In November, the Fiber Broadband Assoc. awarded Colman Keane, Executive Director of Fort Collins’ city-run broadband network Connexion, the inaugural Dr. Charles Kao Award for Community Broadband.
Colman Keane in center
Colman Keane is an expert on building out fiber optics networks from the initial business planning and technical architecture to software implementation. Previously, he was the Director of Fiber Technology at EPB, a non-profit agency of the City of Chattanooga, where he helped the city become the world’s first designated “gig city” for its municipal broadband network built on fiber optic cable.
The Fiber Broadband Assoc. created the Dr. Charles Kao Award for Community Broadband to honor Dr. Kao and celebrate the lasting impact he continues to make on the fiber industry. Dr. Kao, regarded by many as the “Father of Fiber Optics,” revolutionized the transmission of data and laid the foundation for fiber connectivity around the world. The award recognizes individuals, organizations, or companies that honor Dr. Kao’s innovation and connect communities with fiber optic technology.
The Fiber Broadband Association presents this award in conjunction with world Gimme Fiber Day, an international day to celebrate Dr. Charles Kao and fiber-to-the-home on his birthdate of November 4. The award will be presented annually in the month of November to commemorate his achievement.
Deploying fiber broadband improves the quality of life for those living in gigabit communities and Fort Collins, under Keane’s leadership, is a great example of this. An all-fiber experience provides access to an array of economic and social opportunities from 5G to e-commerce. Learn more at www.fiberbroadband.org.