Fiber for Breakfast with Gary Bolton

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

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

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

On this episode of Fiber for Breakfast, we pull back the curtain on In-Line Amplifier (ILA) huts—the unsung infrastructure powering long-haul fiber networks. Michael Thomas, Regional Vice President of Integration at Network Connex, joins Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, to explain how ILAs keep signals strong across hundreds of miles, reduce latency, and enable the rapid growth of AI and cloud services. They’ll also discuss why ILA placement is critical, how these sites are evolving into micro data centers, who’s building them, and how they could create new broadband opportunities for rural communities.

With Special Guest:

Michael Thomas, Regional Vice President of Integration, Network Connex

Virginia was recently awarded $545 million awards in federal funding through the BEAD program to expand high-speed internet access across the state. The BEAD awards will enable 23 internet service providers to extend broadband infrastructure to more than 133,000 remaining unserved homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions across the Commonwealth.  The Commonwealth is technology neutrality in its approach for expanding broadband, though fiber projects are still projected to reach the majority of locations. On today’s Fiber for Breakfast, Dr. Tamarah Holmes, Director, Office of Broadband, Virginia ARC Program Manager joins Gary Bolton, President and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association to give us an update on her plans for addressing the digital divide in the state of Virginia. 

With Special Guest:

Tamarah Holmes, Director of the Office of Broadband, DHCD