The National Broadband Co-Op (NBBC) has taken a major step in its mission to support independent Internet providers by joining Fiber Data Internet Exchange (FD-IX). NBBC, operating under AS400701, represents operators serving small towns, rural communities, and regions where the Internet relies on collaboration as much as fiber.

FD-IX exists for that same reason. It brings networks together so traffic can move across the Midwest without detours through far-off cities. When updates, video streams, and application traffic stay local, performance improves and costs stay predictable. That alignment makes the partnership between NBBC and FD-IX a natural fit.

By connecting via FD-IX, NBBC gains access to a wide range of ISPs, content networks, gaming platforms, and cloud providers across Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio. For NBBC members, this means their traffic has more direct paths and fewer chances to bottleneck. Customers feel that difference when a movie starts faster, a game responds quicker, or a cloud app loads without hesitation.

This move also helps NBBC members reduce upstream reliance. Instead of sending everything through transit providers, members can now offload a meaningful share of traffic on FD-IX’s route servers and peer-to-peer sessions. It keeps costs stable and capacity planning easier.

NBBC and FD-IX share a mindset grounded in practical engineering and community-focused growth. Both groups support operators who work close to their customers and build real infrastructure in places that larger carriers often overlook. Joining FD-IX gives NBBC a more efficient path forward as its members expand networks through BEAD, RDOF, and regional investment.

The connection is live and already carrying traffic across AS400701. As more NBBC members take advantage of FD-IX, the entire region’s Internet becomes stronger, faster, and more resilient. Local traffic belongs on local paths—and this partnership puts that idea into action.