4 THE INCOMPAS SHOW I NOVEMBER 1 - 3, 2026 www.bekabusinessmedia.com DAY 2 public trust, which is why INCOMPAS continues to advocate for ratepayer protections and to encourage meaningful commitments that reflect local priorities. “Addressing these concerns early can strengthen community relationships and help projects move forward,” Pickering added. For INCOMPAS, the priority is turning industry challenges into policy action. The association is bringing practical solutions developed directly with its members to policymakers and advocating for policy changes that reduce unnecessary delays, give investors greater certainty and allow responsible infrastructure projects to move from planning to construction. For example, permitting reform gained significant momentum this year, and INCOMPAS has been a key driver of that progress. INCOMPAS has worked with congressional leaders to advance the bipartisan Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act, which would address longstanding delays and excessive costs at railroad crossings. The recently introduced bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 also marks an important step toward accelerating energy infrastructure development, particularly as access to power becomes increasingly critical to AI and data center investment. Further, INCOMPAS has worked with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr to shape the Build America Agenda by identifying specific deployment barriers and proposing practical regulatory solutions to expedite permitting, ensure fees reflect a jurisdiction’s actual costs, improve pole attachment processes and accelerate broadband construction. “There is more work to do,” Pickering noted. “Congress needs to codify broadband permitting reforms, so providers have clear, predictable rules to guide long-term investments. We are also continuing to engage with state and local governments as they respond to growing data center development. Community concerns deserve serious consideration, but new requirements and review processes should have clear objectives, measurable standards, and defined end dates, rather than creating indefinite barriers to investment.” Pickering noted that “the goal now is to build on this momentum and ensure that reforms translate into more predictable approvals and fewer unnecessary delays, so critical infrastructure investments can move forward.” INCOMPAS is also closely monitoring projects funded by the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program. As these projects enter construction, INCOMPAS is focused on ensuring that federal investments deliver lasting benefits for consumers and strengthen competition. “We think about success through the lens of access, affordability and adoption,” Pickering said. “Building new networks is essential, but those investments must also translate into services people can afford and opportunities for more Americans to participate in the digital economy.” INCOMPAS is also working with the Department of Commerce and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on how to use remaining BEAD funds. As NTIA launches another round of funding for unserved locations, INCOMPAS continues to advocate using available nondeployment resources to improve permitting and support the connectivity infrastructure needed for AI. These investments can help extend the reach and value of BEAD while encouraging private investment. As broadband construction accelerates, INCOMPAS is also focused on ensuring that the systems supporting deployment can keep pace. One emerging concern is the growing pressure on the 811 utilitylocate system, which plays a critical role in protecting existing underground infrastructure during construction. “Delayed or inaccurate locates can increase the risk of fiber cuts, disrupt existing networks and slow broadband deployment,” Pickering said. “As construction activity increases, we need to make sure the locate system can keep pace. INCOMPAS will continue working with policymakers, industry stakeholders and damage-prevention partners throughout 2027 to address these challenges and help ensure that new network construction doesn't come at the expense of existing connectivity.” Of course, the midterm elections could reshape policy priorities in Congress, at the FCC and across the states. But regardless of the political landscape, INCOMPAS expects economic growth and affordability to remain central concerns. Policymakers have an opportunity to address both by creating greater certainty for infrastructure investment and preserving the competition that helps keep communications services affordable. Looking ahead, INCOMPAS is heavily focused on the transition from legacy networks to modern, all-IP communications. “Moving to IP networks is overdue, but how it happens matters,” Pickering said. “Every provider, large or small, rural or urban, needs to be able to connect to every other network so calls, including 911 calls, continue to go through. INCOMPAS is helping shape the FCC's regulatory approach to ensure that the transition preserves essential interconnection and collocation protections, avoids stranded investments and safeguards competition.” INCOMPAS is currently advocating for a nationwide framework, rather than a patchwork of market-by-market arrangements, with clear rules that prevent the largest carriers from using the transition to raise prices on the competitors and communities that depend on their facilities. “The technology is ready and our members have made the investments,” Pickering concluded. “Now we need policies that protect the value of those investments while allowing the transition to move forward and deliver lasting benefits to consumers and businesses.” p (Continued from page 1) Right: David J. Grain, CEO and Founder, Grain Management LLC. Top: INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering with Zayo CEO Sowmyanarayan Sampath. Bottom: CEO Outlook panel featuring leaders of Bluebird Fiber, Arcadian Infracom, Ezee Fiber, Dobson Fiber and Gigabit Fiber.
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