Fiber Broadband Association Announces Inaugural OpTIC Path™ Rodeo at Fiber Connect 2025

Hands-on competition to showcase the best in fiber technician skills and expertise

The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) is proud to announce the first annual OpTIC Path™ Rodeo, an exciting competition highlighting the skills and expertise of fiber technicians, taking place June 2-3, 2025, at Fiber Connect 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.

“The OpTIC Path Rodeo is a unique and innovative event that not only celebrates the talent of fiber technicians but also reinforces the importance of training in the broadband industry,” said Deborah Kish, Vice President of Research and Workforce Development at the Fiber Broadband Association. “This competition highlights the skills and knowledge required to build and maintain the fiber networks that connect communities across the country.”

The OpTIC Path Rodeo will bring together fiber technicians and OpTIC Path graduates from across the industry in a dynamic, hands-on competition that celebrates the precision, excellence, and dedication required to build the broadband infrastructure of the future. Participants will demonstrate their skills in fiber splicing, troubleshooting, and network construction, competing for the ultimate prize: $1,000 in cash and well-earned bragging rights as the top fiber technician of the event.

Inspired by FBA’s OpTIC Path Training Curriculum the Rodeo highlights the critical skills taught in this industry-leading program. As demand for skilled fiber technicians grows, OpTIC Path provides comprehensive training in fiber network design, installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. By featuring real-world challenges, the OpTIC Path Rodeo underscores the value of comprehensive workforce development and training programs in building the skilled workforce required for North American fiber connectivity growth.

The OpTIC Path Rodeo spans two days of qualifying rounds and finals, with challenges designed to test both speed and precision in key fiber optic competencies:

Day 1 & 2 Qualifiers:

• Fiber IQ Challenge: Flaunt your fiber knowledge around Fiber Basics, Troubleshooting, Safety, and more.
• Skills Testing: A few hands-on skills that provide a chance to showcase refined craftsmanship and technique.

Final Round (Top 12 Competitors Advance):

• Splicing: Judged on speed and quality Troubleshooting: Diagnose real-world fiber network issues in a live lab setting

The OpTIC Path Rodeo is open to network operators, engineers, technicians, OpTIC Path graduates and individuals with hands-on fiber optic experience. It is an opportunity to test your skills, gain industry recognition, and connect with peers in the fiber broadband community.

Interested participants can register for the OpTIC Path Rodeo through the Fiber Connect 2025 website. While registration does not guarantee entry, all participants must register for Fiber Connect 2025 by May 16, 2025. No additional purchase is required to compete.

Don't miss this exciting new addition to Fiber Connect 2025 – whether competing or cheering from the sidelines, the OpTIC Path Rodeo promises to be a thrilling celebration of fiber excellence.

For more information or to register, click here.

About the Fiber Broadband Association

The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists dedicated to the advancement of fiber broadband deployment and the pursuit of a world where communications are limitless, advancing quality of life and digital equity anywhere and everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers, communities, and policy makers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations, and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build the critical infrastructure that provides the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in North America, LATAM, Europe, MEA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.

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