Don’t Jeopardize Your Federal Funded Broadband Projects!
FIS offers compliant products under the Build America Buy America Act.
The Build America Buy America Act is now a hot topic in the telecommunications industry. It was signed into law on November 15, 2021, as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This act requires that all telecommunications equipment and services used in federally funded infrastructure projects must be produced and supplied by American companies or manufacturers. This act aims to boost American manufacturing while improving infrastructure.
The domestic content procurement preference act introduced in the United States calls out a preference for domestically sourced iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials to be used in all infrastructure projects with federal financial assistance awarded after May 14, 2022. This act aims to promote and support domestic manufacturing in the country. Additionally, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration has confirmed its support for the country's domestic production preference laws when it comes to manufacturing of fiber optic glass and cable products that use federal funds. This reaffirms the government's commitment to promoting local production and reducing dependency on foreign imports.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has announced that it will not be granting waivers for Buy American requirements for its upcoming broadband projects. The NTIA has a $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, which will be allocated to states by June 30, 2023. The agency believes that projects funded by this program have enough time to source products made in America, potentially avoiding increased costs or delayed completion that may come with waivers.
The “Build America, Buy America” provision mandates that a minimum of 55% of the total cost of products used in projects that are funded by the federal government be domestically manufactured. This act aims to increase the threshold of domestic content progressively over the next few years, starting with 60% in October 2023 and rising to 65% in 2024, and 75% in 2029. This preference for products made in America has led several companies in the telecommunications industry to seek domestic partnerships or reshore manufacturing processes previously sent abroad to reduce costs. This move is expected to have a positive impact on the domestic manufacturing sector and create job opportunities.
Fiber Instrument Sales (FIS) has steadily expanded its manufacturing capabilities in America over the past 38 years. This move was motivated by several factors, including reducing dependence on off-shore sourcing, gaining greater control over the supply chain, and reducing costs associated with freight and fees. As a manufacturer, FIS is well positioned to help its customers meet the Build America Buy America criteria.
FIS, a part of Giotto Enterprises, is a vertically integrated company that produces several components necessary for delivering broadband services to underserved areas. The Upstate New York campus boasts ten extruders that manufacture fiber optic cables in collaboration with Corning Optical Fiber. These extruders buffer individual fibers before jacketing them in different bundles, resulting in enterprise cables for data centers, indoor/outdoor cables for campus or DAS, cables with or without interlocking aluminum armor and drop cable for applications related to outside pole to house or interconnecting small box, among others. Patch cables are also manufactured from simplex and duplex cables in all fiber types, including single-mode OS2 or multimode OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4, and OM5.
FIS offers the latest technology in metal fabrication in the manufacturing of standard and customized fiber distribution centers and cross-connect enclosures. The facility houses advanced equipment such as metal punches, brakes, powder coat paint booths, ovens, welders, silk screeners, and a fully operational machine shop. This setup allows FIS to reduce transit costs and provide customers with the best value in manufacturing fiber interconnects for various deployments such as racks and wall mountable solutions, pole mount cabinets, or pedestal distribution centers for FTTH. Moreover, the adapter plates come equipped with a choice of connector styles, and pre-terminated assemblies are installed at FIS, saving on-site installation time. FIS's fabrication operation is an efficient solution that delivers high-quality enclosures and interconnects to customers.
FIS offers a range of cable assemblies, including simplex, duplex, and multi-fiber constructions suitable for indoor or outside installations. Our trained technicians install and test cable assemblies before shipping to ensure the highest level of quality and performance, increasing confidence and speed during network installation. We also offer drop cables with Corning OptiTap or equivalent H type connectors, which can be terminated on 1, 2, 4, 6, or 12 fiber drop cables in lengths up to or exceeding 1000 feet. These pre-terminated cables are suitable for installation within multi-service terminals (MST) or attached to Network Interface Devices (NIDs) offering maximum flexibility.
FIS also offers passive optical connections like FIS Cheetah and Armordillo splice-on connectors that are prepped, cleaved, and packaged at FIS. In addition, the mechanical FIS Lab Splice and Ultrasplice are manufactured within Giotto Enterprises at its Molding Solutions Division using a 550-ton capacity injection molding machine.
FIS is the contractor’s choice for fiber optic products, including test equipment, splicers, tools, and consumables. Additionally, FIS's manufacturing capabilities can be of use to broadband providers who are focused on building networks to connect underserved communities across America. FIS maintains partnerships with suppliers both domestically and abroad, allowing them to confirm compliance with BABA requirements throughout the manufacturing process. To ensure regulatory requirements are met, customers should specify any relevant requirements to their FIS sales associate at the time of quotation or order placement.
