Fiber Broadband Association Lobbies on Broadband Program

Why It Matters

The Fiber Broadband Association is pushing Congress to protect fiber's competitive position in federal broadband programs. The group filed a third-quarter 2026 in-house lobbying disclosure on telecommunications issues as the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program rolls out across states. The $42.45 billion federal initiative has undergone a significant shift: the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) moved to a technology-neutral framework allowing satellite, fixed wireless, and unlicensed spectrum to compete alongside fiber for subgrant awards. Under the revised rules, fiber captured 63% of planned BEAD locations nationally, while satellite took 23%. The Fiber Broadband Association published a policy paper in May 2026 arguing that policymakers should prioritize legislation supporting fiber expansion where the technology provides the most effective solution for connectivity, noting that nationally, almost two-thirds of eligible Americans will receive a new or upgraded fiber connection.

By the Numbers

The Fiber Broadband Association reported $116,000 in lobbying expenditures for third-quarter 2026. The group operates as an in-house lobbying organization with two registered lobbyists: Tinae Bluitt, serving as Public Policy Manager, and Marissa Mitrovich, serving as Vice President of Public Policy. The association also engaged Wiley Rein LLP during previous quarters. Over the past four quarters, the Fiber Broadband Association spent $928,000 on lobbying, and has filed nine total disclosures overall. Quarter three 2026 marked a spending decrease from prior quarters, when the group reported $143,000 in lobbying expenses each for the first and second quarters of 2026, as well as the third and fourth quarters of 2025.

Broader Context

Congressional activity on broadband legislation has accelerated this year. The House-passed Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567) would amend and reauthorize broadband programs in the 2018 farm bill and create new broadband programs. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman held a markup hearing on his version of the farm bill on August 6, though Republicans were unable to move their bill forward. The Senate Commerce Committee passed S. 2585, the Modernization, Accountability, and Planning (MAP) for Broadband Funding Act, on February 12, which would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in coordination with NTIA, to collect data from other relevant federal agencies for inclusion in its Broadband Funding Map. The broader context includes the expiration of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in 2024, which Congress declined to renew after the program provided up to $30 per month toward broadband bills and reached 24 million households at its peak.