The paper publishes at a critical moment when broadband infrastructure funding is at an all-time high due to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program—the single largest broadband program in U.S. history. This historic level of funding creates an opportunity to bring high-speed internet access to every community in America and close the digital divide.

Historic levels of funding will accelerate broadband network construction, putting enormous pressure on local governments responsible for permitting infrastructure construction within municipal boundaries. These processes take time and resources, and not every government is equipped for the coming wave of construction. This is especially true in rural areas, where municipal resources are lowest and BEAD activity will be highest. 

Effective and efficient permitting processes are critical for ISPs and local governments to successfully deploy broadband networks that will give every American community modern connectivity. The Permitting Success paper includes case studies; strategic checklists for ISPs, local governments, and state and federal agencies; and outlines three main categories for permitting success:

• Fostering partnerships between the permit seeker and the permitting authority
• Maximizing resources available to the permitting authority
• Ensuring transparency and consistency in the permitting process

The paper’s findings were identified during a collaborative national summit on local permitting processes convened by Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy, which was attended by more than 30 permitting leaders representing local, state, and federal governments; ISPs; civil society organizations; philanthropies; and other key stakeholders. The paper will be explored during an episode of FBA’s Fiber for Breakfast on September 25, at 10:00 am EDT. Register here to watch the episode live.

Supporting Quotes:

Drew Garner, Director of Policy Engagement, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society:
“Broadband is fundamental to modern life. Yet, for millions of Americans, broadband is unavailable. To correct this, the U.S. has launched a historic effort to bring broadband to every household in the country. But such extensive broadband construction will require extensive construction permitting, and construction permitting often happens at the local level. Thus, the historic effort to close the digital divide will ultimately flow through the permitting offices of our local governments. This paper is intended to help those offices and their applicants operate at maximum efficiency.”

Natalie Roisman, Executive Director, Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy:
“The Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy seeks to be a convener for conversations that are necessary, challenging, and will move the needle on urgent technology policy issues. We were pleased to host the permitting summit that sought input from a wide range of expert private and public sector perspectives, culminating in this thoughtful paper, and hope this process will get us closer to the critical goal of broadband for every American.”

Gigi Sohn, American Association for Public Broadband Executive Director:
“The permitting paper being released today was made possible by a unique collaboration among representatives from across the broadband ecosystem—local, state and federal government officials, civil society, philanthropy and diverse segments of the industry. While there was not always unanimity on every finding, there was complete agreement that everyone benefits when all US households are connected to robust, affordable high-speed broadband. The result is a common sense guide that seeks to ensure that everyone in that ecosystem contributes to a successful local permitting process.”

Fiber Broadband Association President and CEO Gary Bolton:
“There is tremendous opportunity ahead to connect every American to reliable, high-speed broadband and to the economic benefits that come with high-quality connectivity. But every player across the broadband ecosystem needs to develop their best strategy to ensure network construction is safe and efficient and broadband deployment is effective and successful. The Fiber Broadband Association offers a growing library of research and resources to help the industry develop successful strategies for fiber broadband deployment, and we believe this paper is a valuable addition that will help ensure these networks are built right the first time.”

Brightspeed: Tom Dailey, senior vice president, Public Policy, Government Affairs and Regulatory, Brightspeed
“Brightspeed is actively building our state-of-the-art fiber network across 17 states mostly in rural and suburban communities, and positive and timely engagement with permitting authorities is critical. This is especially true when permitting requirements vary from state to state and jurisdiction to jurisdiction. By creating more streamlined, consistent and transparent permitting processes, we can ultimately reach more homes and businesses more efficiently. We very much appreciate the opportunity to engage with the many permissions and policy professionals who contributed their time, energy and most of all their expertise to developing this paper, which will facilitate the successful deployment of broadband networks across the nation.”

GFiber: Darrel Hegar, Head of Market Operations, GFiber
“Everyone deserves access to high-quality broadband internet. Communities and providers must work together to speed up network construction and service delivery. The policies and procedures laid out in this paper provide a clear roadmap for how we can make real, tangible progress to bringing the promise of next-generation internet to reality for all Americans.”    

###

About the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society
The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society’s primary mission is to bring open, affordable, high-capacity and competitive broadband to all people in the U.S. to ensure a thriving democracy. For over 40 years Benton has provided information and analysis about communications policy, including universal service. In recent years, Benton’s activities strengthened local, state, and national leadership by providing the timely information, rigorous evidence, practical guidance, and advocacy support needed to articulate and implement a broadband for all agenda. Benton has long advocated for universal, affordable telecommunications access for everyone living in the United States.

Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy
The Institute for Technology Law and Policy is a hub at the Georgetown University Law Center for policymakers, academics, advocates, and technologists to study and discuss the most pressing issues in technology law and policy. With the leading academic program for law and technology in the U.S., the Tech Institute supports faculty research initiatives and trains the next generation of tech lawyers and policymakers through an unmatched combination of up-to-the-minute curriculum, world-class faculty, and impactful experiential and career development opportunities. In addition, the Tech Institute convenes public and private discussions on urgent and cutting-edge policy issues, conducts workshops for government staff, and works to identify and create opportunities for technology to improve access to justice.

About the American Association for Public Broadband
The American Association for Public Broadband proudly represents community-owned broadband networks and co-ops that are fueling the nation’s economic future through reliable high-speed internet access. With more than 650+ networks across 33 states, public––or municipal broadband––is answering America’s call for reliable, affordable, and accessible internet for all.

About the Fiber Broadband Association
The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists dedicated to the advancement of fiber broadband deployment and the pursuit of a world where communications are limitless, advancing quality of life and digital equity anywhere and everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers, communities, and policymakers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations, and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build the critical infrastructure that provides the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in North America, LATAM, Europe, MEA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org or subscribe to FBA’s Fiber Forward Weekly newsletter here.

About Brightspeed
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., and with assets and associated operations in 20 states, Brightspeed provides broadband and telecommunications services through a network platform capable of serving more than 6.5 million homes and businesses. Our 4,000 employees are committed to building a future where more communities benefit from a more connected life, deploying a state-of-the-art fiber network and a customer experience that makes being connected as simple as it should be. For more information, please visit www.brightspeed.com.

About GFiber
GFiber delivers fast, reliable, fairly-priced and open fiber internet service, prioritizing customer service and speed. GFiber started in 2010 as a Google-driven experiment to catalyze the gigabit internet ecosystem, and has since pioneered the gigabit and multigig internet future. For more than a decade, GFiber has maintained its $70/1 Gig base internet plan without any rate increases, and remains committed to bringing the best internet experience to customers in nearly 20 states with plans to further expand. GFiber was awarded PC Mag Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Overall and Fiber ISP in 2024, Best Fiber Internet Provider by Forbes in 2024 and Best Fiber Provider for Gig Internet by CNET in 2024, in addition to top recognitions from J.D. Power, HighSpeedInternet.com and many more. You can find more information, check availability in your area and compare plans at www.fiber.google.com.     

Press Contacts:
Benton Institute for Broadband & Society: Drew Garner, dgarner@benton.org 

Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy: Samantha Simonsen, Program Coordinator, sas497@georgetown.edu 

American Association for Public Broadband: Aaron Alberico, alberico@raynoravenue.com

Brightspeed: Gene Rodriguez Miller, pr@brightspeed.com 

Fiber Broadband Association: Autumn Minnich, FBA@connect2comm.com

GFiber: gfiber-pr@google.com 

Growth in committee membership and representation at Fiber Connect 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C.—(August 14, 2024)—The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) today announced it hosted the fourth annual Women in Fiber (WIF) Luncheon at Fiber Connect for the organization’s WIF Committee that has grown to 300 members in just two years.

The WIF Luncheon is a popular attraction at Fiber Connect events, sparking the creation of the WIF Committee in 2022. It was created to provide FBA members with resources to identify, develop, and promote women in the fiber broadband industry and highlight the link between female leadership and improved business performance. The WIF Committee has expanded to over 300 members, five subcommittees, and over a dozen women who have taken on varying levels of WIF leadership roles.

“This Committee celebrates women in the fiber industry and works on developing education and best practices to advance our industry forward,” said Katie Espeseth, FBA Senior Council Member and EPB Vice President of New Products. “Not only is this an exciting time for the fiber industry, but it’s an exciting time for women in fiber. There are big opportunities ahead, and we want to provide women with encouragement and the tools they might be seeking to tackle challenges, achieve their goals, and help the industry flourish.”

Fiber Connect 2024, held July 28-31, in Nashville, Tenn., featured 75 female speakers, including the WIF Luncheon that featured three dynamic keynote speakers:

• Tina Ruffin, Vice President, DEI Officer, Tennessee Titans
• Chelsea Blythe, Executive Vice President of A&R, Universal Music Group Nashville
• Autumn Nicholas, National Recording Artist

“The Women in Fiber Luncheon at Fiber Connect 2024 was truly inspiring and a testament to the incredible progress and impact women are making in the fiber broadband industry,” said Alexa Edens FBA Women in Fiber Committee Chair and KGPCo Senior Director of Cloud Strategy and Business Development. “Events like these not only celebrate our successes but also provide essential resources and encouragement for women to continue advancing and leading in this field. I am honored to be part of such a forward-thinking and supportive community.”

FBA is not unfamiliar with female leadership—the organization’s team includes nine women who lead FBA research, workforce development, public policy, operations, membership, sales, and more. Additionally, there are six women on FBA’s Senior Council, Board of Directors, and serving as Committee Chairs.

To learn more about FBA’s Women in Fiber Committee, visit the website here or subscribe to FBA’s Fiber Forward Weekly newsletter here to stay updated. Save the date for Fiber Connect 2025, June 1-4, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn.

###

About the Fiber Broadband Association
The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists dedicated to the advancement of fiber broadband deployment and the pursuit of a world where communications are limitless, advancing quality of life and digital equity anywhere and everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers, communities, and policymakers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations, and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build the critical infrastructure that provides the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in North America, LATAM, Europe, MEA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.

Press Contact:
Autumn Minnich
Connect2 Communications for the Fiber Broadband Association
FBA@connect2comm.com

New membership program tightens bond between industry’s leading broadband association and the state broadband offices working to close the digital divide

WASHINGTON, D.C.— (August 8, 2024)—Today, the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) announced a new membership program for State Broadband Offices. Open to all state and territory broadband offices, this program includes access to FBA research, events, and the OpTIC Path fiber optic technician training program, as well as networking and social events. This new program codifies FBA’s ongoing work with State Broadband Offices now as members, creating a stronger connection throughout the entire fiber broadband ecosystem.

“States now have a leading role in broadband development,” said Mitch Carmichael, Cabinet Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Economic Development. “The West Virginia Office of Broadband has set a rapid pace as one of the first states in the nation to secure BEAD funding. The FBA’s new state membership program will provide resources for broadband deployment, workforce development, and digital equity to support West Virginia’s comprehensive broadband development initiative.”

Sally Doty, Director of the Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM), said, “I so appreciate FBA acknowledging the difficult work of state broadband offices and taking this step to provide additional support and resources as we all work toward universal access to connectivity.”

Over the past three years, FBA has worked closely with the State Broadband Offices to share information, provide access to new research and resources, speak at regional conferences, and work collaboratively to address the challenges and opportunities created by the NTIA’s BEAD funding that will reshape how America connects. In addition, FBA has been involved in advisory committee roles with State Broadband Offices as they work through workforce development challenges across the industry.

“Creating connections between industry and state broadband offices is critical and we believe FBA is the ideal place for these two groups to network, plan, and collaborate to advance our industry and the communities we serve,” said Jennifer Vassil, Director of Membership, Fiber Broadband Association. “With NTIA having announced BEAD Initial Proposal Funding Volumes 1-2 for 33 states and territories, creating this membership program fosters a path for deeper collaboration, better communications, and the sharing of information.”

“We believe OpTIC Path stands out as the sole training curriculum available today that comprehensively covers both the construction phase and ongoing operations,” said Todd Jackson, Director of Workforce Development at FBA. “This comprehensive approach will help states meet their workforce development goals as it prepares students to excel as fiber technicians, regardless of their chosen occupation or career trajectory.”

FBA’s State Broadband Office membership program will provide all state office staff with full access to membership benefits. They can engage with FBA’s community of broadband network operators and industry suppliers to learn from each other, network, exchange ideas, and openly discuss common challenges. Together, this membership ecosystem is building better, faster, future-proof fiber broadband networks.

To learn more about Fiber Broadband Association Membership email membership@fiberbroadband.org. To learn more about OpTIC Path, visit the FBA OpTIC Path website here. Subscribe to FBA’s Fiber Forward Weekly newsletter here to stay updated on all FBA news.

###

About the Fiber Broadband Association
The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists dedicated to the advancement of fiber broadband deployment and the pursuit of a world where communications are limitless, advancing quality of life and digital equity anywhere and everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers, communities, and policymakers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations, and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build the critical infrastructure that provides the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in North America, LATAM, Europe, MEA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.

Press Contact:
Autumn Minnich
Connect2 Communications for the Fiber Broadband Association
FBA@connect2comm.com

NASHVILLE, TENN.—(July 31, 2024)—Today at Fiber Connect 2024, the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) announced it presented Julie Kunstler with the Fiber Lifetime Achievement Award. Kunstler dedicated more than 30 years of her career to the communications industry before retiring in April 2024 from her role as Chief Analyst at Omdia. FBA recognized her for outstanding support of the fiber broadband industry and for educating communities on the importance of broadband connectivity for all.

“Julie is a trusted, respected resource for the fiber broadband industry. Her work consistently forecasted important trends, provided guidance on the market landscape, and underscored the value of connectivity,” said Gary Bolton, President and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association. “We congratulate Julie on her accomplished career; she is most deserving of the Fiber Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Kunstler spent more than 13 years at Omdia where she covered the fixed broadband access industry, including components, equipment, and software. She closely followed market and technology developments and subsequent impacts on the vendor ecosystem. Kunstler has also worked as an executive, investor, and board member for communications companies across the globe, both private and publicly-traded. Her experience gave her a unique understanding of the global industry and the insight to forecast market trends that would impact the entire broadband ecosystem.

Both in her career and outside of work Kunstler advocated for broadband connectivity for all. She often volunteered with elderly communities to help them learn to use computers, respond to emails, and keep in touch with grandchildren.

FBA presented Kunstler with the Fiber Lifetime Achievement Award on Tuesday, July 30, during Fiber Connect 2024 general sessions. To learn more about the event, visit the conference website here or subscribe to FBA’s Fiber Forward Weekly newsletter here to stay updated on conference news and more.

###

About the Fiber Broadband Association
The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists dedicated to the advancement of fiber broadband deployment and the pursuit of a world where communications are limitless, advancing quality of life and digital equity anywhere and everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers, communities, and policymakers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations, and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build the critical infrastructure that provides the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in North America, LATAM, Europe, MEA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.

Press Contact:
Autumn Minnich
Connect2 Communications for the Fiber Broadband Association
FBA@connect2comm.com

 Fiber industry veteran honored for commitment to FTTH and workforce development

NASHVILLE, TENN.—(July 30, 2024)—Today at Fiber Connect 2024, the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) presented Mark Boxer with the 2024 Chairman’s Award for his exemplary dedication to the fiber broadband industry and his leadership throughout FBA’s organization for more than two decades.

Each year, the Chairman’s Award honors an individual or company that has shown tremendous effort to promote, educate, or accelerate Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH). Boxer has more than 30 years’ experience in the fiber broadband industry and has served FBA in many capacities. Most notably, Boxer led FBA’s initiative to create a workforce development program to train and certify the technicians needed to connect all Americans to reliable broadband. FBA’s Optical Telecom Installer Certification (OpTIC Path) program was introduced in 2021; today 40 of its targeted 56 states and territories are engaged to roll out the OpTIC Path program, with 44 service providers and 70 community colleges and training institutions. The OpTIC Path program is also rapidly gaining traction among employers in the fiber broadband industry.

“Mark’s unwavering support of the fiber broadband industry and workforce development made him the right candidate for this year’s Chairman’s Award,” said Jimmy Todd, FBA Board Chair and Nex-Tech CEO & General Manager. “He is a valued contributor to FBA and has played a significant role in our ability to address timely workforce issues throughout the industry and advance our mission to connect every community to high-performance fiber broadband.”

In addition to his work on the OpTIC Path program, Boxer is currently serving his second three-year term on the FBA Board of Directors. He is also Board Liaison of the Deployment Specialists Committee and Technology Committee, and Co-Chair and Board Liaison of the Education Committee.

Beyond FBA, he serves OFS as Technical Manager of Solutions and Applications Engineering, where he assists customers deploying fiber in a wide variety of network design scenarios around the world and analyzes trends in telecommunications markets that drive new product innovation. Boxer’s other activities include inventor of five U.S. Patents, member and past Secretary of the IEEE Power Engineering Society Fiber Optic Working Group, and member of North Carolina Broadband Matters.

Boxer was presented with the Chairman’s Award on Monday, July 29, during Fiber Connect 2024 general sessions. To learn more about his workforce development efforts and the OpTIC Path program, visit fiberbroadband.org/education-and-certification/fba-optic-path/. To learn more about Fiber Connect 2024, visit the conference website here or subscribe to FBA’s Fiber Forward Weekly newsletter here to stay updated on conference news and more.

###

About the Fiber Broadband Association
The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists dedicated to the advancement of fiber broadband deployment and the pursuit of a world where communications are limitless, advancing quality of life and digital equity anywhere and everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers, communities, and policymakers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations, and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build the critical infrastructure that provides the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in North America, LATAM, Europe, MEA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.

Press Contact:
Autumn Minnich
Connect2 Communications for the Fiber Broadband Association
FBA@connect2comm.com

Fiber Broadband Association Awards Learning Alliance Corporation for OpTIC Path Advancement and Building a Fiber Workforce

Gene Scott Education Award presented at Fiber Connect 2024 to recognize excellence in fiber broadband workforce development

NASHVILLE, TENN.—(July 30, 2024)—Today at Fiber Connect 2024, the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) announced the Learning Alliance Corporation received the 2024 Gene Scott Education Award. The annual award is given to a person, community, or institution that has significantly impacted the advancement of FBA’s fiber education initiatives. The Learning Alliance is a strong supporter of FBA’s Optical Telecom Installer Certification (OpTIC Path) program, in addition to its own workforce development efforts across multiple trades.

The Learning Alliance is dedicated to building stronger workforce development, with most coursework focused on fiber optic and wireless tower technician fundamentals. The organization works with hundreds of employer partners and connects them with trained candidates to fill the telecom workforce gap across all 50 states. It began offering the OpTIC Path program in 2022, and today has graduated 78% of all OpTIC Path graduates—most of which are veterans. Additionally, the organization has a nearly 80% placement rate with employers.

“An urgent need for well-trained fiber broadband technicians still remains across North America. However, with partners like the Learning Alliance, we’re getting closer to filling the pipeline with certified talent,” said Deborah Kish, Vice President of Research and Workforce Development at the Fiber Broadband Association. “The Learning Alliance has been a dedicated OpTIC Path advocate, helping to advance the program and promote it to more audiences. We’re honored to work with them and we congratulate them on winning this award.”

The Learning Alliance promotes the OpTIC Path program and its graduates throughout the year. It provides marketing materials to promote OpTIC Path, including student testimonial videos, and it features OpTIC Path graduates on its Talent Link applicant tracking system. Most recently, the Learning Alliance created and hosted a workshop at Fiber Connect 2024 highlighting OpTIC Path with the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA), sponsor of the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP).

The Gene Scott Education Award was created in memory of an individual that was dedicated to fiber broadband workforce development. Before his passing in 2022, Gene Scott served as Chairman of FBA’s Education Subcommittee and was instrumental in the development of FBA’s OpTIC Path fiber optic technician program. FBA is currently engaged with 40 of its targeted 56 states and territories to roll out the OpTIC Path program, with 44 service providers and 70 community colleges and training institutions.  To learn more about the program, visit https://fiberbroadband.org/education-and-certification/fba-optic-path/. Those interested in teaching the next generation of fiber technicians can volunteer their knowledge by contacting the FBA here: https://fiberbroadband.org/education-and-certification/teaching-opportunities/.

The 2024 Gene Scott Education Award was presented at Fiber Connect 2024 on Monday, July 29. To learn more about the event, visit the conference website here or subscribe to FBA’s Fiber Forward Weekly newsletter here to stay updated on conference news and more.

###

About the Fiber Broadband Association
The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists dedicated to the advancement of fiber broadband deployment and the pursuit of a world where communications are limitless, advancing quality of life and digital equity anywhere and everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers, communities, and policymakers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations, and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build the critical infrastructure that provides the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in North America, LATAM, Europe, MEA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.

Press Contact:
Autumn Minnich
Connect2 Communications for the Fiber Broadband Association
FBA@connect2comm.com

Proof of Concept demonstrations showcase fiber’s ability to advance the Connected Home

NASHVILLE, TENN.—(July 31, 2024)—Today at Fiber Connect 2024, the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) announced the winners of the Proof of Concept (PoC) Showcase. The PoC Showcase featured eight demonstrations that leveraged fiber’s capacity, speed, scale, and security to improve Connected Home innovations and services.

Fiber Connect 2024 PoCs were collaborative projects involving at least one member company of FBA or Broadband Forum (BBF), and many leveraged one of two BBF Connected Home specifications: BBF.247 GPON ONU or BBF.369 User Services Platform. All PoC demonstrations were evaluated live at Fiber Connect 2024 by industry analysts. The three award-winning PoCs include:

• Most Innovative Award – presented to Taara, for its “Free Space Optical Communication” PoC. This demonstration showcased the role of wireless optical communication (WOC) technology in helping bridge middle mile gaps in broadband infrastructure and highlights three use cases: fiber backup, high-capacity backhaul at temporary or seasonal event venues, and disaster relief.
• Biggest Impact Award – presented to Nokia and Condor Technologies for their “Wholesale Open Access for FTTH Networks” PoC. They presented an enhanced wholesale API and UI for FTTH networks that give VNO tenants autonomy and flexibility and gives operators the ability to increase take rate and ROI of their fiber investment, attract more VNOs, and increase wholesale revenues by 23%.
• Game Changer Award – presented to Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA), Luna Innovations, and Underline Infrastructure for their “Fiber Optic Sensing in Telecom Applications” PoC. Their demonstration enabled network operators to monitor physical cable plant to detect threats, prevent damage, pinpoint and categorize events, and more.

“Each year, the Fiber Connect PoC Showcase displays incredible innovation, and this year, demonstrations were elevated further through our collaboration with the Broadband Forum,” said Evann Freeman, FBA Board Member and Conference Committee Chair, and Vice President of Government & Community Relations at EPB of Chattanooga. “While we congratulate three deserving winners, each PoC should be applauded for their application of fiber broadband for the Connected Home. These concepts truly demonstrate fiber’s power to accelerate our future.”

“A big congratulations to the 2024 PoC award winners and thank you to all who participated. Your contributions and collaborations are truly instrumental in the advancement of our broadband standards,” said Ken Pyle Director of Marketing at Broadband Forum. “The PoC demonstrations, based on our certification programs, represent the demands of the service providers for interoperable, multi-vendor networks. As such, an increasing number of vendors are participating in our standards and certification programs.”

“We would like to extend our gratitude to the Fiber Broadband Association for providing this platform to demonstrate the types of services, business models, and operations that are possible going forward,” continued Pyle.

Additional PoCs were represented at Fiber Connect 2024, including “Empowering Connectivity: Collaborative Approach to Overcoming Broadband Challenges in Unserved and Underserved Communities,” presented by Ciena, Heights Telecom, Cambridge Industries Group Inc, and Axiros; “B2C Value-Added Services Automation to Maximize CSP Fiber Investments,” presented by Incognito, Harmonic, and KAON Broadband; “Corteca Cloud as a USP-Based, Multi-Vendor Wi-Fi Management + Device Management Solution,” presented by Nokia and Singtel; “Empowering Interoperability to Accelerate Fiber to the Home and Deliver Service Excellence,” presented by Calix; and “Empowering Connectivity: Enhancing Short-Term Rentals with Flexible Internet Packages,” presented by CompaxDigital.

To learn more about Fiber Connect 2024, visit the conference website here or subscribe to FBA’s Fiber Forward Weekly newsletter here to stay updated on conference news and more.

###

About the Fiber Broadband Association
The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists dedicated to the advancement of fiber broadband deployment and the pursuit of a world where communications are limitless, advancing quality of life and digital equity anywhere and everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers, communities, and policymakers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations, and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build the critical infrastructure that provides the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in North America, LATAM, Europe, MEA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.

About the Broadband Forum
The Broadband Forum is an industry-driven global standards development organization helping operators, application providers, and vendors deliver better, services-led broadband.

As the industry-recognized center of competence, the Broadband Forum provides an accessible, efficient, and effective community where all broadband stakeholders can collaborate on, develop, and promote open standards and open software. This provides the basis for deployable solutions for the global broadband industry.

The forum publishes interoperable standards and open software, has launched certification programs, and promotes industry education. These best practices and models can be adopted to help realize an effective broadband ecosystem that drives a thriving, services-led broadband industry based on global collaboration, open standards, and open source, maximizing value for all stakeholders.

For more information, visit https://www.broadband-forum.org/. For the latest updates, follow Broadband Forum on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Press Contact:
Autumn Minnich
Connect2 Communications for the Fiber Broadband Association
FBA@connect2comm.com