Fiber for Breakfast with Gary Bolton

Hollow-core and multi-core fiber are moving from emerging technologies to potential game changers for next-generation networks. In this technology-focused episode of Fiber for Breakfast, representatives from industry leaders such as Prysmian, Relativity Networks, Lightera, and Corning will talk with Gary Bolton, FBA’s President & CEO to break down the evolution of these innovative fiber offerings,...

Quantum networking may sound like an entirely new infrastructure challenge, but its most valuable asset is one many broadband providers already own: fiber. In this next episode, Vincent Celindro, Director of Strategic Sales & Technology of Quantum Foundry joins Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association and explores how municipal, rural, cooperative, commercial, and research n...

As BEAD moves from planning into deployment, the program is entering a new phase with important implications for broadband infrastructure and the communities it will serve. In this milestone 300th episode of Fiber for Breakfast, Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, is joined by Arielle Roth, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Adm...

Arkansas is moving from broadband planning and funding to putting infrastructure in the ground—and its approach is attracting national attention. Join the next episode of Fiber for Breakfast as Glen Howie, Director of the Arkansas Broadband Office, talks with Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, about the state’s progress and what lies ahead. Glen will share updates on...

With all 50 states now having approved BEAD Final Proposals, the program is moving from planning to execution—but the process is far from settled. Carol Mattey, former FCC official, broadband and policy expert, and principal of Mattey Consulting, joins Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, to examine what happens when selected providers withdraw, states need to adjust aw...

Three decades after helping shape the vision for America’s broadband future, Blair Levin, (formerly FCC Chief of Staff (’93-97) and Executive Director of the 2010 National Broadband Plan) and with over two decades of advising institutional investors about telecommunications policy, joins Fiber for Breakfast for a candid look at how far the industry has come – and how far it still has to go. Joinin...

What happens when major broadband grants wind down? Revati Prasad, Executive Director of the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, joins Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, to explore the future role of state broadband offices and the challenges of sustaining capacity for mapping, oversight, affordability and digital opportunity. Drawing on additional research with...

When Jordan Arnold became Director of the Washington State Broadband Office in January 2026, the state was on the cusp of a major broadband milestone. Just weeks later, Washington received federal approval for its final BEAD proposal, unlocking more than $1 billion in investment for broadband expansion. Now, almost nine months into her role, Jordan joins Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber B...

In this episode of Fiber for Breakfast, Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, sits down with Gaurav Juneja, CEO of Fidium, to discuss the company’s next phase as a fiber-first operator. With a network spanning more than 76,000 fiber route miles, Juneja shares how Fidium is accelerating expansion, enhancing customer experience, and leveraging new capital strategies to sca...

AI has moved beyond experimentation for forward-looking fiber providers. The real question is no longer whether AI can automate tasks. It is how organizations can leverage it securely and at scale to operate with greater consistency, confidence, and predictability, so providers of any size can compete and win across residential, business, MDU, and community markets. In this episode of Fiber for Br...

EPB has evolved from a leading municipal utility to a national model for advanced fiber optic infrastructure – and is now focused on establishing Chattanooga as a hub for quantum technology. As the operator of the world's fastest community-wide internet since 2010, EPB's leadership in establishing commercially available quantum networking and computing is contributing to solutions from cybersecuri...

As fiber networks mature, the challenge is no longer just deployment – it’s maximizing value, differentiation, and long-term scalability. In this episode, Darren Farnan, General Manager of United Fiber joins Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association to explore how providers can deliver ARPU growth through deeper residential and commercial service adoption, while enhancing cus...

Artificial intelligence is transforming telecom networks—from how they are designed and operated to how service providers optimize performance, reduce costs, and enhance the customer experience. As AI adoption accelerates, what changes should network operators be preparing for, and where will AI have the greatest impact? On this episode of Fiber for Breakfast, Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the F...

The E-Rate program has connected virtually every school and library in America to broadband, growing classroom internet access from just 14% in 1996 to near-universal today. But for the first time in the program's nearly 30-year history, the FCC is asking whether E-Rate should be terminated. On this episode of Fiber for Breakfast, Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, we...

As fiber deployments accelerate nationwide, one major challenge continues to delay projects and increase costs: right-of-way and permitting issues. Too often, broadband providers, municipalities, and contractors face unnecessary expenses and setbacks simply because they lack the expertise to navigate complex regulatory and infrastructure hurdles. On this episode of Fiber for Breakfast, Dave Thomas...

The BEAD program represents a once-in-a-generation investment, but it also creates a major oversight challenge for state broadband offices. How can states ensure every project meets specifications without stretching staff or exhausting limited budgets? On this episode of Fiber for Breakfast, Colin Reilly, Vice President of Data Strategy & Technical Services at Connected Nation, joins 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...