Future-Proofing Starts Now: Rural Fiber Infrastructure Needs Long-Term Planning

Rural broadband expansion is at a turning point. The FCC’s updated benchmarks for high-speed internet have significantly increased the number of underserved households, with nearly 28% of rural Americans still lacking access to adequate fixed broadband. As demand surges for reliable connectivity to support telehealth, online education, and remote work, providers and policymakers are rethinking how to build rural fiber infrastructure that can serve both immediate needs and long-term growth.

How do we build long-term, scalable fiber infrastructure in rural areas without wasting resources on short-term fixes or duplicative efforts?

On Pro AV Today, recorded from the floor of Connected America 2025 in Irving, Texas, host Ben Thomas sits down with Lance White, Solutions Manager at KGPCo and longtime telecom industry leader, to dig into the practical realities of rural fiber infrastructure rollouts—from co-op partnerships and workforce shortages to the long-term ROI of fiber over wireless alternatives.

Key Takeaways from the Episode:

• Fiber remains the only true long-term solution. While satellite and wireless serve as temporary fixes, only fiber provides the bandwidth, latency, and scalability to support rural economic development and next-gen technologies like AI and data centers.

• Electric co-ops are leading the charge. With existing infrastructure, billing systems, and customer trust, co-ops are uniquely positioned to drive rural broadband, often succeeding where legacy telcos or ISPs have struggled.

• Workforce remains the bottleneck. As the industry faces a looming wave of retirements, recruiting young talent into telecom trades is vital. White emphasizes giving new workers a path for growth and ownership to keep them engaged.

Lance White is a telecommunications leader with nearly three decades of experience driving fiber and wireless infrastructure projects across rural and suburban markets. He has held senior roles at KGPCo, Corning, and Grayson Collin Communications, where he led large-scale broadband deployments, secured multimillion-dollar grants, and built strategic partnerships with ILECs, CLECs, and electric co-ops. White specializes in network expansion, project management, and broadband business development, with deep technical expertise in fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), LTE, and data/voice solutions.