Dear Fiber Broadband Association Members,

As we end the year, I am pleased to report that our industry achieved a new annual record for Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) deployment in 2025, surpassing 11.8 million homes passed. Cumulatively, fiber networks have now reached 98.4 million homes in the United States, covering more than 60% of the nation, and over 70% of homes and businesses across Canada.

In the U.S., average fiber take rates increased to 46.5%, further strengthening the business case for network operators. The year also marked a record number of fiber broadband providers, with non–Tier 1 operators accounting for 40% of total fiber deployments.

While conventional wisdom on Wall Street often suggests that the first provider to deploy fiber captures both broadband and mobile subscribers, our latest research indicates that the introduction of a second fiber provider in a community raises the cumulative fiber take rate to 61%.

Findings from our Annual Fiber Deployment Study further demonstrate fiber’s competitive advantage: when fiber is available, it captures 36 percentage points of market share, primarily from cable (down 23 points), DSL (down 12 points), and satellite services (down 6 points). Notably, Fixed Wireless Access also gains 4 points of market share, largely at the expense of cable, DSL, and satellite providers.

While our industry remains fully on target to pass 90% of the nation with fiber by the end of the decade, the addressable FTTH market is immense with nearly 130 million broadband serviceable locations (BSLs) left to address, when we include second passings along with the 60 million first passing left to go. Further the capabilities of these fiber broadband networks continue to accelerate. According to Dell’Oro, we will begin to see volume commercial deployments of 25 Gigabit PON solutions in 2026 and within a few short years, operators will begin deploying 50G PON and beyond.

The year 2026 will be pivotal for the Fiber Broadband Association. Beyond advancing our mission to connect every home and business with fiber, we are increasingly focused on shaping what fiber ultimately delivers. Technology innovations enabled and accelerated by fiber—including artificial intelligence, quantum networking, and next-generation technologies—will create significant new opportunities for our members for decades to come. We are extraordinarily optimistic about the future of the Fiber Broadband Association and the industry it represents.

FBA Performance

The Fiber Broadband Association concluded 2025 with its fifth consecutive year of growth. Financial performance remained strong, with revenue projected to increase 14% year over year, representing a 672% increase over the past five years. Membership also continued to expand, growing 11% year over year and 279% over the same five-year period, while maintaining a balanced composition of network operators and suppliers.

FBA revenue for the year from operations is projected to be favorable to budget by nearly 20%, supported by disciplined expense management. Key drivers of operations revenue growth included membership, robust regional events, investment income, and non-conference sponsorships. In addition, the Fiber Connect 2025 annual conference delivered strong performance, generating 22% year-over-year revenue growth.

FBA Work Products (2025)

Our committees and working groups are focused on developing and publishing studies and industry best practices. During 2025, FBA’s committees, working groups, and research partners published the following resources, studies and industry best practices:

1. “Building Better Broadband: Accelerating Designs & Securing Permit Approvals” (FBA Deployment Specialists working group, December 2025)
2. “Opportunities for Rural Providers in the Age of Distributed AI and Edge Compute” (FBA Middle Mile working group, November 2025) 
3. “Fiber for Public Safety: Fighting Fire with Fiber – How Broadband Infrastructure Protects Communities Before, During and After Disasters” (FBA October 2025)
4. “Fiber Broadband Connects Better Health Care to All Americans” (FBA, October 2025)
5. “Permitting for Fiber Network Projects: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” (FBA Deployment Specialists Committee, September 2025)
6. “Employer Workforce Preparedness in the Fiber Broadband Industry: How Build-Ready are We?” (FBA and NCTI, September 2025)
7. “Strengthening the Fiber Broadband Supply Chain.” (FBA Supply Chain WG, September 2025)
8. “The Under Appreciated Need to Enable AI and Data Center Growth: Increased and More Strategic Fiber Interconnections.” (FBA and RVA, July 2025)
9. Middle Mile Networks: The Backbone and Highway to Affordable Broadband Innovation (FBA Middle Mile Working Group, June 2025)
10. Bridging the Gap: Why Congress Must Invest in Middle Mile Broadband Networks (FBA Middle Mile Working Group, September 2025)
11. “Build America Buy America Commitment” (FBA June 2025)
12. “Underserved Rural Americans View Fiber as Best Option” (FBA/RVA June 2025)
13. “Progress of FTTH Availability by State” (RVA May 2025)
14. “Broadening Our View on Broadband – Fiber Infrastructure Report” (Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure May 2025)
15. A Guide to Assessing Network Scalability for State Broadband Offices (Cartesian June 2025)
16. Making Sense of BEAD Rules for Unlicensed Fixed Wireless Projects: A Practical Guide for State Broadband Offices (June 2025)
17. Making Sense of the BEAD Priority Broadband Project Criteria and Requirements (June 2025)
18. Making Sense of the BEAD Requirement to Determine an “Excessive” Location Cost: A Cost Model and a Business Case Based Approach (June 2025)
19. LEO Satellite Capacity Study (Cartesian February 2025)
20. “Accelerating AI with Fiber: Systems and Strategies” (FBA/Entropy March 2025) 
21. “Introduction to Passive Optical Network Splitter Architectures” (FBA Technology Committee February 2025)
22. “Fiber Anchors Sustained Economic Development” – Charlottesville, VA (FBA/C2C, February 2025)
23. “The State of the North American Fiber Deployment” (RVA January 2025)

24. “2024 Fiber Deployment Cost Annual Report” (Cartesian January 2025)

FBA Public Policy

In 2025, the Fiber Broadband Association made significant progress in expanding its capacity, influence, and reach, driven by increasing member demand. The policy team grew substantially, bolstering engagement at the federal, state, and communications levels. With a strong Public Policy Committee of 208 members, FBA reinforced its position as a trusted, bipartisan voice on Capitol Hill. The Association achieved tangible results, including successful policy summits and fly-ins, over 100 congressional meetings, strengthened bipartisan relationships, impactful testimony, and notable legislative victories. Key accomplishments included shaping discussions around the NTIA Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program and supporting the unanimous passage of the RAIL Act in committee. Signature events, such as the inaugural Policy Summit and Fiber Day on the Hill, continued to elevate FBA’s influence, while the Association maintained leadership in BEAD implementation and expanded its presence in key state capitals, establishing a solid foundation for future advocacy.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As we enter a pivotal political environment in 2026, marked by midterm elections and early presidential campaigns, FBA is strategically positioned to capitalize on the growing recognition of fiber as essential infrastructure, particularly in the context of artificial intelligence (AI) and next-generation technologies. FBA’s focus will be on securing impactful policy outcomes by advocating for fiber as a foundational component of AI development and broader technological innovation. Key priorities will include driving network modernization through the efficient retirement of copper infrastructure, eliminating permitting and deployment barriers, and safeguarding both federal and state broadband initiatives. You can read our 2026 Advocacy Priorities by clicking here (PDF).

Additionally, FBA will strengthen the broader broadband ecosystem by supporting middle-mile investments, workforce development, supply chain resilience, and affordability initiatives. With an expanded team, enhanced state-level engagement, new resources like the 2026 Blueprint, and increased opportunities for member involvement, FBA enters 2026 with optimism, a proactive strategy, and a steadfast commitment to ensuring that fiber remains central to America’s innovation, competitiveness, and community connectivity. 

Fiber Connect 2026

FBA’s annual conference, Fiber Connect 2026, has become one of the premier events in the broadband industry. Attendance has grown fivefold over the past five years, and 2026 is on track to be our largest and most impactful conference to date. Fiber Connect 2026 will take place May 17–20 at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, Florida. This year’s theme, “Light Years Ahead,” reflects the accelerating pace of technological advancement enabled by fiber infrastructure.

The Conference Committee received a record number of speaker submissions, including unprecedented participation from network operators, for more than 270 speaking opportunities across 80+ sessions over three days. The exhibition hall will also be the largest in event history, featuring more than 300 exhibiting companies. Key highlights include Network Operator Light Talks, the C-Suite Forum, Fiber Family Feud, the OpTIC PATH Rodeo, proof-of-concept demonstrations, and the FBA Gala and Awards Dinner on Tuesday evening, May 19, celebrating the Fiber Broadband Association’s 25th Anniversary.

A major highlight of Fiber Connect 2026 will be the AI and Emerging Tech Infrastructure Summit on Wednesday, May 20, hosted by world-renowned futurist and theoretical physicist Dr. Michio Kaku. This summit will conclude the conference with a forward-looking exploration of how fiber-enabled technologies—such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing—are converging to accelerate discovery, reshape industries, and transform everyday life. This summit will provide both strategic vision and practical insights for infrastructure planning, workforce development, and long-term industry growth. 

Regional Fiber Connect Workshops and Annual Premier Members Meeting

FBA hosted Regional Fiber Connect workshops during the last quarter in Scottsdale, Arizona, in October and Kansas City, Missouri, in November, followed by its annual Premier Members Meeting in Palm Springs, California, in December.

The Scottsdale Regional Fiber Connect workshop focused on Tribal broadband and featured participation from Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, State Broadband Director Nick Capozzi, and several tribal leaders. Discussions centered on the role of fiber in driving economic development and growth across Arizona and tribal nations in the region. The Kansas City Regional Fiber Connect workshop was one of FBA’s largest regional events to date and focused on the key demand drivers fueling the rapid expansion of the broadband industry.

The annual Premier Members Meeting provided an opportunity for the Association’s Premier Members to reflect on industry progress over the past year and to offer strategic input on FBA’s priorities and direction for the year ahead. The meeting’s outcomes, key takeaways, and FBA’s next steps were documented (PDF) and distributed to the full membership via email.

For 2026, FBA has announced a full schedule of Regional Fiber Connect workshops to be held throughout the year in Oklahoma City, Indianapolis, Bozeman, Omaha, Boston, Savannah, and Vancouver, British Columbia. In addition, FBA LATAM will host its 2026 regional workshops in Querétaro, Mexico; São Paulo, Brazil; Orlando, Florida (as part of Fiber Connect 2026); and Santiago, Chile. 

FBA OpTIC Path^™ Fiber Optic Workforce Development

I am pleased to report that we have now graduated 1,307 students from our OpTIC Path training program from over 25 community colleges, high schools, and private training institutions across 17 states leveraging the program. We've issued digital credentials to all graduates, and we have a 63% share rate (average is 47%) across social media platforms. Also 913 students have earned at least one credential from our series of stackable micro-credentials that align with specific job roles, creating a structured career ladder for technicians. We fully expect 2026 to be a breakout year for gaining adoption of our OpTIC Path fiber optic technician training in many of the 56 states and territories that will begin deployment of their NTIA BEAD funding. During the year, FBA will also begin to create the FBA Academy targeted at providing on-board training for our member companies.

FBA 2026 Goals

As we begin 2026, the following are our top-level goals:

1. Material progress on FTTH Targets
   • Finish our mission to pass 90% of homes and connect 50% by 2030
2. Begin to develop further evolution to AI and NextGen infrastructure
   • Track deployment of AI oriented hollow core and multi-core fiber markets, etc
3. Public Policy – Policy Summit, Fiber Day on the Hill, Exec Fly-In
   • Active on key policy proceedings and State policy strategy
   • Stronger documented policy positions
4. Material progress on OpTIC Path nationwide adoption and initiate development of derivative courses
   • Develop a material and sustainable revenue stream for 2026+
5. Fiber Connect 2026 with 5,000+ attendees and 7 Regional + 3 LATAM Fiber Connect Workshops
   • World class experience

As we reflect on 2025, it stands out as one of the most challenging years in the Association’s history. Despite these challenges, I am proud to report that our staff, Board of Directors, and our dedicated volunteer leadership delivered the strongest performance in FBA’s history. The outlook for 2026 is highly encouraging. Building on a record year for fiber deployment, we expect construction activity to commence in every state as NTIA BEAD funding finally begins to flow. This will also be a year of meaningful transition, as the industry begins to realize the tangible benefits of artificial intelligence and next-generation technologies enabled by fiber infrastructure.

I would like to recognize and thank our Board of Directors, and in particular extend my appreciation to Ariane Schafer (GFiber), our outgoing Chair, for her exceptional leadership and service. It is my pleasure to welcome Ash Brown (Adtran) as the Association’s 2026 Chair, to congratulate Ariane Schafer and Roger Timmerman (UTOPIA Fiber) on their re-election to the Board, and to welcome Ashley Travers (KGP Co) and Brendan O’Boyle (PLP) as newly elected Board members.

In addition, we have strengthened the FBA staff with several key hires for 2026 as we continue to accelerate fiber deployment and advance our mission of elevating 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,

Gary Bolton

President & CEO

Fiber Broadband Association

(919) 349-1025

gbolton@fiberbroadband.org