FBA Fiber Policy Lab Highlights Fiber’s Growing Role in Innovation in Conjunction with Boston Regional Fiber Connect

BOSTON—(September 24, 2026) — The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) hosted its fifth Fiber Policy Lab in Boston today in conjunction with its Regional Fiber Connect. Titled “Innovating With Fiber: Opportunities to Power the Future,” the Fiber Lab brought together local, state, and federal leaders, broadband advocates, and policymakers to discuss how fiber is powering emerging technologies and supporting connectivity for communities across the country.

“As broadband deployment continues to expand and power communities across the state, we must continue to prioritize the partnerships and investments that work to make fiber readily available to all residents,” said Lukas Pietrzak, acting Head of Public Policy at the Fiber Broadband Association. “Fiber is no longer just about connectivity. From AI to telehealth, the applications transforming our communities all depend on the kind of robust, symmetrical fiber networks we’re building today.”

A highlight of the event was a direct conversation on the importance of how broadband infrastructure is working to fuel and transform Massachusetts communities through its role in powering emerging technologies, such as AI. Attendees had the chance to hear from Mark Lannigan, Regional Director, Office of US Senator Ed Markey, and Michael Baldino, Massachusetts State Broadband Director, along with other policymakers who had the chance to discuss how fiber is enabling innovation across the country through regional healthcare, economic opportunity, and agriculture.

Attendees will hear from FBA President and CEO Gary Bolton and Massachusetts industry leaders on how fiber infrastructure is working to enable innovation, reshape the digital demands that communities must meet, and unlock new regional growth opportunities. The event will also feature discussions on the growth of broadband expansion and how it empowers communities across the region, along with the importance of infrastructure transparency and right-of-way challenges.

The Boston event is part of FBA’s 2026 Regional Fiber Connect series, which brings together regional leaders to share strategies for accelerating broadband deployment, supporting economic development, and building future-ready networks across North America.

For more information, visit fiberbroadband.org.

About the Fiber Broadband Association

The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) is the voice of fiber, helping providers, policy makers, and communities make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. FBA is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists. Since 2001, FBA and its members have worked to advance fiber broadband deployment to accelerate innovation and increase quality of life by enabling every community to leverage the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in North America, LATAM, Europe, MENA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.