The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) is suggesting a framework for policymakers and industry leaders that it says will strengthen U.S. competitiveness. The framework is outlined in FBA’s latest policy paper: “North Star: Fiber is the Key to Closing the Digital Divide.”

The research noted that next-generation demands — particularly from artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and data center expansion — are reshaping what “adequate broadband” means.

In the paper, the FBA notes that the industry is changing from federal investment planning to execution and long-term network planning. As a result, the government needs to prioritize infrastructure that can support emerging technologies, economic expansion, and sustained connectivity demands.

The policy paper argues that only fiber broadband has capability of delivering the scalability, reliability, and performance required for an increasingly AI-driven, data-intensive future and closing the digital divide.

Among the recommended U.S. policies are:

• Designing programs for long-term performance over short-term thresholds to ensure network viability as demand scales
• Accelerating permitting and deployment efficiency through standardized, technology-enabled processes
• Investing in middle-mile and backhaul capacity to support data centers, AI workloads, and regional economic growth
• Promoting sustainable adoption strategies that pair infrastructure deployment with affordability and digital skills initiatives
• Ensuring accurate data and mapping to guide future funding and eliminate gaps in connectivity

The paper also notes the economic opportunity tied to fiber deployment, saying that the technology enables workforce development, supports rural innovation, and attracts investment in high-growth industries.

According to the FBA, fiber is not just about connecting homes; it helps close the digital divide by enabling entire communities to fully participate in the modern economy.

“The decisions being made today will define the performance, resilience, and competitiveness of our networks for decades to come,” said Marissa Mitrovich, FBA vice president of public policy, in a prepared statement. “This paper is a call to action for policymakers to focus beyond short-term deployment metrics and prioritize infrastructure that can truly support the next generation of innovation.”