WASHINGTON, D.C.—(November 3, 2022)—The Fiber Broadband Association today announced at its Regional Fiber Connect event in Columbus, OH, that it presented the 2022 Dr. Charles Kao Award to Horizon, an Ohio-based fiber-optic broadband company. The annual award recognizes individuals, organizations, and companies that leverage innovation to connect communities with fiber broadband. Horizon was selected as this year’s winner for its work in bridging the Midwest’s digital divide, delivering high-speed fiber broadband to communities across the region. Horizon began in 1895 as a local telephone comp ..read more

WASHINGTON, D.C.—(October 26, 2022)—The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) and the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) today announced they have entered into a Collaborative Workforce Development Agreement to advance critical workforce education and training for the broadband communications industry. With $42.45 billion in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding for broadband infrastructure, in addition to the $80 billion invested annually by the broadband industry, there has never been more demand to build broadband networks. To meet that demand, it is essential that indu ..read more

WASHINGTON, D.C.—(October 11, 2022)—The Fiber Broadband Association today announced that S&N Communications and the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC) will soon offer the Fiber Broadband Association’s Optical Telecom Installation Certification Path (OpTIC Path) program. Since the launch of the OpTIC Path pilot course in March 2022, the program is being offered or considered by over 40 colleges, learning institutions, and employers in 32 states and two countries outside of the U.S. “The support we’ve received for the OpTIC Path program is excitin ..read more

WASHINGTON, D.C.—(October 4, 2022)—The Fiber Broadband Association today announced that Alcorn County Electric Power Association (ACE Power) is the first employer to adopt the Fiber Broadband Association’s Optical Telecom Installation Certification Path (OpTIC Path™) program with plans to launch its first course by the end of 2022. This adoption expands the OpTIC Path program to new types of learning institutions beyond community colleges. The program is now offered or in consideration at 40 colleges, learning institutions, and employers in 32 states and two countries outside the U.S. ACE Powe ..read more

WASHINGTON, D.C.—(September 28, 2022)—The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) today announced it published the “Strategies to Mitigate Bottlenecks in the Current Fiber Broadband Supply Chain” white paper. Vital statistics are presented regarding the ongoing supply chain changes in the fiber broadband industry and examples of how to protect fiber-related projects from the negative effects of supply chain stressors. The white paper will help companies carefully plan to overcome the current supply chain challenges and build more robust systems and processes to buffer them from future challenges and ..read more

WASHINGTON, D.C.—(September 20, 2022)—The Fiber Broadband Association today announced that Northeast Mississippi Community College (NEMCC) will soon offer the Optical Telecom Installer Certification Path (OpTIC Path™) program. The fiber workforce training course will enable NEMCC to support local fiber broadband network growth and help close the digital divide in Northeast Mississippi. NEMCC has a curriculum division solely focused on workforce training where it helps participants upgrade skills that local companies require. NEMCC works closely with local communities and industries to understa ..read more

WASHINGTON, D.C.—(September 13, 2022)—The Fiber Broadband Association today announced that Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) in Louisiana will soon offer the FBA Optical Telecom Installer Certification Path (OpTIC Path™) program, with its first course to begin in Fall 2022. BPCC is a two-year community college located in northwest Louisiana near Shreveport, and it is leveraging the Fiber Broadband Association’s program to help reach the state’s impressive goals to close its digital divide by 2029. The OpTIC Path program is designed to develop the technical workforce needed to support the ..read more

WASHINGTON, D.C.— (August 25, 2022)—The Fiber Broadband Association today announced its latest Broadband Community Profile designed to uncover the economic and societal impact that fiber broadband is having on rural communities across North America. Conducted by Futuriom Research and sponsored by OFS, the study shows the city of Westfield, Mass., has realized over $88 million annually in job-related benefits from the installation of fiber optic broadband. Westfield Gas & Electric (WG&E) is the owner and operator of Westfield’s fiber network. In the 1990’s, WG&E leveraged fiber to i ..read more

WASHINGTON, D.C.—(August 23, 2022)—The Fiber Broadband Association today released a new study, authored by RVA LLC Market Research & Consulting (RVA), entitled “A Detailed Review: The Status of U.S. Broadband and The Impact of Fiber Broadband.” This comprehensive annual report highlights five key areas of impact: Digital Equity, Performance, Sustainability, Economic Impact, and Quality of Life/Personal Productivity. These key highlights illustrate why the U.S. has begun the largest fiber broadband investment cycle in history. Nearly $130 billion in federal, state, and local subsidies are b ..read more

WASHINGTON, D.C.—(July 27, 2022)—The Fiber Broadband Association today announced that seven of its members have recently received All Fiber Certification. The accreditation is given to Fiber Broadband Association members who demonstrate a high-level of strategic commitment to all fiber deployment by ensuring 90% or more of their networks rely on fiber optic infrastructure. With these seven new certifications, there are now 22 Fiber Broadband Association member network providers that are certified as All Fiber in North America. The growing list demonstrates an increased commitment from the broa ..read more