Fiber Broadband Association Report Positions Fiber as the “Fourth Pillar” of AI
This week, FBA announced the release of a new industry report, The Fourth Pillar of the AI Era: Fiber and the Physical Architecture of Intelligence, outlining why fiber infrastructure must be recognized as core infrastructure for hyperscale AI, underpinning large-scale training clusters, distributed inference architectures, and the performance, economics, and scalability of next-generation AI platforms.
FBA outlines three priorities to ensure AI can scale effectively:
Align AI and fiber ecosystems to address deployment bottlenecks and capacity constraints
Position fiber operators as strategic infrastructure partners within AI architecture planning
Elevate fiber in national AI policy, alongside chips, models, and energy
The paper will be the topic of Fiber for Breakfast on May 6th. To register to attend visit here. The full report is available here.
Fiber Broadband Association Paper Highlights Role of Fielding, Base Mapping in Reducing Risk and Accelerating Fiber Deployments
This week, FBA announced the second installment of its engineering best practices white paper series, Building Better Broadband: Accelerating Design & Securing Permit Approvals, providing essential guidance on Fielding and Base Mapping—two foundational steps that ensure fiber networks are designed with real-world accuracy and built to successfully leverage emerging AI and Quantum technologies.
Chapter 2 builds on the series’ first installment, Planning and High-Level Design, and continues the five-part roadmap leading up to Fiber Connect 2026, taking place May 17-20. Upcoming chapters will cover Low-Level Design, Permitting Approvals, and Construction Readiness. The series will be the topic of a Research Read Out on Monday, May 18th from 1:00pm-1:40pm. To learn more and register to attend visit here.
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Women of Fiber of Fiber Connect Luncheon
At Fiber Connect 2026, one of the most anticipated gatherings returns—the Women of Fiber Connect Luncheon—bringing together voices from across the industry for an inspiring conversation on leadership, mentorship, and lasting impact.
This year’s program will feature a keynote from Abby Farris Rogers, exploring how strong leadership fuels more resilient, connected communities. The conversation continues with a fireside chat between Ramsey Alwin and Ash Brown, diving into leadership, longevity, and the legacy we’re building across the fiber ecosystem.
This impactful event is made possible thanks to the support of our sponsors: Calix, Clearfield, Inc., Corning, Graybar, KGPCo, Power & Tel, WICT, and Wolf Line Construction.
With hundreds of sessions and thousands of attendees, a little planning goes a long way at Fiber Connect 2026.
The official event app gives registered attendees a way to map out their schedule in advance, filter content by track or topic, and connect directly with other attendees — before, during, and after the event.
Join Us in Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2026!🌐
National Apprenticeship Week (April 26–May 2) is here, and we're excited to celebrate! This nationwide event recognizes the power of registered apprenticeships to connect people to meaningful, high-paying careers and helps employers build the skilled, future-ready workforce our industry needs.
As proud partners of WIA's Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP), FBA is joining the celebration to highlight incredible work across the fiber and broadband industry to train and develop the next generation of technicians. From our OpTIC Path™️certification program coupled with TIRAP's 100+ employer sponsors and thousands of apprentices trained nationwide, the momentum is real and growing.
We invite you to join the celebration! Share your apprenticeship stories, highlight your program, and show the world the difference this work makes.
🔗Follow along and tag us on social media using #NAW2026, #NationalApprenticeshipWeek2026, and #ApprenticeshipUSA
The Consolidation Wave Meets Reality
The broadband industry has spent the last several years in build mode with capital flowing, networks expanding, and new entrants piling in. But as that surge matures, a different phase is taking shape. On this week’s Fiber for Breakfast, Gary sat down with David Strauss and Jack Burton of BSP Technical Advisors to unpack what happens next when those networks start coming together. The answer, it turns out, is a lot less straightforward than the deal headlines suggest.
FBA is now accepting applications for its Women in Fiber Mentoring Program, a professional development initiative that connects emerging leaders with experienced mentors across the fiber broadband industry.
The program helps participants build skills, expand their networks, and support one another’s career growth in a collaborative, inclusive environment. The committee is always looking for additional mentors who are interested in giving back, sharing their experience, and helping shape the next generation of industry leaders.
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