Fiber Connect 2024: A Vision for America's Fiber-Connected Future

Nashville, TN - Gary Bolt, President of the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA), kicked off the Fiber Connect 2024 conference with a speech that underscored the significant progress and future potential of fiber broadband in the United States. Held in Nashville, this year's conference attracted a record 5,000 attendees, marking an annual growth of approximately 1,000 attendees over the past four years. Bolt emphasized the conference's goal to elevate the event to the world's premier fiber broadband gathering, reflecting on recent successes and setting ambitious targets for the future.

Bolt shared his recent experience hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, using the ancient city as a metaphor for the engineering marvels and legacy that today's fiber broadband initiatives aim to create. He highlighted the incredible engineering achievements of the Incas, drawing parallels to the ambitious goal of connecting every American with fiber broadband by the end of the decade. This vision, he argued, is within reach, given the advancements and opportunities presented since the signing of the bipartisan infrastructure bill by President Biden in November 2021.

The speech detailed the Fiber Broadband Association's (FBA) efforts to address workforce development, an essential component of the fiber broadband expansion. Bolt announced the success of the FBA's fiber optic technician training program, which has grown from an initial cohort of eight students in 2022 to nearly 485 graduates today, with a goal of 1,085 graduates by the end of the year. The program, which has a significant focus on veterans, aims to train 75,000 fiber optic technicians nationwide, addressing a critical industry need.

Bolt also discussed the challenges and solutions related to fiber deployment, including permitting, cost benchmarking, and supply chain issues. The FBA's initiatives, such as the permitting summit held in collaboration with Brightsky and the annual fiber deployment cost study conducted with Cartesian, are pivotal in streamlining processes and reducing costs. Additionally, Bolt highlighted the importance of securing the nation's broadband infrastructure and the association's efforts to promote fiber as critical infrastructure through advocacy, education, and collaboration with government entities.

Key Points:

Record Attendance: Fiber Connect 2024 saw a record 5,000 attendees, reflecting significant growth and interest in fiber broadband.

Workforce Development: The FBA's fiber optic technician training program has expanded rapidly, with a goal of 75,000 trained technicians to support the fiber broadband rollout.

Deployment Challenges: The FBA is addressing permitting, cost benchmarking, and supply chain issues to streamline fiber deployment and reduce costs.

Critical Infrastructure: The FBA emphasizes fiber as essential infrastructure and works with government entities to secure and promote broadband development.

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Fiber Connect 2024: NTIA's Alan Davidson Affirms Commitment to Fiber

Fiber Connect 2024 - Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), took the stage at Fiber Connect 2024 in a highly anticipated fireside chat. Davidson reassured the audience of fiber advocates that NTIA remains firmly committed to fiber broadband as the backbone of America's internet infrastructure, dispelling any rumors to the contrary.

Davidson highlighted the historic bipartisan infrastructure law, which has finally provided the resources to address the digital divide, a problem that has persisted for over two decades. He emphasized that NTIA's mission is to connect every American with reliable, affordable high-speed internet, with fiber being the preferred technology due to its future-proof capabilities. While acknowledging the challenges in reaching certain areas, he affirmed that alternative technologies would be considered only when fiber deployment is not feasible.

The Assistant Secretary also announced that NTIA would soon release a guidelines document for the use of alternative technologies, which will be open for public comment. He encouraged stakeholders to participate in this process to ensure a robust and effective framework. Davidson expressed confidence in the bipartisan support for NTIA's programs, noting that the digital equity grants and state plans are crucial steps in achieving digital equity and closing the connectivity gap.

Addressing the critical issue of workforce development, Davidson acknowledged the industry's need for a significant increase in fiber optic technicians. He highlighted the efforts of various states and organizations in workforce training and urged industry stakeholders to continue engaging in these initiatives. Davidson concluded by calling on the Fiber Broadband Association and its members to support NTIA's mission through active participation in state processes, workforce development, and ensuring affordability and accessibility for all Americans.

Key Points:

Commitment to Fiber: NTIA remains dedicated to fiber broadband as the primary technology for high-speed internet infrastructure.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Emphasizes the historic opportunity to close the digital divide with substantial federal funding.

Guidelines for Alternative Technologies: Upcoming document open for public comment to outline the use of alternative technologies in specific cases.

Digital Equity Grants: Nearly a billion dollars in funding to support digital equity initiatives and ensure access for all communities.

Workforce Development: Calls for increased training and support to meet the growing demand for fiber optic technicians.

Fireside Chat Hosted by Marissa Mitrovich, Vice President of Public Policy for the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA). 

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Fiber Connect 2024: Verizon's Eric Lia Advocates for Expanded Fiber Broadband

At the Fiber Connect 2024 conference in Nashville, Eric J. Lia, Senior Vice President of Engineering at Verizon, underscored the transformative power of broadband for rural America. Lia emphasized that broadband access is not merely about faster internet speeds but about leveling the playing field and unlocking growth potential in education, healthcare, economic prosperity, and community development. He highlighted the significant disparities in broadband access, pointing out that 8.8 million households remain unserved or underserved, with 50% of households and school-aged children lacking reliable internet. To bridge this digital divide, Verizon has committed over $3 billion from 2020 through 2025 to expand internet access, particularly focusing on rural areas, schools, libraries, and small businesses.

Lia also addressed the challenges and solutions in expanding fiber broadband. He urged for regulatory flexibility to avoid burdensome restrictions and redundant costs, which can hinder progress. Lia emphasized the importance of leveraging existing infrastructure and upskilling the workforce to meet the growing demand for fiber deployments. Innovations in fiber technology, such as smaller, more efficient cables and hubs, are crucial for reducing costs and accelerating installations. He called on all stakeholders to collaborate and innovate, stressing that every decision should aim to expedite the deployment of fiber broadband to enhance the quality of life for residents in underserved areas.

Key Points:

• Broadband access is essential for education, healthcare, economic prosperity, and community growth.
• 8.8 million households remain unserved or underserved; 50% of households and school-aged children lack reliable internet.
• Verizon is investing over $3 billion from 2020-2025 to expand broadband access, particularly in rural areas.
• Regulatory flexibility and leveraging existing infrastructure are crucial for efficient fiber deployments.
• Innovations in fiber technology are needed to reduce costs and speed up installations.
• Collaboration and innovation among stakeholders are essential to accelerate broadband deployment.

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FBA: Gigabit Fiber Can Add $326B to US GDP

The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) published a new study by RVA LLC Market Research & Consulting, emphasizing the substantial financial benefits for users subscribing to gigabit+ broadband services. The study reveals that by adopting fiber broadband services offering gigabit speeds or higher, U.S. productivity could receive a significant boost, potentially adding $326 billion to the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This increase in productivity translates to considerable financial gains for gigabit+ subscribers, making it a valuable investment for both individuals and the economy.

John George, FBA Technology Committee Chair and OFS Senior Director of Solutions Engineering and Fusion Splicers, underscores the critical role of fiber broadband in economic growth. He emphasizes that the consistent improvement of broadband speeds is essential to meet the increasing demand for bandwidth. Fiber broadband, known for its reliability, longevity, and sustainability, offers the best value for broadband infrastructure. 

The study further indicates that upgrading work-from-home subscribers from 100/20 Mbps to gigabit fiber could contribute an impressive 1.2% or $326 billion to GDP, highlighting the transformative potential of fiber broadband on the economy.

Key Points:

• Economic Impact: Gigabit+ broadband could add $326 billion to U.S. GDP.
• Productivity Boost: Higher broadband speeds enhance productivity and financial gains for subscribers.
• Reliability and Performance: Fiber broadband offers unmatched reliability, low latency, and high uptime.
• Future-Ready: Fiber broadband supports the growing demand for higher bandwidth and technological advancements.
• Government Priority: Encourages governments to prioritize fiber broadband for economic and community benefits.

https://fiberbroadband.org/resources/gigabit-fiber-can-add-326b-to-us-gdp/

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Nokia has introduced Broadband Easy Connect, a subscription-based service designed to help operators streamline, simplify, and accelerate the fiber connection process for homes. 

As global fiber deployments rise, operators face challenges in cost-effectively connecting subscribers, with over 30% of home connections failing to meet plan due to manual procedures, inaccurate data, and tight schedules. This service aims to address these issues by providing operators, subcontractors, and retailers access to a cloud-based platform that automates the fiber connection process from initial request to service activation, significantly reducing costs and connection times.

Key Points:

• Service Offering: Broadband Easy Connect is a subscription-based service to streamline home fiber connections.
• Automation: The cloud-based platform automates scheduling, dispatching engineers, and verifying field operations.
• Productivity Tools: Includes tools like ONT Easy Start and Optical Link Certifier for automated service activation and testing.
• AI Integration: Uses AI computer vision models to validate port assignments and ensure proper installation of components.
• Nokia’s Experience: Builds on Nokia’s experience connecting over 300 million homes globally, ensuring efficiency and consistency.

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STL expands optical portfolio for US access market

STL  announced a significant expansion of its Optical Connectivity portfolio in the US market. This move aims to enhance fiber connectivity at the premise level with scalable, easy-to-install solutions designed to accelerate deployment and streamline operations for service providers. Among the key products in this portfolio are:

OptoBlaze, Multiport Service Terminal, and OptoBolt Pre-Connectorized Drop Cables: These solutions, already deployed by US providers such as Lumos Networks and Archtop Fiber, enhance network modularity, reduce installation time, and lower connection costs.

OptoPull: A pullable, field-installed pre-connectorized drop cable designed for efficient and quick deployment.

OptoPod: A flexible multiport service terminal offering a pre-connectorized, plug-and-play solution ideal for fast and easy network connections in space-constrained environments.

OptoPed: A high-performance distribution system featuring optical pedestals that are designed and tested to withstand the harshest environmental conditions.

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Keysight validates first 5G NR 1024-QAM demodulation

Keysight Technologies has validated the industry's first 5G NR FR1 1024-QAM demodulation test cases, based on the 3GPP TS 38.521-4 test specification. These test cases, validated at the Conformance Agreement Group (CAG) #79 meeting of the Global Certification Forum (GCF) in July, are designed for use with Keysight's 5G network emulation conformance test platform (TP168). This milestone enables users to ensure their devices fully comply with 5G standards before market launch.

Key Points:

• Validation Achievement: First 5G NR FR1 1024-QAM demodulation test cases validated.
• Technology: Supports enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) with higher data rates, increased bandwidth, improved reliability, and lower latency.
• Test Platform: 1024-QAM support added to the E7515B UXM 5G Test platform, available as a software upgrade.
• Release 16 Enhancements: Validated WI-528 Release 16 NR Demodulation Performance Enhancements, now open for certification.
• Industry Support: Supported by multiple operators, ensuring rigorous compliance and performance checks.

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