Fiber Broadband Association Launches New Engineering Best Practices Series

Fiber Broadband Association Launches New Engineering Best Practices Series 

First paper introduces a clearer pathway to optimize fiber builds 

WASHINGTON, D.C.— (January 12, 2026)—The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) today announced the launch of its new Engineering Best Practices, a monthly collection of short, practical chapters designed to help broadband providers improve project planning, streamline deployment processes that deliver high-quality fiber networks.  

Developed by FBA’s Engineering Best Practices Working Group within the Deployment Specialists Committee, the series of chapters translates decades of collective industry experience into actionable guidance for service providers and engineering firms, and by providing clear communication and coordination with state and local stakeholders. Each installment highlights real-world lessons learned, common challenges, and proven techniques to avoid mistakes, optimize resources, and improve deployment timelines. 

The Engineering Best Practices white paper will include five chapters aligned with core phases of the fiber engineering lifecycle and will publish monthly leading up to Fiber Connect 2026 in May: 

• Chapter 1: Planning & High-Level Design 

• Chapter 2: Fielding & Base Mapping 

• Chapter 3: Low-Level Design 

• Chapter 4: Permitting & Approvals 

• Chapter 5: Construction Readiness 

The first chapter, Planning & High-Level Design, will explore the strategic decisions that shape the success of a fiber build. The paper will emphasize the importance of upfront planning, data quality, stakeholder coordination, and scalable infrastructure choices, offering recommendations that help providers reduce delays, mitigate risk, and ensure smoother downstream phases. 

“The industry is about to experience a period of rapid deployment, and teams need practical, experience-based guidance that they can apply immediately,” said Deborah Kish, Vice President of Research and Workforce Development at FBA. “This series distills the insights of experts who have planned, designed and delivered fiber networks in communities across the country, and it gives the industry a concise blueprint for doing this work more efficiently and effectively.” 

To learn more about FBA and its library of resources, visit fiberbroadband.org, or subscribe to the Fiber Forward weekly newsletter for the latest insights, research, and events.