Fiber Broadband Honorees Announced Yesterday at Fiber Connect
Nashville, TN
Posted on: Jun 05, 2018
Awards given to fiber champions from Rocket Fiber, On Trac, MetroNet, and Kelley Drye
Yesterday, the Fiber Broadband Association commenced its 2018 Fiber Connect Conference and Expo, the largest fiber show on the continent with a record-breaking number of exhibitors this year. As part of the annual event, which brings together nearly 2,000 professionals across the fiber industry, the Fiber Broadband Association honored the extraordinary organizations and individuals who have championed the advancement of the fiber broadband industry throughout the past year.
The Chairman’s Award singles out an individual or company that has shown tremendous effort to promote, educate, or accelerate fiber-to-the-home. The 2018 winners of the Chairman’s Award are Marc Hudson, co-founder and CEO of Detroit’s fiber internet startup Rocket Fiber and J. Michael Hill, CEO of On Trac, Incorporated.
Four years ago, Detroit had almost no fiber infrastructure and was one of the most disconnected cities in America. Rocket Fiber has fueled Detroit’s resurgence by taking a leadership position, investing in fiber broadband infrastructure to deliver affordable, high-speed gigabit internet services to Detroit’s businesses and residences while also investing in the social infrastructure of Detroit’s entrepreneurs and small businesses. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr recently recognized Rocket Fiber’s efforts. "Detroit is a great story of a comeback city that I think broadband has really played a role, helping spur some of those businesses that have come back to city," Carr said.
Mike Hill has worked in this industry since 2003 and is serving his eleventh year as a member, serving as chairman of the board three times. Mike’s company, On Trac, Incorporated was one of the founding members of the Fiber to the Home Council, which would become the Fiber Broadband Association. Mike receives the Chairman’s Award for his tireless commitment to the fiber broadband industry -- as colleague, mentor and friend.
The Star Award recognizes a person, community, or company that has gone above and beyond what is expected in the advancement of fiber to the home. This year’s recipient of the Star Award is John Cinelli, CEO of MetroNet. Under John’s leadership, MetroNet has committed to working with policymakers to turn Lexington, Kentucky into a gigabit city, planning to invest as much as $70M over the next three years to run fiber to over 90,000 homes and businesses.
The Photon Award recognizes a Fiber Broadband Association member who, through volunteer contribution, has demonstrated a high level of dedication to the organization and has contributed greatly to the industry. The 2018 winner of the Photon Award is Jennifer Wainright, Associate with Kelley Drye. Jennifer expertly organized and supported the Fiber Broadband Association’s advocacy and leadership of the Federal Communications Commission’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Council subcommittee on a State Model Code.
“These award recipients—as well as all of our Fiber Broadband Association members—represent some of the best and brightest in the fiber broadband industry,” said Fiber Broadband Association President and CEO Heather Burnett Gold. “We’re proud to have such outstanding people and companies with us on the path to the fiber future.”
More on the conference and a complete schedule is available at: ftthconnect.org
Follow us on Twitter @fiberbroadband, and the hashtag #FiberConnect18 for live tweets from the conference. Read more about the Fiber Broadband Association on Medium.
Media contact:
Ellen Satterwhite, Glen Echo Group