Bonfire Infrastructure Group

05/27/2026

For years, the focus in telecom was on the build—cost per passing, miles of fiber, homes reached. But today, with tens of millions of homes now passed and a clear path to near-universal coverage, the conversation is shifting.

It’s no longer just about where fiber goes. It’s about who’s connected, who understands its value, and how we, as an industry, help communities fully realize the benefits.

Our guests on this episode include:
🦸🏻‍♂️ Jessica Koch, Controller at Consolidated Business Services, LLC & FBA Conference Chair
🦸🏻‍♂️ Patrick Mulhearn, Director of Government Affairs at Ripple Fiber & FBA Conference Vice-Chair
🦸🏻‍♂️ Josh Orlowitz, Director of Strategy and Planning at Bonfire Infrastructure Group
🦸🏻‍♂️ Nick Dinsmoor, Chief Marketing Officer at Bonfire Infrastructure Group

https://youtu.be/EXXsD7iujVo?si=e018v0Wbqwlzta5m

Broadband Heroes | Ep. 54 | We Built the Network… Now What?

05/25/2026

Learn how one rural Texas community is using a hybrid telehealth model—combining reliable broadband, a physical clinic, and on-site support—to connect patients with remote providers.

Infrastructure alone isn’t enough. Even where telehealth is available, success depends on reliable high-speed internet, local support, and solutions designed for real-world rural needs.

As broadband expansion continues, models like this show what’s possible when connectivity is paired with community-driven implementation.

https://dailyyonder.com/part-1-hands-on-telehealth-helps-reach-rural-texas-communities/2026/03/30/

A shipping container in Fort Davis is at the center of a new experiment in bringing telehealth to an aging rural population.Perched in the Davis Mountains

05/20/2026

Bringing broadband to rural communities isn’t just about infrastructure. It’s about real, everyday impact. From accessing telehealth without hours of travel to mobile banking and staying connected, affordable connectivity changes lives.

Our guests on this episode include:
🦸🏻‍♂️ Jessica Koch, Controller at Consolidated Business Services, LLC & FBA Conference Chair
🦸🏻‍♂️ Patrick Mulhearn, Director of Government Affairs at Ripple Fiber & FBA Conference Vice-Chair
🦸🏻‍♂️ Josh Orlowitz, Director of Strategy and Planning at Bonfire Infrastructure Group
🦸🏻‍♂️ Nick Dinsmoor, Chief Marketing Officer at Bonfire Infrastructure Group

https://youtu.be/xWLc9xEAql0?si=0qSkYv_Ea_87HoAv

Broadband Heroes | Ep. 54 | What Broadband Actually Changes Day to Day

05/18/2026

Connectivity is transforming farming operations, from real-time livestock monitoring to cloud-based management tools that improve efficiency and decision-making 🧑‍🌾

But the gap remains. Rural producers still face challenges around speed, reliability, and affordability as “coverage” doesn’t always mean usable connectivity.

https://www.agproud.com/articles/62971-bringing-broadband-to-the-farm-unlocking-agricultures-digital-future

Feeding cattle used to be a pen-and-paper business. Now, more producers are relying on cloud-based software to streamline operations, but hesitation remains, especially if internet access is limited.

05/13/2026

aWho truly benefits from ubiquitous, high-speed, low-latency fiber infrastructure? Everyone.

From telehealth and online education to precision agriculture and the rise of streaming and e-sports, fiber is enabling entirely new industries and reshaping how people live, work, and earn. At Fiber Connect 2026, we’ll be diving into these real-world impacts and the technologies powering them.

Our guests on this episode include:
🦸🏻‍♂️ Jessica Koch, Controller at Consolidated Business Services, LLC & FBA Conference Chair
🦸🏻‍♂️ Patrick Mulhearn, Director of Government Affairs at Ripple Fiber & FBA Conference Vice-Chair
🦸🏻‍♂️ Josh Orlowitz, Director of Strategy and Planning at Bonfire Infrastructure Group
🦸🏻‍♂️ Nick Dinsmoor, Chief Marketing Officer at Bonfire Infrastructure Group

https://youtu.be/YEqtGZBZNJM?si=y-c5666Bs8ttIbpF

Broadband Heroes | Ep. 54 | Fiber Is Powering Entire New Industries

05/11/2026

Streamlining regulations, improving permitting processes, and enabling more competitive bidding could accelerate broadband deployment, especially in underserved rural areas.

Funding alone isn’t enough. Without reducing bureaucratic friction, even billions in investment risk being slowed by inefficiencies and outdated rules.

https://thedailyeconomy.org/article/getting-the-bureaucracy-out-of-broadband/

A transparent, competitive bidding process could rescue rural broadband from cronyism.

05/06/2026

This year we’re celebrating 25 years of fiber innovation at Fiber Connect 2026 🎉

What started as a bold vision has become essential infrastructure powering how we work, learn, and connect. This milestone is about honoring the leaders who made it possible, while looking ahead to the next wave of innovation from telehealth to hyperscalers and beyond.

Our guests include:
🦸🏻‍♂️ Jessica Koch, Controller at Consolidated Business Services, LLC & FBA Conference Chair
🦸🏻‍♂️ Patrick Mulhearn, Director of Government Affairs at Ripple Fiber & FBA Conference Vice-Chair
🦸🏻‍♂️ Josh Orlowitz, Director of Strategy and Planning at Bonfire Infrastructure Group
🦸🏻‍♂️ Nick Dinsmoor, Chief Marketing Officer at Bonfire Infrastructure Group

https://youtu.be/qg-mqes8SpM?si=m4Q1l8IcnJ8ego0H

Broadband Heroes | Ep. 54 | 25 Years of Fiber: From Proven Value to What’s Next

05/04/2026

States are stepping up by passing 160+ broadband bills and allocating over $1.3B to keep expansion moving forward.

Policy shifts like these signal both challenges and opportunities in the race to close the digital divide: https://statescoop.com/bead-flux-states-broadband-expansion/

States passed more than 160 broadband bills last year, providing new funding to replace cancelled federal dollars or to get ahead of procedural barriers as they await large payouts from the BEAD program.

04/29/2026

Fiber Connect isn’t just a conference anymore — it’s the industry’s mirror. This year’s programming reveals what the broadband world is actually worried about: the homes are getting connected, but now what?

Costs are up. BEAD is messy. AI is eating fiber supply. And the industry needs to prove that fiber isn’t just a pipe — it’s the platform that powers healthcare, farming, gaming, quantum, and the economy.

Our guests include:
🦸🏻‍♂️ Jessica Koch, Controller at Consolidated Business Services, LLC & FBA Conference Chair
🦸🏻‍♂️ Patrick Mulhearn, Director of Government Affairs at Ripple Fiber & FBA Conference Vice-Chair
🦸🏻‍♂️ Josh Orlowitz, Director of Strategy and Planning at Bonfire Infrastructure Group
🦸🏻‍♂️ Nick Dinsmoor, Chief Marketing Officer at Bonfire Infrastructure Group

This episode pulls the curtain back on what’s really happening and why Fiber Connect 2026 is the most important one yet. https://youtu.be/lfkmpgmEJko?si=YimYGuoai22f57z9

Broadband Heroes | Ep. 54 | FBA Leaders Edition

04/27/2026

The U.S. broadband map is evolving, but not evenly 🗺️

While most counties are improving, some are seeing gaps widen—underscoring how localized broadband challenges remain.

As federal funding flows and deployment accelerates, the focus is shifting from “where coverage exists” to how, where, and why networks are being built.

https://www.costquest.com/resources/articles/broadband-in-america-report-analysis-broadband-coverage-changes-2026-02/