The following summary has been condensed for length and readability. To listen to the full discussion, click here. This episode is sponsored by ETI Software and VETRO FiberMap.
In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Pete Pizzutillo sits down with Janet Price of Telecon US—a seasoned telecom veteran with over 40 years of experience. Janet brings valuable insight into the critical infrastructure challenges and opportunities shaping the broadband industry today—ranging from fiber-to-the-home design innovations to BEAD funding strategy and the evolving role of automation.
Telecon US, a division of the North America–wide Telecon organization, is making major strides in broadband infrastructure deployment across the country. Janet shares examples of recent projects, including a six-grant initiative in the Midwest, large-scale permitting support in Arizona, and fiber overlays in the Northeast. The company offers a full turnkey model—field survey, design, permitting, and now construction—which streamlines the process and reduces friction in the often-challenging design-to-build handoff.
Janet emphasizes how early-stage permitting remains one of the biggest roadblocks for clients and encourages providers to get a head start—especially with state highways, railroads, and power utilities. “Permitting can take six months or more,” she notes, “so even before BEAD funding flows, there’s work that can and should be done.”
One of the most exciting shifts Janet highlights is the incorporation of automation and AI tools into network design workflows. Telecon’s teams now use field data tools like Katapult and AI-assisted design engines like Septix to generate initial layouts—dramatically reducing the time required to create and refine fiber designs.
“It’s not perfect, but it saves us hours and hours,” Janet says. “And the more efficient we get, the more competitive we can be on pricing and delivery.”
Still, she’s clear that AI is not replacing expertise. Clients aren’t looking to “push a button” and design their own networks—they’re looking for reliable partners who understand the nuances of build strategy and local permitting. For Telecon, AI helps speed up delivery, but human expertise remains the cornerstone of quality.
When asked about her ideal customer, Janet emphasizes collaboration. The best client relationships are built with providers who know their permitting agencies, have job knowledge, and come to the table with specific design preferences—whether for centralized or distributed split networks.
But Telecon also plays a role in client education. Many customers are new to fiber deployment—coming from fixed wireless or legacy telco backgrounds—and rely on Janet’s team to guide them through the process. “We’re out there to help educate and advise,” she says, especially as technology choices continue to evolve.
Beyond the engineering talk, Janet offers an inspiring view on the changing face of the telecom workforce. Having spent four decades in a traditionally male-dominated field, she now leads a diverse team and sees a wave of energized, tech-savvy professionals—many of them women—entering the space.
Her advice to the next generation? “Don’t set any limits for yourself. Ask questions. And find a mentor who believes in you.”
Janet’s passion for mentorship, her embrace of technology, and her practical wisdom on broadband deployment make this episode a must-listen for anyone navigating the current wave of fiber expansion.
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