Who We Are

Dark Fiber Solutions

Secure-Fast-Scalable! Dark fiber connectivity offers the most cost-effective and secure means of network connectivity available in the marketplace. ADF’s executive team has been building fiber networks since the mid-1990’s. We build and operate fiber networks in the public ROW and interconnect needed demand zones to critical supply nodes. We develop networks for data-center operators, enterprise users, anchor institutions, real estate developers, etc. With  “flat-rate” dark fiber, ADF puts the network under your control creating network independence!

David J. Daigle, CEO and Founding Member

David Daigle has nearly 30 years of telecom development experience. He was a founding member of several successful telecom providers. In 2007 he founded and was CEO of Freedom Telecommunications. Daigle led FTI to become one of the largest dark fiber providers operating in CA. FTI was acquired & merged into Wilcon which was acquired by Crown Castle in 2017. Daigle also helped launch Cogent Communications as Director of Fiber Acquisition developing Cogent’s US metropolitan dark fiber footprint. In fact, in the mid-1990’s he was a founder and VP of Business Development for the network operator PathNet Telecommunications, Inc. Daigle began his telecom career in the late 1980s working for Motorola & Sprint after graduating from the Pennsylvania State University in 1986.

Michael Pendleton, General Counsel & COO

Michael “Mike” Pendleton is a seasoned attorney specializing in corporate and telecom regulatory and deployment activities. At FTI, Mike successfully managed utility conduit use and pole attachment requirements, CPUC broadband compliance issues and filings, and oversaw FTI’s M&A process with private equity firms. Prior to FTI, Mike had been involved in numerous corporate development activities. Activities focused on finance, governance, and corporate relations. Furthermore, he is a US military veteran having served as an attorney in the United States Army after attending the University of Baltimore School of Law.

Zack Baayen, VP of Operations

Zack Baayen is a telecom industry veteran with over 20 years of experience as an Engineer, Project Manager, Program Manager, and PMO Director for various wireless carriers in the industry as well as a general OSP contractor.  He has managed a diverse array of telecommunications infrastructure projects that include transport engineering and construction for both fiber and microwave, wireless site development, network integration of fiber systems for CLECs, enterprise users, and municipal-focused fiber deployments.  In the 10 years prior to Zack joining ADF, he led fiber deployment projects throughout California, Texas and Florida totaling in excess of $300 million in revenue. He began his telecom career in the early 2000’s in Seattle shortly after graduating from Drake University in 2001 and has worked for companies such as Cingular Wireless, Western Wireless, Alltel, Parsons, T-Mobile, Clearwire, Verizon Wireless and most recently Zack led the PMO Organization at HP Communications, based in Corona, CA.  Zack now resides in Southern California with his wife and 3 children.

WHO WE ARE & WHAT WE STAND FOR

Experienced Founders

ADF was founded by CEO, David Daigle, and General Counsel/COO, Michael Pendleton. Prior to ADF, in 2007 both Daigle and Pendleton formed Freedom Telecommunications. FTI was one of the largest dark fiber providers in California. FTI had nearly 3000 route miles of fiber-optic network deployed prior to being acquired by Pamlico Capital in 2013.

Service-Minded Professionals

Central to the American Dark Fiber ethos is the core-value of “service”. Regardless of whether a sale is made, ADF provides options that best suit various client needs – even if it means pointing you towards another solution provider. Our sole mission is to improve your communications capabilities. If we can’t help you, we’ll find someone who will.

Trusted Partners

We seek excellence in every solution we deliver. Our experience includes developing thousands of miles of fiber in California. We partner with top engineering & construction firms along with municipal and other ROW owners to ensure the physical connection is perfected to create massive and scalable bandwidth solutions that are value-driven with material economic benefit.

Infrastructure Solutions

ADF develops these networks in the public Rights of Way (ROW). Our developments are often “mission critical” infrastructure used for public safety, security, and other important real-time needs. We connect buildings, municipalities, data-centers, etc. bringing you to the “supply”. We provide solutions across the street, down the block, or across town with 24/7 live NOC operator access.

Liberate Your Network – Unleash the Raw Power of Dark Fiber!