Fiber broadband is rapidly expanding across West Virginia, fueled by bold public-private partnerships and significant infrastructure investments. While meaningful progress has been made, many communities remain underserved or entirely unserved — underscoring the continued need for strategic broadband deployment.

On our next episode of Fiber for Breakfast, join us as Jim Martin, President and CEO of Citynet, talks with Gary Bolton, President and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, to share how bold partnerships and targeted investments are transforming rural connectivity in West Virginia. With a spotlight on the recent $24.87 million USDA ReConnect award in Nicholas County, Martin will highlight how Citynet, a trusted, West Virginia-based fiber broadband provider is collaborating with local leaders to bring high-speed internet to thousands of underserved residents, farms, businesses, and community institutions. Discover how this project, and others like it, are reshaping the economic future of Appalachia and setting the stage for success under upcoming programs like BEAD and ARC.

With Special Guest:

• Jim Martin, President and CEO of Citynet

Read the full Fiber for Breakfast summary article here!

A top 10 US fiber provider, Consolidated Communications operates a network spanning more than 67,000 fiber route miles across 20-plus states. Launched in 2021, Fidium, their fiber services brand, has already connected over a million locations—in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont—delivering multi-gig speeds, simple pricing, and an exceptional customer-first experience.

Join us on the next episode of Fiber for Breakfast as Gaurav Juneja, Chief Operating Officer, Consolidated Communications talks with Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association about how Fidium, is rapidly expanding high-speed internet across rural New England. Also, you’ll hear more on how the company’s ambitious fiber build is driving economic growth, empowering communities, and setting new standards for customer satisfaction, all while accelerating its expansion and transformation under new private ownership.

With Special Guest:

• Gaurav Juneja, Chief Operating Officer, Consolidated Communications

Read the full Fiber for Breakfast summary article here!

Wisconsin is working hard to bridge the digital divide and improve broadband access for all residents. While challenges remain—such as limited access to high-speed wired or fixed wireless service in some areas and affordability barriers for many households—the state is actively tackling these issues through coordinated efforts and strategic planning.

At the forefront of this work is the Wisconsin Broadband Office (WBO), part of the Public Service Commission (PSC) of Wisconsin. WBO leads statewide initiatives to expand broadband access, adoption, and affordability, overseeing grant programs, mapping service coverage, conducting outreach, and supporting communities in developing digital infrastructure.

Tune in to the next episode of Fiber for Breakfast as Alyssa Kenney, WBO’s State Broadband and Digital Equity Director, joins Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association. They’ll discuss WBO’s ongoing efforts, the vision for universal connectivity across Wisconsin, and how smart policy and local partnerships are paving the way for a more connected and equitable digital future.

With Special Guest:

• Alyssa Kenney, State Broadband and Digital Equity Director, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin

Read the full Fiber for Breakfast summary article here!

For the past several years, fiber installation has continued to push forward to new levels of demand. Horizontal directional drilling (HDD), the construction medium seemingly made for fiber installation, has desperately been trying to keep up with booming project appetites across America. While micro-trenching and other construction methods are also being employed as part of the fiber construction tsunami, HDD, due to its environmentally friendly qualities combined with speedy construction process, remains the preferred installation method.

The need for speed has spread to every corner of the country. Fiber represents the economic engines for small towns as well as huge metropolises. Thus, small rig HDD operators are being stretched to their limits even as new contractors are entering the HDD market in hopes of riding the fiber wave to prosperity. The problem is that often inexperience brings a new set of challenges to the jobsite.

Adding to the already red-hot fiber installation market is the pending BEAD funding program for rural and underserved areas. When BEAD does finally start being released, the HDD market is bracing for another era of accelerated workload demands.

In the next episode of Fiber for Breakfast, Mike Render, president of RVA Market Research and Consulting, and Robert Carpenter, Editor-in-Chief of Underground Infrastructure magazine, join Gary Bolton, President and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, to share insights from the publication’s 27th annual HDD Survey—revealing a strong market grappling to meet growing demand.

With Special Guest:

• Michael Render, CEO & Principal Analyst, RVA LLC Market Research and Consulting
• Robert Carpenter, Editor-in-Chief, Underground Infrastructure

Read the full Fiber for Breakfast summary article here!

Join us on our next Fiber for Breakfast with a conversation with the Federal Communications Commissioner, Anna Gomez, as she sits down to talk with FBA’s President and CEO, Gary Bolton to discuss all things broadband.

The conversation will explore the tradeoffs between fiber and other technologies like satellite and fixed wireless—and why she believes fiber is best positioned to support emerging applications like artificial intelligence (AI) and long-term economic growth for people, communities and business. Commissioner Gomez and Gary will also discuss her ideas regarding the need for streamlined regulatory processes and strong public/private partnerships, particularly with utility companies, to accelerate broadband deployment.

Additionally, the discussion will examine the current state of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), its role in closing the digital divide and address concerns about how the lack of renewed funding has disconnected millions of Americans from essential digital services and threatens the continued connectivity for millions more.

Don’t miss this compelling and timely conversation on the infrastructure, policy, and innovation driving America’s broadband future.

With Special Guest:

• Anna Gomez, Commisioner, Federal Communications Commition

Read the full Fiber for Breakfast summary article here!

In February 2025, Michigan reached a major broadband milestone with the completion of a 130-mile fiber route from Southfield to Bay City, led by 123Net. This critical infrastructure runs through key communities along the I-75 corridor—including Pontiac, Fenton, Flint, and Saginaw—boosting access, improving reliability, and unlocking new business opportunities.

For property owners and developers, fiber is no longer just a utility—it’s a competitive edge. With 90% of renters rating high-speed internet as essential, properties with fiber connectivity can see rental rates climb by up to 8%, while property values rise by an average of 2.8%. In short, fiber doesn’t just connect—it adds real, measurable value.

Join us on the next episode of Fiber for Breakfast as Chuck Irvin, Chief Revenue Office (CRO) of 123Net, sits down with Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, to discuss how this investment is laying the foundation for a more connected Michigan—and how it’s opening doors for increased Net Operating Income (NOI) and long-term growth.

Whether you’re in broadband, real estate, or anywhere in between, this conversation will show you how fiber infrastructure is fueling more than fast internet—it’s driving profitability.

With Special Guest:

• Chuck Irvine, Chief Revenue Officer, 123Net

Read the full Fiber for Breakfast summary article here!

Surf Internet has reached a major milestone—surpassing 200,000 fiber passings across Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan—doubling its reach since late 2023. This rapid growth highlights Surf’s strategic commitment to rural broadband deployment and its role as a regional leader in delivering high-speed fiber connectivity across the Great Lakes.

Now celebrating 25 years in operation, Surf has consistently been the first provider to bring internet—first dial-up, then broadband, now fiber—to many of the communities it serves. With a focus on rural and underserved areas, the company continues to expand its fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) footprint through a hybrid model of private investment, competitive broadband grants, and state-level programs like the Indiana Connectivity Program.

Unlike providers waiting on federal funding cycles, Surf is acting now—deploying capital, forming public-private partnerships, and designing expansion strategies based on community input and localized needs. This on-the-ground approach—driven by a locally rooted workforce and forward-thinking talent development efforts—has proven effective in scaling access while maintaining local relevance and trust.

Join us for our next Fiber for Breakfast as Gene Crusie, CEO, Surf Internet joins Gary Bolton, President & CEO, Fiber Broadband Association to talk about Surf’s approach to accelerating fiber builds in lower-density markets, including how the company balances speed, scalability, and sustainability. With plans to reach an additional 75,000 addresses by the end of 2025, Surf offers a compelling blueprint for rural deployment that’s both proactive and community-driven.

With Special Guest:

• Gene Cruise, CEO and Founder, SURFInternet

Read the full Fiber for Breakfast summary article here!

As the demand for high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity surges—driven by generative AI, real-time analytics, and intelligent automation—fiber networks must evolve. Enter Agentic AI: a new class of autonomous artificial intelligence systems transforming how fiber networks are designed, deployed, managed, and scaled.

Join us for our next Fiber for Breakfast to hear Ron Westfall, Analyst in Residence from HyperFRAME Research cover this topic with Gary Bolton, President and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association. Sharing data points and insights from some recent research, Ron will touch on how Agentic AI is reshaping the fiber networking landscape — from automating complex network operations to meeting AI-era bandwidth demands. Whether you’re an operator, strategist, or technologist, this session will equip you with the vision and tools to lead in the fiber-connected AI future enabling telecom operators and fiber providers to build smarter, more resilient, and energy-efficient networks.

With Special Guest:

• Ron Westfall, Analyst in Residence, HyperFRAME Research

Read the full Fiber for Breakfast summary article here!

The U.S. remaining the global leader on Artificial Intelligence (AI) development has been a major priority of the Trump Administration in its first six months. When it comes to infrastructure to support AI, there has been significant policymaker and media attention on gaps in energy and cooling to support data centers but relatively less focus on ensuring sufficient fiber connectivity. Lumen is one of the companies investing in its fiber networks to meet the demand and create the AI backbone. During this Fiber for Breakfast live session at Fiber Connect 2025, Gary Bolton will be joined by James Feger, Senior Vice President for Product Segments, to discuss the critical intersection between fiber and AI.

With Special Guest:

• James Feger, SVP Product Segments, Lumen Technologies

Read the full Fiber for Breakfast summary article here!

In a city of 1.5 million residents and a population density of over 11,000 people per square mile, you might assume that digital access is a given. But the reality is different. The early days of the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare a persistent digital divide, as students and families struggled to adapt to a rapidly digital world.

PHLConnectED—an initiative led by the City of Philadelphia and local partners—was launched to ensure that pre-K through 12th-grade families could access free or low-cost internet services. Central to the program’s success is the City’s Digital Navigator Network, which provides one-on-one support to help residents overcome barriers to broadband adoption, such as lack of digital literacy, device access, or clarity around service options.

Additionally, the conversation will touch on the City’s new Verizon franchise agreement, which will bring fiber connectivity to all Philadelphia recreation centers—critical hubs for community access—and why fiber infrastructure plays a vital role in building a resilient, inclusive digital ecosystem.

Join Juliet Fink-Yates, Broadband Infrastructure and Digital Inclusion Manager at the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Innovation & Technology, and Gary Bolton, President and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA), as they discuss the measurable impact of the City’s Digital Navigator Network, PHLConnectED and  the role in advancing digital equity, and what’s next in connecting communities to opportunity.

With Special Guest:

• Juliet Fink-Yates, Broadband Infrastructure & Digital Inclusion Manager, City of Philadelphia’s Office of Innovation & Technology

Read the full Fiber for Breakfast summary article here!

Oklahoma is laying the groundwork for a digital revolution. With an ambitious plan to deliver fiber broadband to 95% of the state by 2028, the Oklahoma Broadband Office is driving a historic transformation—connecting rural and urban communities alike with future-ready, high-speed internet. Fueled by ARPA, BEAD, Capital Projects Fund grants, and strong public-private partnerships, the state is bridging the digital divide and powering progress in education, healthcare, and economic growth.

Join Mike Sanders, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Broadband Office (OBO), and Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, on this week’s Fiber for Breakfast as they break down Oklahoma’s bold fiber broadband mission—and how it’s on track to deliver statewide fiber coverage within just a few years.

With Special Guest:

• Mike Sanders, Executive Director, Oklahoma Broadband Office

Read the full Fiber for Breakfast summary article here!

In this week’s Fiber for Breakfast episode, we spotlight Project Nunapet—a groundbreaking broadband initiative bringing high-speed internet to four Tribal communities in Alaska’s Kodiak Archipelago. Named after the Alutiiq word for “our lands,” Project Nunapet reflects the enduring connection between the Alutiiq people and the land and sea.

Through a powerful collaboration between Old Harbor Native Corporation and Alaska Communications—and funded by a Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program Round 2 grant from the NTIA—this project will deliver Gigabit-speed service to 570 homes across the communities of Old Harbor, Chiniak, Akhiok, and Womens Bay.

Join us as Kristina Woolston, CEO of Old Harbor Native Corporation, shares the story of this transformative project with Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association. Learn how 155 miles of subsea fiber and an extensive last-mile network are bridging the digital divide and supporting education, healthcare, economic growth, and cultural preservation for generations to come.

With Special Guest:

• Kristina Woolston, CEO, Old Harbor Native Corporation

Read the full Fiber for Breakfast summary article here!