--- title: "Fiber: An Essential Facet of the Connected Community" description: Fiber that is deployed both aerially and underground is essential to 5G. Challenges to fiber deployments exist in several areas. image: https://go.wia.org/hubfs/Connect%20X/Fiber-cover-scaled.jpg --- [![WIA](https://go.wia.org/hubfs/Connect%20X%20Email/Image/wia_logo-1.png)](https://wia.org/) - [News](https://wia.org/category/news-content/wia-press-releases/) - [Membership](https://wia.org/membership/) - [Frequency Coordination](https://wia.org/frequency-coordination/) - [News](https://wia.org/category/news-content/wia-press-releases/) - [Membership](https://wia.org/membership/) - [Frequency Coordination](https://wia.org/frequency-coordination/) ##### Navigation - [Home](https://wia.org/) - [About WIA](https://wia.org/about/) - [About WIA](https://wia.org/about/) - [Mission](https://wia.org/about/mission/) - [Board of Directors](https://wia.org/about/board-of-directors/) - [Staff](https://wia.org/staff/) - [Advocacy](https://wia.org/advocacy/) - [Advocacy Overview](https://wia.org/advocacy/) - [Advocacy Issues](https://wia.org/advocacy/advocacy-issues/) - [WIA Federal Filings](https://wia.org/advocacy/wia-federal-filings/) - [Advocacy Resources](https://wia.org/advocacy/advocacy-resources/) - [Advocacy Contacts](https://wia.org/advocacy/advocacy-contacts/) - [Frequency Coordination](https://wia.org/frequency-coordination/) - [Frequency Coordination Services Overview](https://wia.org/frequency-coordination/) - [Fee Calculator](https://wia.org/frequency-coordination/fee-calculator/) - [Welcome to WIA’s License\*Link Online™](https://wia.org/frequency-coordination/license-link/) - [Frequency Coordination FAQ](https://wia.org/frequency-coordination/frequency-coordination-faqs/) - [Process Overview](https://wia.org/frequency-coordination/process-overview/) - [FCC Forms](http://www.fcc.gov/formpage.html) - [Fee Schedule](https://wia.org/frequency-coordination/fee-schedule/) - [Events](https://wia.org/events/) - [Industry Initiatives](https://wia.org/industry-initiatives/) - [Industry Initiatives Overview](https://wia.org/industry-initiatives/) - [Innovation & Technology Council](https://wia.org/innovation-technology-council-itc/) - [Education and Training](https://wia.org/industry-initiatives/education/) - [HetNet Forum](https://wia.org/industry-initiatives/the-hetnet-forum/) - [TIRAP](https://wia.org/industry-initiatives/tirap/) - [Women’s Wireless Leadership Forum](https://wia.org/industry-initiatives/wwlf/) - [Infrastructure Developers Forum (IDF)](https://wia.org/industry-initiatives/idf/) - [State Wireless Association Program (SWAP)](https://wia.org/industry-initiatives/swap/) - [City Networks Task Force](https://wia.org/industry-initiatives/city-networks-task-force/) - [Membership](https://wia.org/membership/) - [Join the Wireless Infrastructure Association](https://wia.org/membership/join-wia-the-wireless-infrastructure-association/) - [Member Benefits](https://wia.org/membership/member-benefits/) - [Current Members](https://wia.org/members/) - [WIA Members Only Access](https://wia.org/membership/wia-members-only-login-page/) - [Search WIA.org](https://wia.org/search/) - [Resource Library](https://wia.org/resource-library/) - [WIA Blog](https://wia.org/blog/) # Resource Library [Homepage](https://wia.org/) / [Resource Library](https://go.wia.org/resource-library) / Fiber: An Essential Facet of the Connected Community The Wireless Infrastructure Association regularly publishes white papers covering a variety of topics – from new technologies to potential regulatory issues – in order to inform WIA members, the wireless industry, the public, and lawmakers on the federal , state and local levels. # Fiber: An Essential Facet of the Connected Community Consumers are preparing for the new opportunities offered by the rollout of fifth-generation (5G) technology and the broader Internet of Things it enables. The backbone of these new communications tools is fiber connectivity. Fiber that is deployed both aerially and underground is essential to 5G. Challenges to fiber deployments exist in several areas. Access to the right-of-way (ROW) is often an obstacle in terms of time and of cost. Municipalities face their own hurdles, including having robust permitting procedures and adequate staff in place, which can delay deployments. However, municipalities can adopt practices that promote transparency, foster trust among stakeholders, and allow efficiencies that save time, money, and promote connectivity. This report will study the role of fiber in next-generation connectivity, and address actions that could help bring connectivity to Americans to maximize the advantages that come from a 5G rollout. ![Mayolar](https://go.wia.org/hubfs/Connect%20X/Fiber-cover-scaled.jpg) [Download](https://go.wia.org/gradient-landing-left) ### Latest News ### Sign Up For Updates [Sign Up](https://wia.org/newsletter-subscription/) #### Wireless Infrastructure Association 2111 Wilson Blvd., Suite 210, Arlington, VA 22201 703.739.0300 703.836.1608 - [Follow us on Twitter](http://twitter.com/wiaorg) - [Like us on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alexandria-VA/PCIA-The-Wireless-Infrastructure-Association/37483328338) - [Join our LinkedIn group](http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=1534737&trk=anet_ug_grppro) - Quick Links - [Search WIA.org](https://wia.org/search/) - [Recent Federal Filings](https://wia.org/category/federal-filings/) - [Sign Up For Updates](https://wia.org/newsletter-subscription/) - [WIA Resource Library](https://wia.org/resource-library/) - [Employment Opportunities](https://wia.org/employment-opportunities/) - [SWAP Events](https://wia.site-ym.com/events/event_list.asp) - Newsroom - [WIA Press Releases](https://wia.org/category/news-content/wia-press-releases/) - [WIA Member News](https://wia.org/category/news-content/members-in-the-news/) - [Media and Press Contact](https://wia.org/media-and-press-contact/) - [WIA Blog](https://wia.org/blog/) #### For Members Only - [WIA Member Portal](https://wia.org/membership/wia-members-only-login-page/) - [WIA PAC Prior Approval Form](https://pcia.site-ym.com/?PACApprovalForm) WIA Websites: - [Het Net Forum](http://www.hetnetforum.com/) - [TIRAP](http://www.tirap.org/) - [Connect (X)](https://www.connectivityexpo.com/) - [WWLF](http://www.wwlf.org/) Copyright © WIA - All Rights Reserved.