Fiber for Breakfast with Gary Bolton

In this week’s episode of Fiber for Breakfast, Ahmed Ali, Senior Analyst and Lead of CRU’s Optical Fibre and Cable Service, joins Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, to discuss how AI, cloud and data centre growth are reshaping the requirements placed on optical networks. While conventional single-mode fibre will remain the foundation of global connectivity, some high-...

Quantum networking is quickly moving from research concept to infrastructure conversation—and fiber providers may already hold the foundation. In this episode of Fiber for Breakfast, Professor Prem Kumar, Director, Center of Photonic Communications and Computing at Northwestern University joins Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, to explore how existing fiber infrastru...

AI is transforming broadband networks from simple connectivity platforms into intelligent infrastructures that can predict, adapt, and optimize performance in real time. As AI applications drive new traffic patterns, latency requirements, and customer expectations, service providers face both significant challenges and new revenue opportunities. On this episode of Fiber for Breakfast, Gary Bolton,...

FTTH technology is clearly the “end game” solution for wireline broadband access services, however, the speed and scope of operator migration to full-fiber networks varies widely, depending on factors such as operator roadmaps and competitive landscape conditions. On the next episode of Fiber for Breakfast, Erik Keith, Principal Analyst for Broadband Infrastructure at S&P Global Market Intelligenc...

AI is rapidly reshaping enterprise infrastructure and operations (I&O), placing new demands on compute, networking, virtualization, security, and talent management. On the next episode of Fiber for Breakfast, Ron Westfall, Vice President and Practice Leader for Infrastructure and Networking at HyperFRAME Research, joins Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, to discuss ne...

In this episode, we explore the latest Dell’Oro Group Broadband Access and Home Networking forecast and what it signals for cable, fiber, and fixed wireless providers worldwide. After three consecutive years of revenue declines, the market is projected to grow at just a 0.3% CAGR through 2030, with another dip expected in 2025 before a potential rebound in 2026 driven by DOCSIS 4.0 and XGS-PON rol...

The 2026 study of the general public across the U.S. and Canada takes the deepest market research dive yet into attitudes toward and participation in AI, as well as other emerging societal shifts. A key component of the study explores the evolving role of fiber as these trends continue to develop. Join us for the next episode of Fiber for Breakfast as Michael Render, CEO of RVA LLC, joins Gary Bol...

Autonomous vehicles are moving beyond early pilot programs and driving a multi-million-dollar industry. Goldman Sachs Research forecasts that the robotaxi rideshare market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 90% from 2025 to 2030. While AVs make split-second driving decisions onboard, low-latency fiber infrastructure is critical to supporting backend operations. Join Clayto...

As AI evolves from centralized data centers to massive, distributed systems, the physical layer—glass and photons—is becoming the true architecture of intelligence. Join us on the next episode of Fiber for Breakfast as Allan Isfan, AI, Telecom, and Streaming Executive at AI Squared, joins Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, to explore fiber as the “Fourth Pillar” of AI...

The U.S. fiber market has entered a phase of consolidation, with larger operators acquiring smaller networks at an accelerating pace. Integration can unlock scale and efficiency, but execution risk varies widely by architecture, technology stack, and operational maturity. Which networks integrate cleanly—and where do problems emerge? Join us as Jack Burton and David Strauss of BSP Technical Adviso...

As high-speed internet becomes essential to daily life, this episode explores Omdia’s latest report on what’s next for broadband across North America. The report examines emerging trends reshaping connectivity—from expanding rural access and improving home network experiences to evolving pricing models and intensifying competition. In this week’s episode, Gary Bolton, President and CEO of the Fibe...

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 Telecom...

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 hi...

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...

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 A...

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...

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...

On January 14, 2026, the California Public Advocates Office, in partnership with the University of California, Santa Barbara, released Broadband Competition and Pricing Strategies in California’s Urban Markets. The study examines how large incumbent providers respond to new competition from fiber and fixed wireless entrants across California’s urban communities. In this week’s episode of Fiber for...

On this episode of Fiber for Breakfast, we pull back the curtain on In-Line Amplifier (ILA) huts—the unsung infrastructure powering long-haul fiber networks. Michael Thomas, Regional Vice President of Integration at Network Connex, joins Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, to explain how ILAs keep signals strong across hundreds of miles, reduce latency, and enable the...

Virginia was recently awarded $545 million awards in federal funding through the BEAD program to expand high-speed internet access across the state. The BEAD awards will enable 23 internet service providers to extend broadband infrastructure to more than 133,000 remaining unserved homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions across the Commonwealth.  The Commonwealth is technology neutrali...

As AI adoption accelerates, tech leaders like Nvidia and OpenAI are tightening control over the full technology stack—from specialized chips and cloud infrastructure to the AI models driving innovation. Our guest this week is Asad Ramzanali, Director of Artificial Intelligence & Technology Policy at the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator, warns that this consolidation threatens competition, innovation,...

In this episode of Fiber for Breakfast, we explore how Maryland is pioneering a first-of-its-kind “Single View” of all public broadband and digital infrastructure assets. This statewide platform centralizes planning and coordination by mapping everything from vertical assets and real estate ownership to existing networks, connectivity gaps, and future community needs. The approach is already deliv...

As the U.S. population ages, the demand for solutions that help seniors live independently is accelerating—while the healthcare and senior care workforce faces a growing staffing crisis. In this episode, Elizabeth Parks, President & CMO of Parks Associates, joins Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, to unpack new research on the evolving market for independent living so...

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Brandy Reitter, Colorado’s State Broadband Officer, for a deep dive into the state’s broadband strategy following the “benefit of the bargain.” Brandy unpacks Colorado’s updated broadband plan, highlighting how the state is using a mix of technologies to serve communities with diverse needs—including how tribal locations influence deployment decisions.  She...

After years of planning, the BEAD program is moving from paper to pavement—but approval is only the start. In this first episode of 2026, Kathryn de Wit, director of The Pew Charitable Trusts’ broadband access initiative, joins Fiber Broadband Association President & CEO Gary Bolton to examine what comes next as states begin building networks to reach nearly five million locations. Kathryn unpacks...