Fiber Connect 2022 Puts Spotlight on Closing the Digital Divide

The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) has announced that Fiber Connect 2022 is where the fiber broadband industry will meet to discuss, debate and share information as the industry heads into the greatest fiber broadband expansion fueled by history’s largest federal investment.

The conference includes presentations from leading experts representing the companies that are driving new levels of capacity demand that only fiber can satisfy, policy and regulatory thought leaders and officials, think tanks, state broadband offices, service providers, municipal and utility broadband experts, and industry media and analysts. Fiber Connect 2022 runs June 12 – 15, at Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, where attendees can not only gain insight through the conference but also visit the Expo floor for the latest updates from the fiber industry players.

“The challenges and opportunities our industry faces as we look to take fiber further are complex and will require the best minds from across all aspects of the fiber broadband ecosystem to make the next investment cycle impactful and successful,” said Gary Bolton, President and CEO, Fiber Broadband Association. “We’re bringing that collective intelligence to Fiber Connect 2022 so that everyone has access to the tools, insights and expertise they need to ensure that every community can reach its full potential in today’s Gigabit Economy.”

The conference program includes keynotes from Meta, Pew Charitable Trust, TiVo and Farm Fresh Broadband author, Dr. Christopher Ali. The conference theme, “If Capacity is Unlimited, the Possibilities are Limitless,” will showcase how fiber broadband is the only infrastructure capable of supporting the long-term connectivity goals of communities, as well as serving as the foundation for delivering the capacity-intensive services and applications consumers want to consume. General session plenaries tackle topics from the federal focus on broadband infrastructure to how communities can leverage fiber as a mechanism for economic growth, and will include the following perspectives:

Federal, Regulatory and Public Policy
Doug Kinkoph, Associate Administrator, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, NTIA
Xochitl Torres Small, Under Secretary for Rural Development, USDA Rural Development
Radha Sekar, CEO, Universal Service Administrative Company
Jim Stegeman, CEO, CostQuest Associates
Ji Soo Song, Broadband Advisor, Office of Educational Technology
State Broadband Offices
Peggy Schaffer, Executive Director, Connect Maine
Taylre Beaty, State Broadband Director, Tennessee Economic & Community Development
Tamarah Holmes, Director, Office of Broadband, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
Jessica Simmons, Deputy CIO, Broadband & Special Projects, Georgia Technology Authority
Operators
Chris Altomari, VP of Integrated Broadband Build Planning, AT&T
Jimmy Todd, CEO and GM, Nex-Tech
Reed Nelson, Senior Director, Construction and Engineering, Frontier Communications
Trent Fellers, Vice President, Head of State Government Affairs, Windstream
Ritchie Sorrells, CEO, GVTC Communications
Hu Meena, CEO, C-Spire
Jay Winn, Chief Commercial Officer, Lumos/NorthState
Monica Webb, Senior Director, Market Development, Strategic Partnerships, Ting Internet
Utility Broadband Providers
Jeremiah Sloan, COO, Craighead Electric Cooperative Corporation,
Tim Culpepper, CEO, Cullman Electric Cooperative
Jeffrey Dykes, CEO, BrightRidge Communications
Steve Bandy, General Manager, OzarkGo
Lance Irwin, VP, Research & Portfolio Optimization, Seven States Power Corporation
David Wade, CEO, EPB
Industry Associations
Godfrey Enjady, President, National Tribal Telecommunication Association
Tarryl Clark, Chair of NACO Telecommunications & Technology Steering Committee; Commissioner, Stearns County, MN, National Association of Counties
Gary Bolton, CEO, Fiber Broadband Association
Matt Polka, CEO, ACA
Paul Breakman, VP for Cooperative Business Solutions, NRECA
David Grossman, VP Regulatory Affairs, CTA
Shirley Bloomfield, CEO, NTCA
Municipal/Community Broadband Providers
Pete Hoffswell, Superintendent of Broadband Services, Holland Board of Public Works
Chad Crager, Broadband Executive Director, City of Fort Collins
Kevin Comstock, Smart City Director, City of Chattanooga
Solution Providers
Michel Langlois, CTO, Calix
Cheri Beranek, CEO, Clearfield
Charlie Vogt, CEO, DZS
Stefaan Vanhastel, CTO Fixed Access, Nokia
Robert Conger, Senior Vice President, Technology and Strategy, ADTRAN
Jeff Gavlinski, Global VP of Telecom & Wireless Associations, Plume
In addition to the general session keynotes and panels, Fiber Connect 2022 includes eight breakout session tracks focused on:

Operator Best Practices
Deployment: View from the Field; Industry Perspectives
Case Study Central: Lighting Up a Brighter Future
Public Private Partnerships (organized by Telecompetitor)
Innovation: Taking Fiber Further
Analyst Take: Mapping the Market
Fiber Drivers: The Applications Driving Multi-Gig

Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) is the largest and only trade association in the Americas dedicated to the pursuit of all- fiber-optic network infrastructure to the home, to the business and to everywhere.

The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better broadband networks with fiber optics while working with its members to lead the organization forward, collaborate with industry allies and propel the deployment of fiber networks.

Since 2001, these companies, organizations and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build a better broadband future here and around the world. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in the Americas, LATAM, Europe, MENA and APAC.