Fiber for Breakfast with Gary Bolton

Fiber for Breakfast with Gary Bolton

The Fiber Broadband Association provides advocacy, education and resources to companies, organizations and communities who want to deploy the best networks through fiber to the home, fiber to the business and fiber everywhere. Get Association updates and Fiber for Breakfast The Fiber Broadband Association's weekly 30-minute live video discussion hosted by our President and CEO, Gary Bolton, and featuring industry thought leaders on current topics that explore fiber as the critical infrastructure for 21st century communications as well as other connectivity and workplace issues presented during these challenging times.

  1. 4D AGO

    FFB Episode 276: Latest Trends and Developments in the North American Broadband Market - 2026 Edition

    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 Fiber Broadband Association, is joined by Jaimie Lenderman, Research Manager, Service Provider Networks and Alzbeta Fellenbaum, Practice Leader, Service Provider–Consumer, to discuss forward-looking strategies operators can adopt to strengthen customer loyalty, attract new subscribers, and drive sustainable revenue growth in a rapidly changing market. Register now! With Special Guests: Jaimie Lenderman, Research Manager, Service Provider Networks, Omdia Alzbeta Fellenbaum, Practice Leader, Service Provider Consumer Research, Omdia

    32 min

  2. APR 16

    FFB Episode 275: Smart Funding, Smart Deployment: The Strategy Driving 100% Coverage

    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 Telecommunications Assistance Program, the nation’s first state-level, post-ACP broadband affordability program to help up to 27,000 families afford service. Lopez also discusses federal approval of the state’s $382 million BEAD proposal through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which will connect 42,500+ locations statewide. He explains New Mexico’s tech-neutral approach — blending fixed wireless, fiber, and low Earth orbit satellite — and how affordability and infrastructure together will drive the state to 100% coverage. Register now! With Special Guest: Jeff Lopez, Director of the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE)

    31 min

  3. APR 10

    FFB Episode 274: The State of Broadband: What the Data Really Reveals

    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 higher. Yet much of the industry conversation still relies on incomplete data, marketing announcements, and anecdotal evidence. In this week’s Fiber for Breakfast, we take a deep dive into CostQuest’s two landmark Broadband in America reports to examine the real state of fiber deployment and competitive dynamics across the United States. Join Jim Stegeman, President & CEO of CostQuest, and Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, for a data-driven discussion that challenges conventional wisdom and offers actionable insights for industry stakeholders. Register now to join the conversation. With Special Guest: Jim Stegeman, CEO & President, CostQuest

    32 min

  4. APR 1

    FFB Episode 273: Capacity, Competition & Cash Flow: The Upstream Equation

    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 speeds unlock significant pent-up upstream demand — with fiber users consuming 66% more upstream bandwidth. The conversation explores what this means for network investment, capacity planning, revenue growth, and the growing impact of absolute traffic increases on operator networks. Get your questions ready and register to attend! With Special Guests: Jeff Heynen, VP of Broadband Access and Home Networking, Dell'Oro Group Mark Trudeau, Founder & CEO, OpenVault

    33 min

  5. MAR 25

    FFB Episode 272: Tight Today, Transformational Tomorrow: A Historic Moment for 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 AI infrastructure are reinforcing one another -- creating shortterm supply pressure, but an even larger, longterm opportunity for the industry. Today’s market is tight because the opportunity is big. Mike will discuss how Corning, celebrating its 175th year, is staying close to customers, investing in capacity, innovating to solve customer problems, and strengthening partnerships with rural operators. Mike will also highlight Corning's commitment to support BEAD with BABA-compliant components through the life of the program. Mike describes a virtuous cycle where more AI infrastructure leads to new AI applications, which fuels broadband demand -- which in turn requires more AI infrastructure. The takeaway is clear: BEAD and AI aren’t competing priorities — they’re part of the same growth cycle, with benefits extending far beyond fiber to communities and the broader digital economy. Register now to attend! With Special Guest: Michael O'Day, Sr. VP & GM, Optical Communications, Corning

    30 min

  6. MAR 18

    FFB Episode 271: AI and the Network Effect: Where Carriers Win Next

    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 network traffic reports, including its surveys, trackers, and forecasts. As AI accelerates, network providers worldwide must strike a balance between protecting their core business—mobile and fixed connectivity—and participating in the broader AI opportunity. Brian shares his analysis of the significant challenges providers will face as AI reshapes network demand, as well as where the potential exists to capture greater revenue from this adjacent opportunity—if they move strategically. Register now! With Special Guest: Brian Washburn, Chief Analyst, Telco B2B Solutions, Omdia

    32 min

  7. MAR 11

    FFB Episode 270 - Mission Accomplished – or Mission Abandoned? Life After BEAD

    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 gaps in broadband coverage will remain, how LEO satellite services may factor into the equation, and if today’s 100/20 Mbps standard will be adequate or need to be re-examined after BEAD projects are completed. The discussion also tackles who will ultimately be responsible for closing any remaining gaps – industry, government, or communities and whether the FCC’s Universal Service Fund could play a pivotal role. Register now! With Special Guest: Carol Mattey, Founder, Mattey Consulting LLC

    33 min

  8. FEB 25

    FFB Episode 268 - Broadband Competition and Pricing Strategies in California Urban Markets

    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 Breakfast, Ernesto Falcon, Program Manager at the CPUC, joins Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, to unpack the findings. Drawing on market-level pricing data and deployment patterns, the report shows that meaningful facilities-based competition—particularly from new fiber providers—drives lower promotional pricing, enhanced service offerings, and more aggressive customer retention strategies. Conversely, in markets without robust infrastructure competition, consumers often face higher prices under effective gigabit monopolies. The analysis reveals persistent market concentration across many urban areas and underscores the need for policies that promote sustainable infrastructure competition, pricing transparency, and strong consumer protections. With Special Guest: Ernesto Falcon, Program Manager, CPUC

    33 min
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About

The Fiber Broadband Association provides advocacy, education and resources to companies, organizations and communities who want to deploy the best networks through fiber to the home, fiber to the business and fiber everywhere. Get Association updates and Fiber for Breakfast The Fiber Broadband Association's weekly 30-minute live video discussion hosted by our President and CEO, Gary Bolton, and featuring industry thought leaders on current topics that explore fiber as the critical infrastructure for 21st century communications as well as other connectivity and workplace issues presented during these challenging times.

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