Policymakers engage with fiber leaders on broadband deployment, workforce development, and emerging tech

WASHINGTON: On April 9, the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) hosted its annual Fiber Day on the Hill event at the Rayburn Foyer, drawing nearly 300 Congressional staffers and featuring key voices from both Capitol Hill and the broadband industry. The event delivered an interactive, hands-on experience designed to showcase how fiber broadband is transforming communities, strengthening the economy, and enabling the future of emerging technologies like AI.

FBA was joined by 42 leading partner companies, including some of the largest fiber manufacturers and internet providers. Together, they spotlighted fiber's impact across five key areas:

• What is Fiber? A foundational overview of the technology, demonstrating why fiber is the most reliable, scalable, and future-proof broadband infrastructure.
• The Economic Value of Fiber: From the national benefits of BEAD and BABA-supported manufacturing to localized growth seen in case studies like Charlottesville, fiber is a key driver of long-term economic development.
• Workforce Development: As broadband networks expand, the demand for skilled fiber technicians continues to rise. FBA highlighted its ongoing efforts to train and grow the next-generation broadband workforce.
• Growth of Fiber Across the US: With fiber now the preferred broadband delivery method across residential and enterprise markets, FBA emphasized why it’s the only infrastructure that can meet surging demands year over year.
• Fiber’s Role in AI and National Security: Demonstrations showed how fiber networks are critical to powering AI, data centers, and emerging technologies- and why this infrastructure is vital to keeping the U.S. competitive and secure on the global stage.

Members of Congress, including Rep. Bob Latta (OH) and Rep. Chuck Fleishmann (TN), shared remarks during the event, each underscoring fiber’s role in building a strong, dependable economy and workforce. They emphasized that fiber is not only vital for national innovation but also a catalyst for growth and opportunity in their home states.

“Fiber Day on the Hill is about more than showcasing technology- it's about building relationships and deepening understanding of Capitol Hill,” said Marissa Mitrovich, Vice President of Public Policy at the Fiber Broadband Association. “When lawmakers and their teams see firsthand how fiber enables economic growth, job creation, and innovation in their own districts, it creates powerful momentum for smart broadband policy.”

Looking ahead, the conversation will continue at Fiber Connect 2025, taking place June 1-4 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tennessee. As the industry's premier fiber broadband event, Fiber Connect 2025 will feature the Broadband Policy Symposium, on June 3, bringing together federal and state officials, industry leaders, and key stakeholders to explore the future of broadband policy. The Symposium will build on the momentum of Fiber Day of the Hill, diving deeper into the policy frameworks, funding strategies and regulatory approaches needed to drive fiber deployment and bridge the digital divide across America.

View the Fiber Connect 2025 agenda and register here. For sponsorship opportunities contact Lucy Green at lgreen@fiberbroadband.org. Stay updated by subscribing to the Fiber Broadband Association’s weekly newsletter here.

About the Fiber Broadband Association

The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists dedicated to the advancement of fiber broadband deployment and the pursuit of a world where communications are limitless, advancing quality of life and digital equity anywhere and everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers, communities, and policymakers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations, and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build the critical infrastructure that provides 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, MEA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.

Fonte: Business Wire