Fiber Broadband Association Opens Call for Speakers for Fiber Connect 2027

WASHINGTON, D.C.— (October 1, 2026)—The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) today opened the Call for Speakers for Fiber Connect 2027, inviting industry experts, network operators, community leaders, and other voices across the fiber and digital infrastructure ecosystem to help shape a variety of program content, June 13-16, 2027, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. 

The 2027 program is built to address both the issues operators are managing today and the areas creating new opportunities for fiber networks. Alongside core broadband deployment and business topics, Fiber Connect will look more closely at how AI, data centers, cloud infrastructure, energy requirements, and other changes in the digital economy are affecting network planning and operations. 

The Call for Speakers submission process is designed to give the Conference Committee a better understanding of what each speaker can bring to a conversation. Applicants will be asked to explain their direct experience from the field and how their unique perspective could help move the discussion forward for Fiber Connect attendees. Selected speakers will participate as part of panels and other programmed sessions, including Pre-Conference Workshops, Breakout Sessions, and Specialty Programs. 

At a Glance: 

• Fresh Voices Welcome: FBA is looking for experienced speakers with practical insight, strong perspectives, and lessons learned that can benefit Fiber Connect attendees. 

• Speakers Matched to Existing Programming: FBA has established the conference topics and will select speakers based on their expertise and experience. Applicants should not submit session ideas or presentation abstracts. 

• Programming Across the Fiber Ecosystem: Speaking opportunities cover fiber deployment, outside plant, funding, permitting, tribal broadband, MDU, business-grade fiber, go-to-market strategies, sales and marketing, fiber innovation, AI infrastructure, neoclouds, agentic AI, edge infrastructure, hyperscale infrastructure, energy, supply chain, and more. 

• Operator Experience Remains a Priority: FBA plans to include at least one network operator on each panel wherever possible to bring firsthand deployment and operational experience into the discussion.  

 “Fiber broadband is in the middle of a historic buildout at the same time the networks we are building are being asked to support entirely new demands from AI, quantum, data centers, and other emerging technologies,” said Jessica Koch, FBA Conference Committee Chair. “That makes it especially important to bring fresh perspectives into the conversation. We want people who are solving problems in the field, testing innovative approaches, and seeing firsthand where the industry is headed so Fiber Connect attendees can learn from those experiences and apply them to what comes next.”  

Fiber Connect will bring together more than 5,000 fiber and digital infrastructure professionals. The conference will continue to serve the FTTH community while bringing together a broader group of companies and experts involved in the infrastructure supporting the next phase of digital growth.  

The Fiber Connect 2027 Call for Speakers will remain open through November 30 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Selected speakers will be invited to participate in January 2027. For more information, visit: https://fiberbroadband.org/fiber-connect-2027-call-for-speakers/. 

The call for contestants for the OpTIC Path Rodeo will also open October 1. The competition will return to Fiber Connect 2027, giving new and experienced fiber technicians the opportunity to demonstrate their installation and splicing skills in a live, hands-on competition. Additional information and registration are available at: https://fiberbroadband.org/fiber-connect-2027-optic-path-rodeo-nominations/. 

For information about Fiber Connect 2027 sponsorship opportunities, contact Lucy Green at lgreen@fiberbroadband.org. Subscribe to FBA’s Fiber Forward Weekly newsletter to stay updated.   

About the Fiber Broadband Association  

The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) is the leading voice for fiber infrastructure, uniting the entire ecosystem of network operators, technology innovators, equipment manufacturers, and industry experts building the high-performance fiber networks that power our digital future. As the world’s largest association dedicated to fiber, FBA advances the deployment of future-ready infrastructure through research, education, standards, workforce development, and public policy advocacy. As broadband, artificial intelligence, quantum networks, and next-generation technologies converge, FBA is helping ensure communities, businesses, and economies are built on the reliable, scalable, and energy-efficient foundation that only fiber can provide. Founded in 2001, FBA is a member of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, representing six regional Fibre councils spanning North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.