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Some in the fiber broadband industry are celebrating the passage of the president’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’ Here’s why.

Source: Noah Wire Services

The passage of the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” Act has ignited considerable enthusiasm within the fiber broadband industry, with some proclaiming it a major catalyst for accelerating fiber deployment and investment.

Gary Bolton, President and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA), also highlighted the transformative impact of the act’s tax policy changes, describing it as a much-needed stimulus for the sector. The bill allows providers to deduct 100 percent of equipment purchases and capital expenditures in the deployment year—a significant increase from the prior 40 percent deduction rate spread over many years.

Meanwhile, such a change is expected to unlock billions in freed-up cash for providers, setting the stage for potentially substantial infrastructure growth.

Early signs of this optimism are evident, with AT&T announcing plans to expand its fiber network by an additional one million customer locations annually starting in 2026.

AT&T’s accelerated fiber expansion additionally comes alongside broader benefits of the bill, which includes initiatives aimed at expanding midband spectrum availability to meet growing consumer demand and maintain the U.S.’s edge in wireless technology competitiveness.

While the industry’s optimism is palpable, the real test will be translating these financial incentives and regulatory adjustments into tangible, widespread fiber access, particularly in rural and underserved communities. The balance between federal guidance and state-level implementation will also be critical, as will ongoing efforts to ensure inclusive participation among smaller providers benefiting from provisions like waivers on Letters of Credit requirements under the BEAD program.

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