With the digital divide disproportionately affecting older Americans, AARP is a vocal advocate for ubiquitous affordable, reliable, broadband access and fought for the Affordable Connectivity Program. According to AARP research, as of November 2023, nearly half of households enrolled in ACP were headed by adults over 50 years old. As the end of ACP looms, many who rely on the program fear they will lose vital internet access.

This week on Fiber for Breakfast, we are joined by Coralette Hannon, Director of Livable Communities for AARP Government Affairs. Coralette will discuss AARP’s broadband advocacy efforts, the organizations push for ACP, and how the end of ACP will impact the older adult community.

Special Guest:

Coralette Hannon, Director of Livable Communities for AARP Government Affairs

Prepare to be transported into the dynamic world of telecommunications innovation with Baylink Networks! Join the CEO and Director of Strategies as they unveil the transformative impact of nearshore networks on our digital landscape. Through Baylink’s cutting-edge patented cable technologies, discover how they’re not just disrupting but redefining the industry’s very core. Brace yourself for a compelling exploration of cost savings as Darren and Mike present a compelling lake case study, showcasing the superiority of Baylink’s marine network over traditional terrestrial builds.

Special Guests:

Darren Dofher, CEO, Baylink Networks Inc.
Mike Maziarka, Director of Strategy, Baylink Networks Inc.

Global optical cable demand is set to recover in 2024, growing by 3.9% y/y to reach 557 million F-km, following a 7.1% y/y contraction in the previous year. While many states have made significant progress on the BEAD funding approval process, CRU believes its impact on US cable demand will mainly materialize from 2025 onwards. The US market’s mid-term demand outlook is bright, driven by multiple federal funding opportunities.

Special Guest:

Chenfei Wang, Principal Analyst, Head of Wire and Cable, CRU Group

https://www.crugroup.com/analysis/wire-and-cable/

On February 23, 2024, NTIA and the US Department of Commerce issued the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Final Waiver for the $42.45B NTIA BEAD broadband infrastructure funding program. The BABA Waiver has significant implications on which products and services that network operators can procure for eligible NTIA BEAD projects. Tom Cohen, Chief Regulatory and General Counsel for the Fiber Broadband Association will break down the details of this Waiver and net out what you really need to know.

Special Guest:

Tom Cohen, FBA Chief Regulatory and General Counsel, Partner Kelley Drye

Join Kevin Sheehan, Ciena’s CTO of the Americas and VP of Sales Engineering, as he delves into how service providers can overcome some of the challenges of BEAD deployment. And, discover how PON and coherent pluggables are revolutionizing residential access.

Guest Presenter:

Kevin Sheehan, CTO of the Americas and VP of Sales Engineering, Ciena

As of February 8th, 2024, the Affordable Connectivity Program (“ACP”), the largest and most successful broadband affordability program in our nation, stopped accepting new enrollments. Without additional funding from Congress, it is anticipated that April will be the last month currently enrolled households will receive the full ACP benefit. Join us this week as FBA CEO and President, Gary Bolton discusses the impact of the ACP wind-down on broadband affordability in Mississippi with Chip Pickering (INCOMPAS), Quinn Jordan (MSBA), and Adeyinka Ogunlegan (Education Superhighway).

Guest Presenters:

Chip Pickering, CEO, INCOMPAS
Quinn Jordan, Executive Director, Mississippi Broadband Association
Adeyinka Ogunlegan, Vice President, Government Affairs and Policy, Education Superhighway

Join Ned Brody (CEO of Actifai) in a focused session, tailored for broadband executives to demystify AI’s practical applications in today’s sea of theoretical use cases and overhyped claims. Learn to identify effective AI deployment areas within your organization, and how industry-specific data sets can be a game-changer. Gain insight into AI-driven software applications being used today, including one that delivers personalized offers and marketing to broadband customers. This concise session is designed to provide a clear, actionable understanding of AI’s role in enhancing communications service providers’ revenue. It’s an essential guide for broadband business leaders eager to leverage AI’s real-world benefits in a rapidly evolving landscape of new AI solutions.

Guest Presenter: Ned Brody, CEO, Actifai

CostQuest’s upcoming webinar titled “The Critical Role of the Broadband Fabric and Precision Data for Funding Programs” will delve into the critical roles and evolution of the key aspects driving broadband deployment and funding initiatives, including:

-History of Broadband Data and Geography
-Broadband Fabric Improvement Process & Changes Between Versions
-Federal & State-Level View of BEAD Funding Implementation
-Real-World State Program Examples

Get an inside look from Jim Stegeman, the expert leading the creation of the Fabric data and cost models that support government funding and ISP broadband deployment initiatives.

Guest Presenter: Jim Stegeman, CEO, CostQuest Associates

Quantum computers complement the suite of IT tools that a modern enterprise needs to do business. In fact, quantum computers and classical (conventional) computers are complementary in many ways. In this session, IonQ will offer the latest insights into the various levels of integration needed between conventional and quantum computers, in hardware and applications. IonQ offers excellent trapped-ion based quantum computers and quantum applications, www.ionq.com.

Guest Presenter: Coleman Collins, Director of Product Management, IonQ Quantum Business Solutions

Wender plans to discuss the continued successes of the Capital Projects Fund (CPF), which provides $10 billion to states, territories, freely associated states, and Tribal governments to fund critical capital projects, including affordable, reliable high-speed internet, that enable work, education, and health monitoring. To date, CPF has awarded approximately $9 billion for broadband, digital technology and equity, and multi-purpose community center projects in all states and the District of Columbia, which states estimate will reach over two million locations, in addition to the hundreds of thousands of individuals who will be served annually by multi-purpose community facilities.

Guest Presenter: Joseph Wender, Director, Capital Projects Fund, U.S. Department of the Treasury

Fiber-optic cables are the gold standard for broadband infrastructure. The backbone of the internet utilizes fiber, and without it, the internet as we know it today would not be possible. With their unparalleled data transmission speed and reliability, the technology poised to become even more critical. They will not only cater to escalating data consumption but also enable innovations in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and smart cities, fundamentally reshaping our interaction with technology and each other. As such, tracking fiber penetration across the U.S. broadband market provides valuable insights into technological adoption and accessibility. Tracking penetration is difficult, however, because data on adoption of specific technology types is often not publicly available.

Our presentation highlights an innovative approach to address this gap. We have developed a machine learning algorithm capable of analyzing vast amounts of raw speed test data to identify which tests were conducted over fiber connections. This is based on the unique performance benchmarks of fiber technology. Preliminary results are promising, showing an accuracy rate of approximately 95%. Join us as we uncover the potential of this technology in enhancing our understanding of broadband infrastructure’s evolution.

Guest Presenter: Tyler Cooper, Editor-In-Chief, BroadbandNow

Wi-Fi® speeds have increased with each new generation. While the coming 7th generation of Wi-Fi delivers expected speed improvements, the Wi-Fi industry is increasingly shifting its focus to improving the consistency of performance and quality of service. High bandwidth, low latency applications like AR/VR/XR, hybrid work and rich telepresence, and Industrial IoT are experiencing rapid adoption, and countries and service providers are striving to meet the demand for multigigabit service. The cutting-edge capabilities of Wi-Fi 7 will enable innovations that require high throughput, consistent low latency, and greater reliability, and fiber will be a key component to delivering the advanced connectivity of Wi-Fi across home, enterprise, and industrial environments. Join us to learn more about how Wi-Fi 7 and fiber support multigigabit service goals.

Guest Presenter: Kevin Robinson, President and CEO, Wi-Fi Alliance®