The following summary has been condensed for length and readability. To listen to the full discussion, click . This episode is sponsored by and .
In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Brad Hine welcomes broadband veteran Barry Walton, Senior Broadband Solutions Advisor at Corning, for a conversation recorded live at the NTCA RTIME 2025 Conference in San Antonio. This showcases Barry’s more than 40 years in the telecommunications and broadband industry.
A Legacy in Connectivity
Barry Walton’s journey into the world of telecommunications began in 1977. Though trained as a cabinet maker, Barry’s path took a different turn when he joined the telephone company. Starting out by installing jacks and converting homes to plug-in telephones, he soon moved into rural technician roles where he became a trusted face in the community. Barry shares stories from the early days, including working on 10-party lines during the disco era, and the evolution of technology he’s witnessed—from party lines to delivering 10-gigabit fiber connections to homes.
Over the years, Barry held 23 different positions in his career, always challenging the status quo and asking how things could be done differently. This curiosity and determination to improve processes led him into roles in systems analysis, special projects, senior management, and eventually to Corning.
Strategic Innovation at Corning
At Corning, Barry wears many hats. As a senior broadband advisor, he works closely with ISPs to solve deployment challenges, tell customer success stories, and help drive Corning’s mission to connect the unconnected. He collaborates with a nimble internal team that experiments with new solutions in real-world settings. One of Barry’s key initiatives includes working with a rural advisory council, gathering direct insights from providers operating in hard-to-reach areas.
Barry shares the story of helping connect a remote community of just 45 homes—two hours from the nearest urban center—in a single day. Through Corning’s optimized connectivity solutions and field collaboration, they were able to deliver fiber broadband rapidly and efficiently. The first customer? A Vietnam veteran who was overjoyed to finally have access to gigabit internet.
This story encapsulates Corning’s approach: leveraging innovation to make a tangible difference in people’s lives, particularly in underserved rural communities.
Lessons from the Field: Permitting, Labor & Deployment
One of the major topics discussed in the episode is permitting and make-ready processes, which Barry describes as one of the most frequent challenges broadband providers face. Whether it’s acquiring rights to place cables along highways or securing historical and environmental permits, the maze of regulations can create delays. Barry has spent years navigating these processes and shares practical advice on what works and what doesn’t.
Another critical issue is the shortage of skilled labor. Barry points to the need for more workforce development initiatives and celebrates industry efforts to close the gap. Through programs like Corning’s training courses and the Fiber Broadband Association’s OpTIC Path Training Program, more individuals are getting the education and hands-on experience needed to build and maintain networks. He also recounts a program Corning ran in partnership with Douglas Fast Net and Roseburg High School, where students learned about broadband careers firsthand.
The conversation also covers how to avoid what Barry calls “runaway train programs”—large-scale deployments that spiral out of budget and schedule due to lack of planning. His mantra is clear: plan, plan, and plan again. Barry stresses the importance of modeling, logistics, and front-end design to ensure that deployments stay on track.
Edge Data Centers and Business Sustainability
Looking to the future, Barry highlights a growing trend: turning legacy central offices into edge data centers. As older equipment is decommissioned, these facilities can be repurposed to provide local processing power and generate new revenue for service providers. With existing infrastructure like power, cooling, and internet connectivity already in place, the opportunity is ripe for rural and regional ISPs to expand their capabilities without heavy capital investment.
He also emphasizes the broader industry shift toward business sustainability. It’s not just about deploying networks; it’s about building networks that can support long-term operational and financial health. That means thinking about growth, automation, new service offerings, and revenue diversification.
Technology Trends and the Role of AI
Naturally, the conversation turns to emerging technologies, including machine learning and artificial intelligence. Barry recounts a conversation with a colleague in LiDAR engineering about how AI could automate parts of the network design process, like interpreting field data. He sees AI as a promising tool to reduce manual workloads and improve accuracy in the planning phases of broadband deployment.
He also talks about innovations in network engineering, such as using LiDAR-equipped vehicles to rapidly capture field data without needing to send crews out on foot. This kind of remote surveying dramatically accelerates the network design phase and reduces overhead.
Real People, Real Impact
Throughout the episode, Barry shares stories that underscore the real-world impact of broadband deployment. From a high school guidance counselor who didn’t know what broadband was to students changing their career paths to become fiber installers, the ripple effects of access are clear.
In one of the most touching moments, Barry tells the story of introducing the internet to a woman who had never used a computer. By simply showing her how to print out a needlepoint pattern, he opened her eyes to the possibilities that connectivity brings. Weeks later, she proudly introduced him at a local coffee shop as “the man who printed something from the box.”
Final Thoughts
As the broadband industry faces increasing pressure to connect the unconnected, leaders like Barry remind us that progress happens not just through fiber and funding, but through listening, learning, and leading with purpose.
© 2025 Enhanced Telecommunications.
