AT&T, Verizon See Fiber Broadband Momentum. AT&T CEO Calls for USF Reform to Accelerate It

AT&T reports it now has 4.7 million fiber subscribers, adding 357K net new fiber subscribers in 3Q 2020, up over 12% from 3Q 2019. AT&T now reports 33% penetration of its fiber homes passed. Verizon reported 139K net adds for consumer Fios fiber subscribers, the most net additions since 4Q 2014. That’s up over 450% from 3Q 2019. Verizon now counts 6.1 million fiber subscribers.

AT&T CEO John Stankey suggested that some changes to policy, including changes to the Universal Service Fund, could help AT&T reach more homes with fiber. He didn’t elaborate on what changes he would like to see, but an AT&T policy opinion earlier in 2020 suggested the program should be reformed to include direct funding from Congress. “I believe some of these architectures that are coming out, and frankly if policy gets right, that you can open up some of these places for growth,” said Stankey about AT&T fiber broadband momentum. “If the universal service program gets reformed in an effective fashion, which I think it’s time, that from a policy perspective in our country, we should look at that, it makes fixed broadband more affordable.”