Corning building new factory in response to broadband internet boom

Corning will build a new manufacturing facility in Gilbert, Arizona, in response to a spike in demand for fiber-optic cable as the US government ramps up its $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) funding program. Corning said the investment is supported by customer commitments, including from "anchor customer" AT&T, which is also working with Corning on a fiber optic technician training program. AT&T also announced plans to build a new fiber internet network in Mesa (AZ) that will offer service to more than 100,000 homes in 2023. Building high-speed internet service to connect all Americans won't happen without the right equipment — and, thanks to the infrastructure funding law's "Buy America" provisions, it will need to be largely US-made. However, broadband industry trade groups have sought waivers from the Buy America rules, arguing "no combination of network products" will meet the requirements, and the American broadband sector doesn't have the number of suppliers needed to effectively follow through on providing universal broadband across the country. Nonetheless, AT&T is focusing on a fiber-first strategy for its expansion plans, with a goal of reaching 30 million locations with fiber by 2025.