Welcome to The Dealer Download, powered by RS&I.
Fiber broadband is expanding faster than ever. But the most important shift is not how much fiber is being deployed. It is how deployment itself is changing.
Smarter network design, federal funding, workforce challenges, and new technologies are reshaping what fiber looks like on the ground. For RS&I Authorized Dealers, understanding these shifts is no longer optional. It directly impacts how you sell, how you position solutions, and where growth comes from in 2026 and beyond.
In this episode of The Dealer Download powered by RS&I, host Michael Shiverdecker breaks down the six biggest trends transforming fiber deployment and why they matter for dealers selling AT&T Fiber, Brightspeed, and business connectivity solutions.
This is not a technical deep dive. It is a strategic one.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
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How Smarter Fiber Deployment Is Reducing Cost and Time
Fiber builds are no longer one size fits all. New design methods, modular construction, and better planning are shortening install timelines and lowering deployment costs. This episode explains why these efficiencies accelerate market expansion and open new sales opportunities.
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Why Federal Funding Is Reshaping Fiber Strategy
Programs like the BEAD Program are changing where and how fiber is built. Michael breaks down why public funding is driving rural and underserved expansion and how dealers benefit when new markets come online faster.
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How Fiber and 5G Convergence Expands Dealer Opportunity
Fiber is no longer a standalone product. It is the foundation for wireless backhaul, redundancy, and hybrid connectivity models. This episode explains how fiber and 5G work together and why dealers who understand that relationship win more complex, higher value deals.
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Why Emerging Technologies Are Driving Demand
AI, edge computing, advanced cloud workloads, and even quantum research all depend on low latency, high capacity networks. Fiber is becoming essential infrastructure, not an upgrade. Dealers who can articulate that value position themselves as long term partners, not commodity sellers.
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The Workforce Challenge Behind the Buildout
Fiber expansion is moving fast, but skilled labor is not keeping pace. This episode explores why workforce shortages matter to timelines, why training initiatives are increasing, and how that impacts expectations with customers.
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