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table of contents
DEPARTMENTS
President’s Letter. . . . . . . . 2
Editor’s Note . . . . . . . . . . 6
News & Views. . . . . . . . . 75
IN THIS ISSUE
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Advertiser Index . . . . . . . 76
Provider Perspective
Spirit of Success in 2009 | 8
By Bryan J. Rader ■ Bandwidth Consulting LLC
When times are tough, we can draw on inspiration from other business
leaders who have weathered difficult economic conditions.
First Mile
Fiber Growth Strong in 2008;
Expected to Slow a Bit in 2009 | 10
Fiber networks now reach more than 10 percent of all broadband
subscribers worldwide. This progress is “unstoppable” – but forecasters
are revising growth curves downward for the coming year.
Fiber Deployment Roundup
Waiting Out the Downturn Here;
Expanding Abroad | 15
By Masha Zager ■ Broadband Properties
Few new fiber-to-the-home projects are being announced in the US.
But countries including Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and China are making
large-scale commitments to next-generation networks with FTTH.
Municipal FTTH Deployment Snapshot
Pulaski, Tennessee – Pulaski Electric System | 22
“It’s not your stereotypical sleepy rural electric system,” says one
observer of the Pulaski Electric System. The system has become a focus
of community pride and an example of the community’s willingness to
invest in the future.
Property of the Month
RFOG at Mitchell Park Plaza | 24
By Joe Bousquin ■ Contributing Editor, Broadband Properties
NPG Cable is delivering triple play services over fiber in this renovated
loft building in St. Joseph, Missouri. Mitchell Park’s apartments rent
for $200 more than comparable units in the area.
TECHNOLOGY
Summit 2009
Page 36 – 41
RFOG Enables All-Fiber Access Alternative for Real
Estate Owners and Developers | 60
By Mark Conner ■ Corning Cable Systems and
Shawn Esser ■ Motorola
The new RFOG standard, which is designed for use by cable MSOs,
gives developers a broader choice of fiber-to-the-home providers.
Mixing GPON and Active Ethernet:
Future Proofing in the Real World | 63
By David Russell ■ Calix
A new generation of customer-premises equipment lets multiple
architectures coexist in the same network.
COVER STORY
Fiber to the Home Is Green Technology | 28
By Steven S. Ross and Masha Zager ■ Broadband Properties
Evidence is emerging to show that fiber-to-the-home networks
are a net benefit to the environment – and likely to become
more so in the future. New tools allow providers to calculate the
environmental costs and benefits of their networks.
Bringing Fiber to the MDU: A Conversation with
Verizon Enhanced Communities’ Eric Cevis | 42
In a little over three years, Verizon brought FiOS services to 1
million MDU living units across the United States. A top executive
tells how they did it.
Healthy Business: Home-Based Telemedicine
Delivered Over Fiber | 46
By Rob Scheschareg ■ MedConcierge
Market research shows that consumers in FTTH communities
would welcome health and wellness amenities – and are willing to
pay for these services.
EXCLUSIVE REPORT
Hottest Distributors and VARs for 2009 | 50
By A BBP Staff Report
Distributors are now providing sophisticated design and logistics
services. Find out how they can help you build networks and provide
services more cost effectively.
INDEPENDENT TELCOS
Gorham Telephone Brings IPTV Services to Kansas | 66
By Masha Zager ■ Broadband Properties
A small telco delivers advanced services by working with an integrator
that provides an end-to-end IPTV solution.
Consumer Electronics and
the Connected Digital Lifestyle | 68
By Masha Zager ■ Broadband Properties
Highlights of the 2009 International Consumer Electronics
Show: Internet-enabled televisions and picture frames, home
automation systems, and 3DTV.
ABOUT THE COVER
Manhattan artist Irving Grunbaum envisions a
greener world.
4 | BROADBAND PROPERTIES | www.broadbandproperties.com | January/February 2009