At Fiber Connect 2026, the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) has announced record membership, adding 40 net new member companies in 2026 to date as momentum behind fibre broadband infrastructure continues to accelerate across North America. 

Over the past five and a half years, FBA membership has more than tripled, now representing a community of more than 8,000 broadband professionals. Membership increased 16 per cent year-over-year, with balanced growth across both network operators and fibre solution providers, reinforcing the Association’s role as the industry’s leading collaborative forum for the fibre broadband ecosystem. 

As artificial intelligence, quantum networking, cloud computing, and other data-intensive technologies reshape global connectivity requirements, broadband providers, infrastructure leaders, and technology innovators are increasing investment in scalable, future-ready fibre networks. FBA continues to serve as a central platform for industry collaboration, workforce development, education, and best-practice advancement to support this next wave of digital infrastructure transformation. 

“Fibre has become the critical infrastructure enabling the next generation of economic growth and innovation,” said Jennifer Vassil, Vice President of Membership at Fiber Broadband Association. “Our members are driving that transformation through collaboration, technical leadership, and a shared commitment to expanding high-performance connectivity. The continued growth of our Association reflects both the strength of the fibre industry and the increasing importance of fibre in powering AI, cloud applications, smart infrastructure, healthcare, education, and beyond.” 

Member participation and technical engagement continue to expand across the Association’s initiatives. Today, more than 1,900 delegates from member companies actively contribute to FBA committees, working groups, and standards-related activities focused on deployment strategies, operational excellence, workforce development, and business innovation. 

FBA also continues to see growing adoption of its All Fiber Certification programme, which recognizes network operators deploying fibre optic infrastructure across at least 90 per cent of their networks. Maryland Broadband Cooperative recently became the latest organisation to achieve this milestone. 

Beyond national initiatives, FBA continues to strengthen regional industry engagement through its Fiber Connect Workshops, Member Mingles, and Meetups. Over the past year, the Association hosted events in six cities across North America, creating opportunities for operators, manufacturers, contractors, and ecosystem partners to collaborate on market opportunities and deployment strategies. In the second half of 2026, FBA plans to host 15 additional Member Mingles and Meetups in major markets including Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, the New York metro area, the Washington, D.C. metro area, and Vancouver. 

FBA’s expanding influence also extends beyond traditional broadband stakeholders through its recently launched Alliance Partner Programme, designed to deepen collaboration with organizations both inside and adjacent to the broadband industry. The program supports cross-sector initiatives that advance high-performance connectivity for critical applications in healthcare, education, agriculture, digital equity, and smart infrastructure. 

Current Alliance Partners include the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, The Broadband Council, Community Broadband Action Network (CBAN), Connected Nation, Open Compute Project, and the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB). 

In addition, FBA continues to collaborate with a broad network of industry associations and community organisations, including Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and AARP Older Adults Technology Services/Senior Planet, to support digital inclusion, broadband adoption, and community engagement initiatives nationwide. 

Additional strategic partners include the Alaska Telecom Association, Broadband Communications Association of Pennsylvania, Federation of Internet Solution Providers of the Americas, Fiber Network Alliance, Georgia Rural Telephone & Broadband Association, INDATEL, Iowa Communications Alliance, Louisiana Cable & Telecommunications Association, National Association of Tower Erectors, National Tribal Telecommunications Association, Pennsylvania Telephone Association, Power & Communications Contractors Association, SCTE, Texas Rural Broadband Association, and the Wireless Infrastructure Association. 

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Categories: Press Releases

Tags: broadband, fibre