Views on fiber from Fiber to the Future in Minnesota

Joan Engebretson recently wrote in Telecompetitor about her experience at a Fiber to the Future in Minnesota last week…

I had a chance to connect with some of them at an industry event in Minneapolis last week organized by optical fiber manufacturer Clearfield.

The event, billed as “Fiber to the Future,” brought together people from network operators, government, media, and the supply chain. Here are a few of the things we heard from the burning souls in attendance.

The article mentioned a few views from the industry…

  • “This is not about internet access; it’s about the future prosperity of this country,” said Bob Thompson, CEO of Underline, a network operator focused on deploying what he calls “fiber-to-the-community.”
  • Gary Bolton, president of the Fiber Broadband Association, offered an equally passionate take on the importance of ubiquitous high-speed broadband.
    “It’s about improving quality of life for generations to come,” he said.
  • When [CEO Cheri] Beranek founded Clearfield, her goal was to enable broadband and the lifestyle that it can support, she said.
    “Rural America is the foundation of this country,” she argued.
This entry was posted in Conferences, FTTH, MN by Ann Treacy. Bookmark the permalink.

About Ann Treacy

Librarian who follows rural broadband in MN and good uses of new technology (blandinonbroadband.org), hosts a radio show on MN music (mostlyminnesota.com), supports people experiencing homelessness in Minnesota (elimstrongtowershelters.org) and helps with social justice issues through Women’s March MN.

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