Public Safety: Fighting Fire with Fiber

Monday, May 18, 2026

3:40 PM - 4:15 PM ET

Location: Coastal 6-8 (Ballroom / Level 2)

Moderator(s)

Bobbie J. Gilbert

Chief Government Affairs Officer
Ripple Fiber
Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Panelist(s)

Todd Way (he/him/his)

CEO
Douglas Fast Net
Roseburg, Oregon, United States
Tim Ludwar

Director FTTP Operations
SaskTel
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Jason Thune

Vice President, Fiber Strategy and Deployment
Hawaiian Telcom
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Across the country, fiber networks have proven essential during crises. From California and Oregon to Hawaii, Tennessee, and Georgia, local providers are using fiber to power fire camps, connect hospitals and command centers, and maintain operations when other systems fail. As fires, storms, and other natural disasters become more frequent, the need for resilient communications grows even more urgent. Fiber supports real-time emergency mapping, AI-driven fire detection, and instant coordination among fire, police, and medical teams. Fiber also supports the systems and processes first responders use every day, including enabling systems such as NextGen 911. This panel will share real-world examples of the critical role fiber broadband plays in keeping communities safe.