Re: fiber optic to the house

[EMAIL PROTECTED] (rcleary) writes:

> It seems that a few years ago fiber was the hot subject.  I would like
> to know if there are any plans to try to run fiber to the house, 

Perhaps, eventually.


> and what is the problem with why it hasn't been done already.

Money. It will cost a VERY large amount of money to rip out all 
the existing copper and aluminum and replace it with optical fiber,
there are no clear market advantages to be had right now by doing so,
and the bandwidth of the existing coaxial cable network is FAR from
saturated. 

Unless and until it becomes either profitable to do so, or necessary 
to do so because too many customers are complaining, the telecom and
broadband companies have no financial incentive to commit the immense
amount of labor and capital that will be required to rip out wholesale 
the existing and _PERFECTLY FUNCTIONAL_ cable network, and replace it with
fiber. It makes far more financial and technical sense to _incrementally_
replace it, starting with the highest-traffic backbone trunklines --- 
which indeed the telecom and broadband companies are doing, even as we type.

In summary, you will see fiber in your house only when it becomes
technically _necessary_, or _financially_ desirable.


-- Gordon D. Pusch   

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