Fiber Connect 2022 Sets the Agenda for Closing the Digital Divide

WASHINGTON, D.C.—(March 15, 2022)—The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) today announced that Fiber Connect 2022 is where the fiber broadband industry will meet to discuss, debate and share information as the industry heads into the greatest fiber broadband expansion fueled by history’s largest federal investment. The conference includes presentations from leading experts representing the companies that are driving new levels of capacity demand that only fiber can satisfy, policy and regulatory thought leaders and officials, think tanks, state broadband offices, service providers, municipal and utility broadband experts, and industry media and analysts. Fiber Connect 2022 runs June 12 – 15, at Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, where attendees can not only gain insight through the conference but also visit the Expo floor for the latest updates from the fiber industry players.

“The challenges and opportunities our industry faces as we look to take fiber further are complex and will require the best minds from across all aspects of the fiber broadband ecosystem to make the next investment cycle impactful and successful,” said Gary Bolton, President and CEO, Fiber Broadband Association. “We’re bringing that collective intelligence to Fiber Connect 2022 so that everyone has access to the tools, insights and expertise they need to ensure that every community can reach its full potential in today’s Gigabit Economy.”

The conference program includes keynotes from Meta, Pew Charitable Trust, TiVo and Farm Fresh Broadband author, Dr. Christopher Ali. The conference theme, “If Capacity is Unlimited, the Possibilities are Limitless,” will showcase how fiber broadband is the only infrastructure capable of supporting the long-term connectivity goals of communities, as well as serving as the foundation for delivering the capacity-intensive services and applications consumers want to consume. General session plenaries tackle topics from the federal focus on broadband infrastructure to how communities can leverage fiber as a mechanism for economic growth, and will include the following perspectives:

Federal, Regulatory and Public Policy

• Doug Kinkoph, Associate Administrator, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, NTIA
• Xochitl Torres Small, Under Secretary for Rural Development, USDA Rural Development
• Radha Sekar, CEO, Universal Service Administrative Company
• Jim Stegeman, CEO, CostQuest Associates
• Ji Soo Song, Broadband Advisor, Office of Educational Technology

State Broadband Offices

• Peggy Schaffer, Executive Director, Connect Maine
• Taylre Beaty, State Broadband Director, Tennessee Economic & Community Development
• Tamarah Holmes, Director, Office of Broadband, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
• Jessica Simmons, Deputy CIO, Broadband & Special Projects, Georgia Technology Authority

Operators

• Chris Altomari, VP of Integrated Broadband Build Planning, AT&T
• Jimmy Todd, CEO and GM, Nex-Tech
• Reed Nelson, Senior Director, Construction and Engineering, Frontier Communications
• Trent Fellers, Vice President, Head of State Government Affairs, Windstream
• Ritchie Sorrells, CEO, GVTC Communications
• Hu Meena, CEO, C-Spire
• Jay Winn, Chief Commercial Officer, Lumos/NorthState
• Monica Webb, Senior Director, Market Development, Strategic Partnerships, Ting Internet

Utility Broadband Providers

• Jeremiah Sloan, COO, Craighead Electric Cooperative Corporation,
• Tim Culpepper, CEO, Cullman Electric Cooperative
• Jeffrey Dykes, CEO, BrightRidge Communications
• Steve Bandy, General Manager, OzarkGo
• Lance Irwin, VP, Research & Portfolio Optimization, Seven States Power Corporation
• David Wade, CEO, EPB

Industry Associations

• Godfrey Enjady, President, National Tribal Telecommunication Association
• Tarryl Clark, Chair of NACO Telecommunications & Technology Steering Committee; Commissioner, Stearns County, MN, National Association of Counties
• Gary Bolton, CEO, Fiber Broadband Association
• Matt Polka, CEO, ACA
• Paul Breakman, VP for Cooperative Business Solutions, NRECA
• David Grossman, VP Regulatory Affairs, CTA
• Shirley Bloomfield, CEO, NTCA

Municipal/Community Broadband Providers

• Pete Hoffswell, Superintendent of Broadband Services, Holland Board of Public Works
• Chad Crager, Broadband Executive Director, City of Fort Collins
• Kevin Comstock, Smart City Director, City of Chattanooga

Solution Providers

• Michel Langlois, CTO, Calix
• Cheri Beranek, CEO, Clearfield
• Charlie Vogt, CEO, DZS
• Stefaan Vanhastel, CTO Fixed Access, Nokia
• Robert Conger, Senior Vice President, Technology and Strategy, ADTRAN
• Jeff Gavlinski, Global VP of Telecom & Wireless Associations, Plume

In addition to the general session keynotes and panels, Fiber Connect 2022 includes eight breakout session tracks focused on:

• Operator Best Practices
• Deployment: View from the Field; Industry Perspectives
• Case Study Central: Lighting Up a Brighter Future
• Public Private Partnerships (organized by Telecompetitor)
• Innovation: Taking Fiber Further
• Analyst Take: Mapping the Market
• Fiber Drivers: The Applications Driving Multi-Gig

Fiber Connect 2022 also includes a Proof-of-Concept demonstration program, pre-conference workshops, a Fiber OpTIC Train the Trainer program, networking events and a sold-out Expo show floor. Companies interested in exploring sponsorship opportunities should contact Lucy Green at lgreen@fiberbroadband.org.

Registration for Fiber Connect 2022 is now open and can be found here. Media and Analysts interested in attending should contact fba@connect2comm.com.

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About the Fiber Broadband Association

The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association in the Americas dedicated to the pursuit of all- fiber-optic network infrastructure to the home, to the business and to everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better broadband networks with fiber optics while working with its members to lead the organization forward, collaborate with industry allies and propel the deployment of fiber networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build a better broadband future here and around the world. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in the Americas, LATAM, Europe, MENA and APAC. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.