WASHINGTON, D.C. – (November 3, 2022) – The Fiber Broadband Association today announced at its Regional Fiber Connect event in Columbus, OH, that it presented the 2022 Dr. Charles Kao Award to Horizon, an Ohio-based fiber-optic broadband company. The annual award recognizes individuals, organizations, and companies that leverage innovation to connect communities with fiber broadband. Horizon was selected as this year’s winner for its work in bridging the Midwest’s digital divide, delivering high-speed fiber broadband to communities across the region.
Horizon began in 1895 as a local telephone company. Today, the service provider operates 6,000+ miles of fiber to deliver high-quality connectivity to residents and businesses in Ohio, West Virginia, Western Pennsylvania, and Indiana. Throughout 2022, Horizon significantly expanded its fiber footprint to bring connectivity to more communities. This included new fiber builds in three key Ohio markets to support an increased demand for highly-scalable, low latency bandwidth. It also completed an acquisition that added approximately 450 route miles of fiber to Horizon’s existing all-fiber network. As part of the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant Program, Horizon was commissioned to build new fiber networks that deliver symmetrical Gigabit speeds and reach nearly 2,500 underserved households in Ohio.
“Horizon takes pride in our dedication to premium customer service and our reputation for community commitment. We understand that fiber broadband is crucial to enabling Midwest communities to compete in the digital economy, and we’ll continue our efforts to reach every corner with high-speed connectivity,” said Jim Capuano, CEO at Horizon. “The Fiber Broadband Association has provided unwavering support, resources, and guidance over the years. We are honored to accept its Dr. Charles Kao Award in acknowledgment of our determination to bring high-speed internet to all.”
“The fiber industry has experienced an incredible year. With federal funding and support at an all-time high, broadband providers everywhere are eager to deploy high-quality, reliable networks that will finally close the digital equity gap in every community. Horizon is an excellent example of that work,” said Gary Bolton, President and CEO at the Fiber Broadband Association. “For over 125 years, Horizon has evolved with customer needs, delivering everything from telephone, radio, cable television, and now fiber broadband. The service provider has had a banner year in terms of growth, and it is encouraging to witness its success in connecting communities across the Midwest.”
The Dr. Charles Kao Award is presented each year in association with Gimme Fiber Day—an international day on November 4th to celebrate the birthday of the inventor of fiber optics. Gimme Fiber Day was created in 2013 by the FTTH Council Global Alliance (FCGA) to bring recognition to the social and economic benefits of FTTH.
During this year’s Gimme Fiber Day, the Fiber Broadband Association will host a day-long Twitter Chat that will feature conversations with thought leaders from across the fiber ecosystem and will showcase the amazing possibilities that fiber is connecting across North America. Horizon will be highlighted in the Twitter Chat to explore its accomplishments in bringing fiber broadband to Ohio. To join the Gimme Fiber Day Twitter Chat, follow @fiberbroadband and #gimmefiberday on Twitter throughout the day on Friday, November 4, 2022. To learn more about Horizon, visit horizonconnects.com.
