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Fiber Connect 2027 – Call for Speakers

The Fiber Connect 2027 Conference and Expo Call for Speakers is now open. The Call for Speakers is designed to help the conference organizers curate the best, non-commercial content as part of several programs that will take place during Fiber Connect 2027, June 13 – 16, 2027, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Conference Center in Nashville.

The Call for Speakers will close at 8:00 pm ET / 7:00pm CT / 6:00 pm MT / 5:00 pm PT, November 30, 2026.

No submissions will be accepted past this date.

Please read the following information in its entirety before submitting. 

  • We are looking for expert speakers for panels already developed, not topic suggestions for panels. Do not submit a topic abstract. Only submit an individual speaker by explaining his or her experience on the topic selected.
  • No submissions featuring or focused on specific company products or solutions will be considered.
  • Please answer all questions to the best of your ability. Incomplete or missing answers can impact your ability to be selected as part of the program.
  • If accepted as a speaker, the invitation to speak is not transferable to another company or individual within that company.
  • Our goal is to have at least one network operator on each panel and session at Fiber Connect 2027.

All speaker submissions will be reviewed by the FBA Conference Committee with the following considerations:  

  • Expertise on subject matter
  • Involvement with FBA
  • Relevant speaker experience  

The Conference Committee seeks to create a balanced conference program that showcases the wide range of member companies, diversity, and expertise that allows our industry to thrive.

Submission does not guarantee acceptance into the Fiber Connect 2027 program. There are several speaking opportunities at Fiber Connect 2027 that are part of the various sponsorship programs. Please contact Lucy Green to inquire about these opportunities.

With this Call for Speakers, the FBA conference committee is seeking submissions for the following programs at Fiber Connect 2027:

Pre-Conference Workshop Topics

Pre-Conference Workshops will be held from 1:30 – 5:30 pm on Sunday, June 13. With this year’s Call for Speakers, we are looking for subject matter experts as part of the following programs and panels:

Building the AI-Ready Broadband Network: Infrastructure, Operations, and Monetization

  • AI Traffic is Different: Designing Networks for the AI Era
  • Building AI Infrastructure: Hyperscale, NeoCloud, and Distributed Edge
  • Operating AI-Ready Networks
  • Monetizing AI: New Revenue Opportunities for Broadband Providers at the Edge
Submit to Speak

 

Making the Connection: Sales and Marketing Best Practices

  • Pre-Market Sales Strategies for Anchors, Residential, Business, and Enterprise
  • Lead Generation: AI Tactics from Door-to-Door Programs
  • Community Engagement: Public Relations Strategies to Ensure Awareness and Interest
  • Data Driven Sales and Marketing Strategies, Tactics, and Success Stories
Submit to Speak

Breakout Session Topics

Fiber Connect 2027 Breakout Sessions will be held from 2:00 – 3:30 pm on Monday and Tuesday, with each session lasting 40 minutes. Breakout Sessions are entirely comprised of panel sessions with no more than four speakers per panel plus the moderator. These panel sessions will focus on the issues driving the fiber broadband industry forward. There are no stand-alone presentation options as part of the programming.

Please note that to accommodate as many FBA members as possible, we limit any one company to no more than three speaking spots during the Breakout Program, and where possible, any individual with one spot. It is also our plan to include at least one operator on each panel.

We are looking for individuals interested in joining the conversations on the topics listed below:

Deployment Best Practices

These sessions are designed to tackle issues, opportunities, and challenges associated with the deployment of fiber broadband. Ideally focused on how operators will look to take fiber further, especially to new unserved markets, speakers should be able to present best practices and/or lessons learned.
Submit to Speak

Outside Plant Considerations

These sessions are designed to discuss the realities of deploying fiber broadband and the myriad issues that must be addressed including Rights-of-Way management, pole vs. underground decisions, and navigating both greenfield and brownfield builds.
Submit to Speak

Funding Strategies for Fiber Expansion Projects

This track will explore practical funding strategies that help make fiber expansion projects financially viable, including public grants, private investment, public-private partnerships, and innovative financing models. Attendees will gain real-world insights into how network operators and communities can combine funding sources, reduce financial risk, and build a sustainable path to deploying broadband infrastructure.
Submit to Speak

MDU

This track will provide a detailed roadmap for evaluating existing infrastructure, designing an optimal fiber network, selecting the right technology and equipment, and ensuring compliance with local regulations.
Submit to Speak

Permitting

These sessions will explore best practices, lessons learned, and practical tips to manage the permitting process and challenges that can undermine and delay fiber projects, impacting time-to-revenue and compliance issues with programs funded by federal programs.
Submit to Speak

Tribal Broadband

This track is designed to discuss sustainable paths forward to connect tribal communities with fiber broadband in accordance with individual nations’ laws and customs.
Submit to Speak

Deployment Best Practices

These sessions are designed to tackle issues, opportunities, and challenges associated with the deployment of fiber broadband. Ideally focused on how operators will look to take fiber further, especially to new unserved markets, speakers should be able to present best practices and/or lessons learned.
Submit to Speak

Outside Plant Considerations

These sessions are designed to discuss the realities of deploying fiber broadband and the myriad issues that must be addressed including Rights-of-Way management, pole vs. underground decisions, and navigating both greenfield and brownfield builds.
Submit to Speak

Business Grade Fiber

These sessions will explore the community needs beyond residential and how delivering services to business and enterprise customers can evolve the offer, enhance community impact, and leverage the capacity and latency benefits fiber delivers.
Submit to Speak

Go-to-Market Best Practices

This track will dive into innovative approaches to captivate your audience, build trust, and drive sustainable growth. From maximizing AI for hyper-targeted campaigns to leveraging local SEO, referral programs, and community events, this session empowers you to transform your marketing efforts.
Submit to Speak

Grants and Public Funding Considerations

With BEAD decisions made, what public funding options remain, and how should operators leverage remaining federal, state, and local grant opportunities to expand their networks. These sessions are designed to cover best practices for grant approval and how operators can manage timelines, dependencies, and deliverables.
Submit to Speak

Fiber Innovations

This track is designed to discuss the innovations currently being developed to improve fiber infrastructures that support FTTH, business, enterprise, and data center services and applications.
Submit to Speak

Specialty Programs

We are expanding our specialty programs at Fiber Connect 2027 with the goal of introducing relevant topics that will help our industry move forward and plan for the next phase of growth and opportunities. These programs will be held from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm on Monday, June 14, and Tuesday, June 15.

We are looking for subject-matter experts to help attendees at Fiber Connect 2027 better understand the opportunities as it relates to the following areas:

  • Neocloud
  • Agentic AI and Telecom Operations
  • AI Edge Infrastructure
  • Hyperscale Ready Infrastructures
  • Advanced Energy Grid
  • Supply Chain
  • Economic Development & Impacts
  • Community Anchors
Submit to Speak

Please note that these programs are also part of the A La Carte Content Sponsorship Program and include the opportunity for the sponsor to deliver a specific program’s opening keynote.

Please contact Lucy Green for more information about sponsorships.

Timeline

The Call for Speakers is open October 1 – November 30, 2027. Submissions past this date will not be considered for inclusion at Fiber Connect 2027.

  • Once the submission window closes, the FBA conference committee will review and rate each submission.
  • This is a 2 – 3 week process based on the number of submissions. From the review, the conference committee leadership will construct a draft agenda for the programs listed above.
  • January 4 – 8, 2027, the speakers selected from the submission process will be invited to join a panel defined by the committee.
  • Speakers will need to accept the invitation and confirm participation by January 30, 2027.
  • If your submission is not accepted, please understand that the decision of the committee is final. Please do not email staff to ask for an exception or special consideration. We value the efforts of every person that submitted as part of the Call for Speakers and those selected were chosen because the committee felt they could best advance the conversation at the conference.
    • Note: If an invited speaker does not accept their speaking slot or needs to cancel as we lead up to the conference, the committee will leverage the submissions to find a replacement, selecting the next highest-rated speaker for invitation.

Thank you in advance for understanding the challenges and effort required to develop the Fiber Connect 2027 program and we appreciate your respect for the process.

Please note that cancelling within six weeks of the event may impact the person/company’s ability to speak at future FBA events.

Ready to Participate in Fiber Connect 2027?

Submit a speaking spot today and join the voices showcasing the impact fiber infrastructure has on economic development.

Submit to Speak

Submit to Speak

Fiber Connect 2027 Speaker Submissions

Please read the following in its entirety before submitting.

Do not submit a speaking abstract or theme; please answer each question as written. FBA has already created all sessions and is now looking to match interesting, insightful speakers with the right panel based on speaker experience and expertise.

All questions are required.

We are looking for fresh voices and perspectives. Submit your best speaker for the topics, even if they have never spoken at an FBA event before.

Please do not cut and paste the speaker’s bio for any of these answers, that is not what we are looking to learn about the speaker.

Answer the question fully with the speaker’s input and perspective.

Is the Speaker a Member of the FBA?
Confirmation that the Speaker is interested and available to speak at Fiber Connect 2027, June 13 - 16, 2027, in Nashville. Please note: Cancelling within six weeks of the event may impact the person/company’s ability to speak at future FBA events.
Which Pre-Conference Workshop topics would the speaker like to participate in?
Which Breakout topics would the speaker like to participate in?
Which Afternoon Thematic Programs would the speaker like to participate in?
0 of 200 max words
0 of 200 max words
0 of 200 max words
You acknowledge that if the speaker cancels within six weeks of the event, it may impact the person/company’s ability to speak at future FBA events.

Watch the Highlights from Fiber Connect

The fiber industry has come together to form a tight-knit community. We gather at Fiber Connect to learn, bond, and push the industry forward.