Upcoming event
FCC Announces Tentative Agenda for October 2026 Open Meeting
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr announced that the items below are tentatively on the agenda for the October Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 29, 2026:
A brief overview and analysis about how the BEAD landscape has changed since the program was created, including the implications for a potential second round and remaining funds.
Speakers: The Advanced Communications Law and Policy Institute (ACLP) at New York Law School
What is the true cost of permitting for a fiber build? Join the Fiber Broadband Association and Cartesian for a first look at new research examining how state and local permitting practices affect the economics of wireline deployment. Drawing on more than 100 real-world permitting examples across 30 states and territories, the study models 12 common permitting scenarios to quantify how fees, requirements, delays, and approval processes can affect network investment.
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 Administrator, to discuss BEAD’s progress, evolution and long-term impact.
Expanding broadband networks is only part of the equation. Sustained adoption requires trusted local programs that help residents build digital skills, increase engagement, and realize the value of connectivity, strengthening customer retention, and return on broadband investment.
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 awards, and new unserved locations emerge.
- Maximizing Efficiencies in Universal Service Administration
- Promoting Telehealth in Rural America
- Public Safety Licenses & Renewal Process
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.
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.
AI is moving from a future consideration for rural broadband to a critical tool for operators in record time. This webinar unpacks the 2026 Rural Broadband State of AI study, a first-of-its-kind report drawn directly from 132 rural broadband providers on where they stand with AI adoption, what's holding them back, and where they expect the most value.