FBA Research & Industry Contributions (Q1 2026)
FBA’s committees, working groups, and research partners continued to deliver high-impact insights and best practices, including:
Public Policy Engagement
FBA strengthened its role as a leading voice in broadband policy during the first quarter of 2026 by deepening engagement with policymakers and expanding platforms that connect the fiber industry with federal and state decision-makers.
On February 24th and 25th, FBA hosted its Annual Public Policy Summit and Fly-In in Washington, D.C., bringing together policymakers, federal agencies, and industry leaders to discuss the future of broadband infrastructure and policy. As part of the Fly-In, FBA conducted more than 20 meetings on Capitol Hill, reinforcing strong bipartisan alignment on the importance of broadband infrastructure.
Discussions during the Summit focused on several key priorities shaping the sector, including:
- Implementation of NTIA BEAD program and allocation of remaining funds
- Permitting reform to accelerate broadband deployment
- Infrastructure needs driven by AI
- Legislative and regulatory priorities for 2026
This quarter also marked the launch of FBA’s Fiber Policy Lab initiative, a new program that coincides with every Regional Fiber Connect, designed to bring together industry leaders and policymakers at the regional level to address infrastructure deployment, regulatory challenges, and investment priorities. The two inaugural Fiber Policy Labs drew record attendance:
- Oklahoma City: Focused on Tribal broadband and included the launch of the inaugural Fiber Policy Lab, featuring discussions with Oklahoma Speaker Kyle Hilbert and SBA representative Bill Gravel.
- Indianapolis: Featured participation from Governor Mike Braun and a Roundtable addressing infrastructure and regulatory priorities, with key state leaders, including Michael Aylesworth, Chairman of the Indiana House Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, and Megan Minor, Indiana Chief Broadband Officer.
FBA will continue expanding the Fiber Policy Lab series throughout 2026, with upcoming Regional Fiber Connect scheduled in Bozeman, Omaha, Boston, Savannah, and Vancouver, as well as LATAM events in Mexico, Brazil, Orlando, and Chile.
To further support member engagement and awareness of key developments, FBA also launched its Policy Newsletter – The Last Mile Letter, providing regular updates on federal and state policy activity affecting the fiber industry.
Through these initiatives, FBA continues to ensure that the fiber industry’s voice is represented in the policy discussions shaping the future of broadband connectivity.
Fiber Connect 2026
FBA’s annual conference, Fiber Connect continues to grow as a global premier industry event, with attendance increasing fivefold over the past five years. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Fiber Broadband Association and on Tuesday night, May 19th, we’re hosting a Gala event to celebrate our association’s legacy and ongoing contributions to the industry. It will be a night to remember so please join me in raising a glass to the progress made and contributions yet to come.
This year’s Fiber Connect theme, “Light Years Ahead,” reflects the accelerating pace of innovation enabled by fiber and its unique ability to support growing industries such as telehealth, precision agriculture, entertainment, gaming, and hyperscale data centers. For the first time, we have content programs dedicated to these topics so please join us to better understand how fiber enables these services and applications to thrive.
Another key highlight will be the AI and Emerging Tech Infrastructure Summit, keynoted by Dr. Michio Kaku, offering forward-looking insights into AI, quantum computing, and next-generation infrastructure.
FBA OpTIC Path™ Fiber Optic Workforce Development
FBA’s OpTIC Path program has now graduated 1,442 students across 17 states, in collaboration with more than 25 educational institutions. With up to $21 billion in anticipated NTIA BEAD non-deployment funding expected to prioritize workforce development, we foresee continued expansion of the program nationwide.
2026 Strategic Priorities
FBA continues to make progress on its key objectives:
- FTTH Expansion: Advancing toward 90% home passings and 50% connectivity by 2030
- Next-Gen Infrastructure: Supporting AI-driven fiber innovations (e.g., hollow-core and multi-core fiber)
- Public Policy Leadership: Strengthening engagement at federal and state levels
- Workforce Development: Scaling OpTIC Path™ and expanding training offerings
- Industry Engagement: Delivering world-class events, including Fiber Connect and global workshops
Looking Ahead
As we enter the second quarter, industry momentum continues to build. FBA’s advocacy efforts are expanding, member engagement remains strong, and our 19 committees and working groups continue to deliver high-impact research and industry best practices.
We are grateful for the leadership of our Board of Directors, chaired by Ash Brown (Adtran), and for the continued strength of our growing FBA team. Together, we remain focused on accelerating fiber deployment and advancing technologies that will enhance quality of life for generations to come.
As always, I am available by mobile phone (listed below) or email. If I or any member of my team can support you and your organization in accelerating fiber deployment and the technology innovations it enables, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Sincerely,
