Broadband Policy Symposium at Fiber Connect 2025 Tackles Shifting Federal Priorities to Connect Communities to a Brighter Future

Experts from federal agencies, broadband offices, and the private sector dig into the changing dynamics of federal fiber policy.

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) is proud to announce the Broadband Policy Symposium: Digging Into Federal Policy Advancements, Realities, and Roadblocks, the cornerstone public policy event at Fiber Connect 2025 taking place on Tuesday, June 3, from 2:30-6:30 pm in Governor's Ballroom C at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

“As we deploy once-in-a-generation federal funding for broadband expansion, we must be clear-eyed about the opportunities, roadblocks, and next steps,” said Marissa Mitrovich, Vice President of Public Policy at FBA. “This symposium is a must-attend for anyone committed to delivering high-speed connectivity to every corner of America.”

Presented by Cisco and RSM, the symposium will gather leading broadband policymakers and industry experts to explore the largest broadband infrastructure investment cycle in a generation- and what it means for the communities still on the wrong side of the digital divide. The program features keynote presentations, fireside chats, and panel discussions on timely topics including:

• Aging in Place and Fiber-Enabled Technology for Seniors – featuring Thomas Kamber of AARP
• Federal Broadband Priorities and Opportunities – with insights from Cristina Chou (Altice USA), Craig Littleton (The Permitting Council), and Chris Champion (C Spire)
• State Capitol Perspectives from Both Sides of the Aisle – a bipartisan fireside chat featuring Jennifer Epperson (North Carolina) and Michael Hendrix (Tennessee), moderated by Ariane Schaffer (GFiber and FBA Board Chairwoman)
• State Broadband Implementation Challenges and Innovations – with broadband directors from Louisiana and Nevada
• Anchoring Community Broadband Programs – with Joseph Wender (SHLB Coalition), Marcus Moffett (Cisco), and Katherine de Wit (Pew Charitable Trusts)
• Tribal Broadband Capacity Building – featuring representatives from Mohawk Networks and Southern Ute Shared Services, moderated by Robert Griffin (The Choctaw Nation)
• Fiber to the Last Acre: Bring High-Capacity Connectivity to Farms – a fireside chat with Emily Buckman (American Farm Bureau Federation) and Jimmy Todd (Nex-Tech)

The event will close with remarks from Marissa Mitrovich, Vice President of Public Policy at FBA, followed by a networking reception that brings together public policy leaders, private sector innovators, and community stakeholders working toward a common goal - connecting every U.S. resident with high-speed, reliable fiber broadband.

View the Fiber Connect 2025 agenda and register here. For sponsorship opportunities contact Lucy Green at [e-mail]. Stay updated by subscribing to the Fiber Broadband Association’s weekly newsletter here.

About the Fiber Broadband Association

The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists dedicated to the advancement of fiber broadband deployment and the pursuit of a world where communications are limitless, advancing quality of life and digital equity anywhere and everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers, communities, and policymakers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations, and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build the critical infrastructure that provides the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in North America, LATAM, Europe, MEA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.