Fiber Broadband Association Middle Mile WG: how to use “Digital Infrastructure Networks” for coordinated fiber backbone investments
The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) today released guidance from its Middle Mile Working Group (WG) which outlines how states can strengthen digital infrastructure through coordinated fiber backbone investment. Fiber is the foundation of AI, powering the high-capacity, low-latency, secure connectivity that links data centers, cloud infrastructure, and the communities that depend on them. To meet rising national demand, the U.S. must scale fiber deployment 2.3x by 2029. This goal requires accelerated infrastructure builds and strong coordination among states, utilities, and industry partners.
Digital Infrastructure Networks are strategic fiber optic systems that connect the core internet backbone to last-mile broadband providers. By strengthening these middle-mile connections, states can reduce the cost of broadband deployment, improve network resiliency, and expand connectivity to unserved and underserved communities.
“Middle-mile infrastructure is what allows broadband networks to scale,” said Sachin Gupta, Chair of the Middle Mile Working Group and Vice President of Business and Technology Strategies at Centranet. “When high-capacity fiber backbones are located closer to underserved communities, providers can extend last-mile networks more affordably, reach more locations, operate more efficiently, and better serve communities across the state.”
Among the recommendations:
- Coordinate infrastructure projects across agencies to streamline deployment and reduce unnecessary construction
- Implement “dig once” policies that install conduit or fiber whenever roads or utility corridors are opened for construction
- Leverage state-owned assets, including rights-of-way, existing fiber routes, and utility infrastructure
- Modernize permitting and coordination processes to accelerate broadband builds
FBA will further explore these strategies during two Middle Mile Working Group breakout sessions at Fiber Connect 2026, taking place Tuesday morning. The sessions include:
- Rural Collaboration, Infrastructure Planning, and Sustaining Affordable, High-Performance Middle Mile Broadband
- Unlocking New Middle Mile Opportunities for ISPs and Community Networks
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Technical Topology: The DWDM Advantage:
- Massive Spectral Efficiency: Multiplexing up to 96+ channels onto a single fiber, with each wavelength supporting 100G, 400G, or 800G data rates.
- Scalable Architecture: Capacity can be increased incrementally by lighting new wavelengths without forklift upgrades or additional trenching.
- Resilient Topologies:
- Ring Networks: Often preferred for regional backhaul, utilizing Optical Add/Drop Multiplexers (OADMs) to provide self-healing 1+1 protection and sub-50ms failover.
- Mesh Networks: The gold standard for reliability, offering multiple diverse paths to ensure uptime even during multiple fiber cuts.
- Long-Haul Performance: Utilizing Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFAs) and Raman amplification to maintain signal integrity over spans exceeding 1,000 km without electronic regeneration.
References:
Learn more; fiberconnect.fiberbroadband.org. Learn more about FBA’s research here or subscribe to FBA’s Fiber Forward Weekly newsletter here to stay updated.
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