Podcast Summary
Optical fiber manufacturing: The federal government's $42 billion investment through the BEAD program will lead to increased demand for optical fiber, benefiting manufacturers like Prismian.
The expansion of high-speed internet access in the United States is a complex process that involves significant engineering, entrepreneurship, and investment. The federal government is investing $42 billion through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program to connect every household in the country to high-speed internet and scale up a U.S.-based supply chain. This includes companies like Prismian, which manufactures optical fiber, the state-of-the-art way to get high-speed internet. The process of making optical fiber involves heating and melting a two inch diameter glass tube to create a single strand of glass about the size of a human hair. This glass is then used to create fiber optic cables, which are essential for delivering high-speed internet to homes and businesses. While Prismian won't be receiving BEAD funds directly, internet service providers will be purchasing millions of miles of fiber from them to build out their networks.
Federal funding for broadband industry: Federal funding plays a crucial role in connecting hard-to-reach areas and rural communities, creating a scalable fiber internet supply chain, and driving investments in domestic fiber and cable manufacturing facilities
Federal funding is crucial for the broadband industry to connect hard-to-reach areas and rural communities where the return on investment for private dollars is not feasible. The industry relies on the government to create a supply chain for fiber internet, which is more easily scalable and has a longer lifespan than other methods like coaxial cable and satellite. Additionally, the federal requirement for American-made fiber has led to significant investments in domestic fiber and cable manufacturing facilities. The manufacturing process for fiber is highly controlled due to the delicate nature of glass, and facilities like Prismian's in Catawba County, North Carolina, produce both the optical fiber and the cables, making it a vital part of bringing the future of the internet to homes and businesses across the country.
Fiber Optic Cable Production: The production of fiber optic cables involves heating and drawing down a large glass preform to a thin diameter for high-speed internet technology, requiring precise control and careful handling.
The production of fiber optic cables, which enable high-speed internet, starts with a large glass preform that is gradually drawn down to an extremely thin diameter. This process requires precise control and involves heating and cooling the glass, and occurs in multiple stages. The preform is made by growing sand in a high-temperature flame, measuring its diameter, and then drawing it down to a thickness of 125 microns, which is about the size of a human hair or a grain of salt. This small diameter is necessary for the technology that powers our internet. The process begins with the creation of a large glass "gob," which is then heated and drawn down to the thin fiber. Despite the large size of the initial preform and the small size of the final product, the entire process takes place within a relatively small area, and involves careful handling and precise measurements.
Broadband fiber manufacturing: The Prizmian Cable and Fiber Manufacturing Facility in Claremont, North Carolina, produces high-quality fiber for the $42 billion broadband equity access and deployment program, with 12 million miles produced annually and plans to scale up production, leading to new manufacturing jobs.
The Prizmian Cable and Fiber Manufacturing Facility in Claremont, North Carolina, produces high-quality fiber that will be a significant part of the $42 billion broadband equity access and deployment program. The fiber, which looks like thread on large spools, undergoes rigorous testing for quality and functionality before being shipped out. Angel, an employee at the facility, explained how she tests the fiber for signal loss and splice quality using specialized equipment. Despite having no background in this field, Angel has been working at the facility for seven years and finds it cool. The plant produces 12 million miles of fiber a year and plans to scale up production for the Bead program, leading to the creation of new manufacturing jobs. Tracy Everkesh, the plant director, oversees the next-door cabling facility where the fiber is transformed into cable, ready to live in the real world. The federal government is counting on the creation of jobs like Angel's to make the broadband investment successful.
Fiber Protection: In the production of fiber optic cables, fibers are protected from elements and damage through wrapping in plastic tubes, cooling, and applying a final jacket in an industrial environment.
At the Kipling Plant, the transformation of thin fiber into durable cable for businesses and homes involves protecting the glass fiber from the elements and transportation damage. This process includes wrapping the fiber in plastic tubes, cooling them down, and applying a final jacket. The cabling facility is an industrial environment with heavy machinery, safety precautions, and hot areas. The resulting cable can have up to 12 fiber strands and can be customized for specific applications, such as nuclear power stations. The plant's operations manager, Stuart Parvis, oversees the staff responsible for this process, ensuring the fiber remains protected and ready for deployment.
Manufacturing Industry and Fiber Optic Cables: The manufacturing industry produces 40,000 feet of fiber optic cables daily, meeting high demand due to broadband popularity and future-proof nature. The industry is preparing for a busy period by hiring, but scaling up to meet demand in an election year with uncertain priorities is a challenge.
The manufacturing industry is playing a crucial role in bringing fiber optic cables to homes across the country. With approximately 40,000 feet of cable being produced daily, the demand for these cables is high due to the increasing popularity of broadband and the future-proof nature of fiber. However, there's a limitation to how much cable can be laid at a time, and the industry is preparing for a busy period by hiring for the next few months. Tracy, the plant director, shared his personal experience of finally getting fiber at his house after 28 years of working in the industry. The federal government's investment in connecting homes to the internet using fiber and cable is expected to bring more homes like Tracy's into the digital age. However, the success of this initiative depends on the manufacturing industry's ability to scale up and meet the demand in an election year with uncertain priorities. Stay tuned for the next episode as we explore the flip side of this supply chain and see how the money is getting distributed on the ground.