Fiber for Breakfast 2026 Week 15: Smart Funding, Smart Deployment: The Strategy Driving 100% Coverage

Affordability and access are converging in New Mexico’s broadband strategy. In this episode of Fiber for Breakfast, Jeff Lopez, Director of the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) talks with Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the FBA, about Senate Bill 152, unanimously approved by the New Mexico Senate and recently signed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, creating the Low-Income Telecommunications Assistance Program, the nation’s first state-level, post-ACP broadband affordability program to help up to 27,000 families afford service.

Lopez also discusses federal approval of the state’s $382 million BEAD proposal through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which will connect 42,500+ locations statewide. He explains New Mexico’s tech-neutral approach — blending fixed wireless, fiber, and low Earth orbit satellite — and how affordability and infrastructure together will drive the state to 100% coverage. Register now!

With Special Guest:

Jeff Lopez, Director of the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE)

**Read the full Fiber for Breakfast summary article here!**

Fiber for Breakfast 2026 Week 14: The State of Broadband: What the Data Really Reveals

The U.S. broadband market is entering a new competitive phase as fiber expands deeper into legacy territories, fixed wireless scales across more markets, and public funding accelerates network deployment. With tens of billions in federal BEAD funding flowing into broadband, private capital fueling fiber builds, and operators making billion-dollar investment decisions, the stakes have never been higher. Yet much of the industry conversation still relies on incomplete data, marketing announcements, and anecdotal evidence.

In this week’s Fiber for Breakfast, we take a deep dive into CostQuest’s two landmark Broadband in America reports to examine the real state of fiber deployment and competitive dynamics across the United States. Join Jim Stegeman, President & CEO of CostQuest, and Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, for a data-driven discussion that challenges conventional wisdom and offers actionable insights for industry stakeholders. Register now to join the conversation.

With Special Guest:

Jim Stegeman, CEO & President, CostQuest

**Read the full Fiber for Breakfast summary article here!**

Fiber for Breakfast 2026 Week 13: Capacity, Competition & Cash Flow: The Upstream Equation

On this episode of Fiber for Breakfast, hosted by Fiber Broadband Association President & CEO Gary Bolton, we’re joined by Mark Trudeau, Founder & CEO of OpenVault and Jeff Heynen, VP of Broadband Access and Home Networking at Dell’Oro Group to unpack the 4Q25 OpenVault Broadband Insights report.

For the first time, the report compares Fiber and DOCSIS subscribers, revealing that symmetrical fiber speeds unlock significant pent-up upstream demand — with fiber users consuming 66% more upstream bandwidth. The conversation explores what this means for network investment, capacity planning, revenue growth, and the growing impact of absolute traffic increases on operator networks. Get your questions ready and register to attend!

With Special Guests:

Jeff Heynen, VP of Broadband Access and Home Networking, Dell’Oro Group
Mark Trudeau, Founder & CEO, OpenVault

**Read the full Fiber for Breakfast summary article here!**

Fiber for Breakfast 2026 Week 12: Tight Today, Transformational Tomorrow: A Historic Moment for Fiber

Fiber demand has reached a historic inflection point. In this episode of Fiber for Breakfast, Mike O’Day, head of Corning’s Optical Communications business joins Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association and shares his perspective on a remarkable growth cycle as innovation accelerates and AI takes center stage.

Mike explains how broadband expansion and the rapid buildout of AI infrastructure are reinforcing one another — creating shortterm supply pressure, but an even larger, longterm opportunity for the industry.

Today’s market is tight because the opportunity is big. Mike will discuss how Corning, celebrating its 175th year, is staying close to customers, investing in capacity, innovating to solve customer problems, and strengthening partnerships with rural operators. Mike will also highlight Corning’s commitment to support BEAD with BABA-compliant components through the life of the program.

Mike describes a virtuous cycle where more AI infrastructure leads to new AI applications, which fuels broadband demand — which in turn requires more AI infrastructure.

The takeaway is clear: BEAD and AI aren’t competing priorities — they’re part of the same growth cycle, with benefits extending far beyond fiber to communities and the broader digital economy. Register now to attend!

With Special Guest:

Michael O’Day, Sr. VP & GM, Optical Communications, Corning

**Read the full Fiber for Breakfast summary article here!**

Fiber for Breakfast 2026 Week 11: AI and the Network Effect: Where Carriers Win Next

For the past three years, Omdia has modeled and forecasted the impact of AI on network traffic through a cross-team effort spanning business and consumer trends, networks, hardware, software, devices, and facilities. In this week’s episode, Brian Washburn, Chief Analyst, Telco B2B Solutions, Omdia, joins Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, to discuss Omdia’s latest AI network traffic reports, including its surveys, trackers, and forecasts.

As AI accelerates, network providers worldwide must strike a balance between protecting their core business—mobile and fixed connectivity—and participating in the broader AI opportunity. Brian shares his analysis of the significant challenges providers will face as AI reshapes network demand, as well as where the potential exists to capture greater revenue from this adjacent opportunity—if they move strategically. Register now!

With Special Guest:

Brian Washburn, Chief Analyst, Telco B2B Solutions, Omdia

**Read the full Fiber for Breakfast summary article here!**

Fiber for Breakfast 2026 Week 10: Mission Accomplished – or Mission Abandoned? Life After BEAD

As BEAD funding moves from promise to reality, what comes next for US broadband? In this timely conversation, Carol Mattey – industry veteran and founding member/principal of Mattey Consulting LLC – joins President & GEO Gary Bolton of the Fiber Broadband Association to explore the long-term impact of the BEAD program and the future of connectivity. Join in the conversation as they examine whether gaps in broadband coverage will remain, how LEO satellite services may factor into the equation, and if today’s 100/20 Mbps standard will be adequate or need to be re-examined after BEAD projects are completed. The discussion also tackles who will ultimately be responsible for closing any remaining gaps – industry, government, or communities and whether the FCC’s Universal Service Fund could play a pivotal role. Register now!

With Special Guest:

Carol Mattey, Founder, Mattey Consulting LLC