Tomorrow is the final day to lock in discounted registration for Fiber Connect 2026 before rates increase.
Join thousands of leaders from across the fiber ecosystem at the industry’s premier event, where the conversations shaping the future of connectivity happen.
Don’t miss your chance to attend at the lowest rate.
FBA's Inaugural AI & Emerging Tech Infrastructure Summit
This week, FBA announced the first AI & Emerging Technology Infrastructure Summit at Fiber Connect 2026. With the growth in AI applications and services, Quantum Networking and Compute, and the rise in Hyperscale data centers, the need for deeper conversation on the infrastructure implications was clear.
Visionary physicist and bestselling author Dr. Michio Kaku will headline the summit with a future-focused keynote exploring the evolution from today’s classical networks to an AI-native, quantum-enabled future.
FBA's First Chapter of Fiber Network Engineering Best Practices
FBA also published the first installment in its engineering best practices white paper series,Building Better Broadband: Accelerating Design & Securing Permit Approvals, offering essential guidance for broadband providers and engineering teams navigating theearly stages of fiber network deployment.
The first chapter of the series is dedicated to “Planning and High-Level Design,” addressing the strategic decisions that shape successful fiber builds, including upfront planning, data quality, stakeholder coordination, and scalable infrastructure design.
Chapter 1 is the first in a five-part series leading up to Fiber Connect 2026, May 17-20. The first chapter can be found here. Upcoming chapters will address: Field & Base Mapping, Low-Level Design, Permitting Approvals, and Construction Readiness. The series will be the topic of a Research Read Out on Monday, the 18th from 1:00pm-1:40pm. To learn more and register to attend visit: https://fiberconnect.fiberbroadband.org/.
Want to see your company's fiber news featured here? Email your press releases and related images to fiberforward@fiberbroadband.org by noon ET on Wednesdays.
Lunch and Learn! 🍎
The FBA Membership Team would like to invite you to our upcoming FBA Lunch and Learn on March 17th from 1:00 PM — 2:00 PM EST. During this call, our team will discuss the benefits of FBA membership, engagement opportunities for you and your entire team, and hear directly from current FBA members about their experience and the value they’ve gained through membership. There will also be time for questions and open discussion.
📢DUE MARCH 20: Showcase innovation. Get hands-on. Earn industry recognition.
In collaboration with the Broadband Forum, FBA invites you to participate in the 2026 Proof of Concept (PoC) Showcase at Fiber Connect 2026. This sponsorable, interactive program puts your solution directly in front of operators, media, and key decision-makers. Demonstrate real-world applications, highlight measurable impact, and show how fiber is moving communities, homes, and enterprises #LightYearsAhead.
📍 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX 📅 Thursday, March 26 | 5–7 PM local time
This exclusive networking event is your chance to connect with fellow FBA members, enjoy great conversations, build new relationships, and relax over light refreshments.
✅ FBA Members: RSVP here! We look forward to seeing you in Dallas-Forth Worth!
🤠This Could Be You - Compete in the Fiber Technician Competition at Fiber Connect 2026!
The OpTIC Path Rodeo returns to Fiber Connect 2026 as a high-energy skills competition for fiber professionals. Technicians and field teams go head-to-head in timed challenges that showcase the craft, precision, and problem-solving needed to build world-class fiber networks. It is equal parts competition and celebration of the people who power America’s digital future.
When Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the promise was bold: finally close the digital divide. Through the BEAD program, tens of billions of dollars would flow to states to ensure every American could access reliable broadband. Now that states have finalized their plans and the first projects are moving toward construction, the natural question is: did the program accomplish its mission? On this week’s Fiber for Breakfast, Gary Bolton asked one of the country’s leading broadband policy experts, Carol Mattey, to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Her answer was simple: it’s far too early to declare victory.
