fiber

American Schools May Get Unused Fiber Links

Lindsy Embree — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 10:44:31 -0400

Full article: BBC News
Maggie Shiels
American schools and libraries may be able to tap into unused fiber networks in a bid to boost connection speeds. The FCC will vote on a proposal outlining the plan. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said that high-speed Web access for schools was vital "in order to participate in a 21st Century economy."

High-Fiber Subs Are Happiest with Broadband, TV

Lindsy Embree — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:11:03 -0400

Full article: Multichannel News
Todd Spangler
People with fiber-to-the-home Internet services report higher satisfaction rates than consumers with cable-modem and DSL services, and FTTH video services similarly beat out satellite and cable TV, according to a new survey.

Broadband Could Be Maine's Communication Backbone

Stevie Converse — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:34:23 -0400

Full article: WCSH
Work is expected to begin by fall on construction of 1,100 miles of new, high-capacity, fiber optic communications line through much of Maine. The goal of the project is to provide affordable, high speed Internet service to areas and customers not presently served, and those who are under-served.

Colorado Town, County Take on Qwest

Stevie Converse — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 08:48:10 -0400

Full article: Silverton Standard
Mark Esper
San Juan County and the Town of Silverton filed a formal complaint on June 30, with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission against Qwest Communications for failing to complete the last 16 miles of a state-funded fiber optic line.

Broadband: The Next Step for Western Massachusetts

Stevie Converse — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:35:55 -0400

Full article: Berkshire Eagle
Every town that offered voters the option of taking part in a Western Massachusetts broadband initiative approved the idea, sending advocates into the next stage of development. The next step is to form a non-profit to plan and build a fiber optic network in all the region's unserved or underserved towns.

Uh-Oh, Telcos: 93 Percent of Australia Getting Gov't-Run Fiber

Lindsy Embree — Fri, 07 May 2010 11:21:06 -0400

Full article: Ars Technica
Nate Anderson
Australia plans to do things a bit differently than the FCC plans with its National Broadband plan. Within the next eight years, the Australian government will spend $38 billion to build its own "world-class broadband infrastructure" that will deploy fiber to 93 percent of all Australian homes.

How Amsterdam was Wired for Open Access Fiber

Lindsy Embree — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:38:26 -0400

Full article: Ars Technica
Herman Wagter
The city of Amsterdam has been involved for several years in building Citynet, a partnership between the city and two private investors to wire 40,000 Amsterdam buildings with fiber. And it's not just fiber, it's open access fiber -- any ISP can sign up to use the infrastructure and deliver ultra-fast Internet access.

FCC Sets Its Sights on Fiber Exemption

Lindsy Embree — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:51:10 -0500

Full article: Multichannel News
John Eggerton
The FCC has circulated an order that would narrow the so-called terrestrial loophole by applying the 1992 Cable Act's prohibition on unfair or deceptive practices. Current FCC rules allow providers to withhold such programming from competitors in instances where it isn't distributed via satellite.

U.S., Internet's Inventor, Lags in Web Access

Stevie Converse — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:38:33 -0500

Full article: NPR
Despite being the country that invented the Internet, America lags far behind nations like Japan and South Korea in broadband speed and access. How did the United States fall so far behind, and what are we missing out on?

Fiber-Based Services Could Solve Small Telco Profit Squeeze

Lindsy Embree — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:13:37 -0400

Full article: Telephony Online
Joan Engebretson
Small independent telcos are experiencing a profit squeeze, according to a new study. The long-term solution to the revenue squeeze could be to offer fiber connectivity to end users capable of supporting higher speed data and, potentially, advanced video services based on the Internet protocol.