The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) has both rescheduled and relocated this year’s Fiber Connect conference and exposition. Instead of being held June 6-8 in Dallas, the North America’s largest annual fiber to the premises (FTTP) event will now take place July 25-28 in Nashville, TN. The change will render the event “more accessible for attendees to adhere to any remaining modified corporate travel protocols during the pandemic,” the FBA said in its announcement.
The group points out that year’s event comes as the pandemic has placed a spotlight on the importance of fiber broadband networks and government-backed initiatives, such as the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), to ensure more people have access to them.
“It is important for the fiber ecosystem to come together to collaborate on new technologies, opportunities for business development, and advance investment in fiber,” said Gary Bolton, FBA’s president and CEO. “We are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Fiber Broadband Association and look forward to highlighting the innovation and fiber industry advancements that have led to the creation of jobs, increased economic possibilities, and the positive and long-lasting impact on communities of all sizes across North America.”
The FBA notes that the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center is following CDC health and safety guidelines. The event will be organized to enable social distancing throughout the conference areas, the resort, and during all activities.
Ahead of the July start date, the FBA has opened a Call for Speakers with an abstract submission deadline of April 2, 2021, deadline. Abstracts may be submitted at http://www.fiberconnect2021.com/call-for-speakers-2/
Corning and Lightwave once again plan to present the FTTXcellence Award during the conference to honor an individual who has advanced the use of optical access networks in the Americas. Nominations for that award will open March 16, 2021.
The FBA is a trade association dedicated to the promotion and support of all-fiber access network deployments in North America, including to the home, business, and other locations that would benefit. It is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in the Americas, LATAM, Europe, MENA, and APAC.
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