I spoke on a @fiberbroadband panel yesterday about how to ramp up fiber optic deployment as upstream traffic is now growing at 3x the rate of downstream traffic. AI usage is changing how consumers and businesses use the Internet and the current federal broadband standard of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps for upload will soon be out of date. Data shared during the keynote indicated that fiber subscribers are using AI at 2x the rate of fixed wireless access subscribers and 25% more than cable broadband subscribers. The faster upload speeds that fiber enables drives greater consumer and business use of the latest technologies powering growth in our economy. Regional network operators have the local knowledge and relationships to speed up symmetrical broadband deployment to overcome hurdles such as permitting, conduit maps, and pole make ready. Ubiquitous broadband deployment is within reach in our region, yet fiber passings of residential homes stand near 65% nationwide in 2026 and around ~50% in Massachusetts. We are hard at work tackling this regional challenge.