Beyond the Cable provides a look at Connected America 2026’s agenda, which unfolds over a packed two-day program in Texas.
Day 1 will focus on nationwide buildouts: BEAD implementation, state broadband office strategies, tribal connectivity, and middle-mile infrastructure, with keynotes and panels examining how fiber, fixed wireless, satellite, and 5G must work together to reach unserved communities.
Sessions on both days, listed on Connected America’s website, will also spotlight practical deployment barriers—supply chain and labor constraints, regulatory compliance, and the challenge of turning infrastructure into adoption.
Artificial intelligence and data center growth feature as cross-cutting themes, with panels on how AI can optimize network performance and reduce costs, and discussions on edge and hyperscale demand that explore where capacity and investment will cluster.
Affordability, community‑centric business models, and strategies to convert new networks into sustainable subscriber bases aim to connect buildout plans with long‑term social and economic outcomes.