In late August, the Arkansas State Broadband Office released the state’s final proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, officially opening the plan for public review and comment.

According to the Arkansas State Broadband Office, the state's $1 billion BEAD program represents the largest public broadband investment in Arkansas history. The state's BEAD program garnered a strong response. Arkansas' State Broadband Office received 730 applications by 33 internet service providers (ISPs), and 23 providers selected for preliminary awards.

During this Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked to Glen Howie, Director of the Arkansas State Broadband Office.

About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address the key issues affecting the optical and broadband industry segments. Join us every week for insights from industry leaders on these topics. Visit our website at www.lightwave.com and our podcast site at www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com.

As bandwidth demand accelerates and power consumption issues become more acute, the emergence of Linear Pluggable Optics (LPO) has become a welcome technology. LPO is a technology that creates low-power optical modules for ultra-short-reach data center connections by removing the complex DSP (Digital Signal Processor) chip from the module. This design reduces power consumption, cost, and latency, making it ideal for AI clusters and hyperscale data centers. Industry standards groups have focused on two main developments: electrical interface standards and testing and optical link performance and deployment. The Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) is moving forward with electrical interface standards while the LPO Multi-Source Agreement (LPO MSA) is addressing optical link performance and deployment challenges. In this podcast, we talked with Mark Kimber, the senior principal product definition specialist for Semtech. Here’s a timeline of the episode:

Opening

0:05 Host introduces guests Broadband Pulse host Sean Buckley introduced Kimber to the program.

0:38 LPO’s emergence Mark Kimber addresses emergence of LPO and Semtech’s role.

1:54 The LPO Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) How the new LPO MSA is establishing a specification and a methodology to make LPO work.

3:40 LPO standards efforts How the LPO MSA and the Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) call for creating optical and electrical standards.

4:56 Semtech’s direct edge portfolio Semtech’s LPO platforms can help data center providers accommodate AI’s new power, latency and size requirements.

6:31 LPO plug and play operations Plug-and-play is key to help simplify large data center operations and management.

11:04 OIF’s Common Management Interface Specification (CMIS) role CMIS manages the LPO module's diagnostic capabilities, including monitoring the optical and electrical interfaces. 11:35 200G per lane technology How LPO can save power at higher speeds like 200G per lane. 14:10 Final Thoughts/Closing Mark Kimber offers his final thoughts on LPO.

About our guest Mark Kimber is the Principal Product Definition Specialist at Semtech Corporation. Mark received the BE (Elect) degree from the University of Queensland in 1984. Since then, he has worked on research and product development at GEC Hirst Research Centre, STC Laboratories, Bell Northern Research, Nortel, Bookham, Gennum and Semtech. Mark currently works on product definition for Semtech products and is a contributor to various standards groups.

About the Podcast In the Lightwave+BTR Broadband Pulse podcast, we address the key issues affecting the optical and broadband industry segments. Join us every week for insights from industry leaders on these topics. Visit our website at www.lightwave.com and our podcast site at www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com.

Vistabeam is another example of a company finding a way to serve the often-overlooked rural market. Matt and Monique Larsen, who co-founded Vistabeam in 2004, believed rural communities deserved better internet and better opportunities. Like other entrepreneurs who rose during the early days of the internet, the Larsens were working at another ISP, but saw an opportunity to leverage new wireless technology with a local hands on focus that a national provider can’t offer.

Vistabeam has continued to grow. Today, its network covers 50,000 square miles and serves more than 100 towns across western Nebraska, northeastern Colorado, and southeastern Wyoming — the region it calls Wyobraskarado. The company maintains that its differentiator is not technology, but rather “its heart.” The company is family-owned, locally operated, and committed to creating good jobs in the communities it serves.

Key Moments in This Episode

Opening

0:05 Introduction of our guest

0:28 Vistabeam’s broadband journey Matt Larsen talks about how Vistabeam has evolved since its founding in 2004. 2:36 Fixed wireless and fiber How Vistabeam is leveraging fixed wireless and fiber to bring broadband to rural areas of Nebraska, northeastern Colorado, and southeastern Wyoming. 4:27 Weighing fiber and wireless options Vistabeam sees fiber and wireless as being a tool that fits specific situations.

5:52 The competitive landscape While Vistabeam faces a mix of traditional rural telcos and competitors, the company says its value lies in its local and responsive approach. 7:19 Middle Mile Vistabeam has built its own middle mile networks with microwave and available fiber to backhaul traffic. 9:19 Fiber broadband expansions The service provider has been leveraging state grants to build fiber in Kimball, Mitchell and Oshkosh, Nebraska.

12:18 Business service options Vistabeam is being opportunistic with business services, which are resonating with tractor dealerships and others. 14:27 Final Thoughts/closing

About our guest Matt Larsen is the CEO and founder of Vistabeam. Since co-founding the company in 2004, Vistabeam has grown to cover over 50,000 square miles and serve more than 100 towns across western Nebraska, northeastern Colorado, and southeastern Wyoming — the region it calls Wyobraskarado. Vistabeam is a hybrid broadband provider that offers both fixed wireless and fiber-based services. Besides his role at Vistabem, he serves as the chairman of WISPA.

About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address the key issues affecting the optical and broadband industry segments. Join us every week for insights from industry leaders on these topics. Visit our website at www.lightwave.com and listen here.

In this special episode of the Broadband Pulse podcast, we're tracking key trends taking place at SCTE's TechExpo25 show.

As the final installment in this series, we’re tipping our hat to the vendors who showcased new wares that are designed to assist cable MSOs with their ongoing migration to DOCSIS 4.0, fiber broadband, and enhance the reach of their metro and long-haul optical networks.

Lightwave is conducting a roundup of the key product releases during the recent SCTE TechExpo25 event in Washington, DC. This roundup highlights innovations from ATX, Go! Foton, Nokia/InCoax, ProLabs, Render, Vecima and VIAVI.

For more on cable innovations, check out our SCTE TechExpo25 coverage page: SCTE TechExpo25 special report.

About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address the key issues affecting the optical and broadband industry segments. Join us every week for insights from industry leaders on these topics. Visit our website at www.lightwave.com and listen here.

In this special episode of the Broadband Pulse podcast, we're tracking key trends taking place at SCTE's TechExpo25 show.

This episode has highlights from the second day of the show, including:

DOCSIS 4.0 Evolution: Comcast and Mediacom revealed their progress during the show through their vendor partnerships with CommScope and Harmonic.

MDU broadband: As they did with cable TV, cable operators and competitive carriers are capitalizing on the multi-dwelling unit (MDU) broadband opportunity. Parks Associates, in partnership with Cox, released a study that found that nearly one in five multifamily residents with home internet reported receiving gigabit or faster download speeds. Meanwhile, CommScope's Ruckus unit continues to deepen its MDU presence across various verticals, including large apartment complexes, college campuses, retirement communities and federal prisons.

Rural Markets: Bringing broadband to rural areas is becoming a big opportunity for large and smaller cable operators. Comcast announced that it is deploying Ciena’s 5131 Coherent Access Platform (CAP) to extend the reach of its current fiber deployments more than 100 km and deliver 100 Gbps—capacity to serve residential, small to medium-sized business (SMB), enterprise, and community anchor institutions—to new and existing communities with unserved or underserved connectivity needs.

Service convergence and the customer experience: A Lightwave panel called Maintaining a Sustainable Competitive Advantage in Converged Service Offerings leveraged research results to uncover service providers’ plans for building networks that are robust enough to fulfill their business aspirations.

The panel included two key fiber and cable industry experts:

Barry Walton, Senior Broadband Solutions Advisor for Corning

And Lamar Horton, VP, Network Engineering and Operations for Astound Broadband/Astound Business Solutions

Among the many themes discussed during the panel was how to create a good customer experience regardless of if a broadband provider is using HFC or fiber.

About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address the key issues affecting the optical and broadband industry segments. Join us every week for insights from industry leaders on these topics. Visit our website at www.lightwave.com and listen here.

In this special episode of the Broadband Pulse podcast, we're tracking key trends taking place at SCTE's TechExpo25 show.

This episode has highlights from the first day of the show.

About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address the key issues affecting the optical and broadband industry segments. Join us every week for insights from industry leaders on these topics. Visit our website at www.lightwave.com and listen here.

As the cable industry considers new methods to address competition with fiber and converged wireless/wireline service sets, it’s clear the industry is looking towards its next elements of growth. Nowhere will this be highlighted than at the SCTE TechExpo25.

During this year’s TechExpo25 show, attendees will be able to view new technologies like AI, automation, and advanced planning, while tackling challenges in security, operations, and construction.

Broadband Pulse recently caught up with Maria Popo, President and CEO, SCTE, and Janelle Morse, VP of engagement and strategy, SCTE, to discuss their expectations for this year’s show in Washington, DC.

Key Moments in This Episode

Opening

0:04 Introduction of our guests

0:31 Guests provide background Maria Popo and Janelle Morse talk about their roles at SCTE.

1:37 SCTE CableTech25 expectations Janelle Morse shares highlights about the TechExpo25 show

4:43 Workforce readiness and policy Maria Popo addresses how the show will highlight workforce issues shaped by AI and communications regulations.

5:58 Cable’s convergence story Maria Popo looks at how cable operators are looking to create seamless experiences across their assets--HFC, fiber, mobile and Wi-Fi.

8:58 Differentiated services Janelle Morse highlights the cable industry’s move to offer more than just speeds.

9:26 Cable’s last mile evolution How cable operators are expanding fiber strategically while squeezing value out of the existing HFC network.

13:25 Regional cable operators Janelle Morse discusses how small cable operators can learn and gain inspiration from Tier 1 providers.

14:41 BEAD Evolution How the cable industry is grappling with the new administration’s changes to the BEAD program.

16:38 Building the next-gen workforce How the cable industry can use AI to train and apply it in the field.

20:52 Final Thoughts/closing Maria Popo and Janelle Morse give their final closing thoughts.

About our guests

Maria Popo, President and CEO, SCTE As president and CEO of SCTE, a CableLabs subsidiary, Popo is dedicated to enhancing the broadband industry by aligning corporate goals with transformative learning solutions, fostering workforce technology skills and innovation, while leveraging its global network of over 60 chapters for industry engagement and insights. Popo’s journey from trade school to academia and boardrooms has been shaped by tenacity, adaptability, and lifelong learning. During her tenure in the networking and cable industries, she held senior roles at various companies, including Global Fortune 50 Foxconn, CEO/president of Ubee Interactive Americas, and 3Com(HP)/Ambit Microsystems/3M.

Janelle Morse, VP of engagement and strategy, SCTE As SCTE’s Vice President of Engagement and Strategy, Janelle Morse leads strategy and engagement initiatives across the SCTE membership community and drives global participation for TechExpo, North America’s premier broadband technology event. Before joining SCTE in 2023, she served as VP of Research, Events & Media at TM Forum, where she led initiatives to showcase the Forum and industry achievements across multiple platforms, fostering opportunities for learning, collaboration, exploration, and connection. In 2020, she successfully led her team through the rapid transformation of TM Forum’s flagship event, Digital Transformation World, into a completely virtual 6-week magazine-style event.

About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address the key issues affecting the optical and broadband industry segments. Join us every week for insights from industry leaders on these topics. Visit our website at www.lightwave.com and listen here.