Fiber for Breakfast BONUS Week: Plans, Policies & Programs for 2026

Fiber for Breakfast BONUS Week: Plans, Policies & Programs for 2026 

In the final Fiber for Breakfast of 2025, Gary was joined by Ash Brown, Senior Director of Field and Partner Marketing at Adtran and the incoming 2026 Chair of the Fiber Broadband Association Board. The conversation served as both a year-end reflection and a forward-looking discussion of FBA’s priorities for 2026, spanning policy, deployment, workforce development, and member engagement—setting the stage for the year ahead and the Fiber Connect 2026 theme, “Light It Up”. 

Gary opened by noting the 2025 marked a record-setting year for both the Association and the fiber industry. FBA achieved its 20th consecutive quarter of membership and revenue growth, with more than 2,000 employees from 624 member companies actively participating in working groups and committees. That engagement, Ash emphasized, is the foundation of the Association’s impact. “It’s not just about the quantity,” she said. “It’s about the quality of collaboration and making sure members are getting what they need.” 

Reflecting on the year, Ash outlined her priorities as Board Chair, starting with strengthening collaboration across FBA’s working groups and committees. Policy will remain a major focus, particularly around permitting reform, rights-of-way challenges, and continued education for policymakers. As Ash noted, conversations around AI and data centers must stay grounded in the reality that fiber is the infrastructure that enables them. 

Workforce development will also remain central in 2026. Building on programs like OpTIC™ Path, Ash said the industry must focus not only on attracting new talent, but on retaining and growing the workforce already in place. She also pointed to adoption and affordability as critical pieces of the equation, noting that access alone is not enough if communities cannot fully use and benefit from fiber networks.  

Ash also shared her personal leadership philosophy entering the new year, sharing a guiding theme she calls “made for more.” The idea reflects intentional growth, personally, professionally, and as an industry, while staying focused on meaningful, measurable impact.  

The episode closed with a call to action for members to stay engaged through committees, regional events, and Fiber Connect, reinforcing FBA’s role as the place where competitors come together to advance the entire ecosystem. As Ash put it, “We’re here to grow the pie for everyone, and to make sure fiber continues to improve lives and communities for generations to come.” 

Click here to watch the full interview.