* FCC allows Bells to keep FTTX bundled up
The Federal Communications Commission voted to allow incumbent telephone carriers to refrain from sharing fiber-to-the-curb deployments with competitors, prompting one incumbent to announce an accelerated fiber rollout. Commissioners supporting the decision called it a step toward consistency with rules that allow the incumbent telephone carriers from sharing most fiber-to-the-home network facilities with competitors. The FCC, in its triennial review order finalized in August 2003, argued that the forced sharing of fiber to the home as part of unbundled network element rules discourage the four large regional Bells from rolling out new fiber, necessary for advanced broadband services. After the FCC vote, incumbent local exchange carrier SBC said it plans to accelerate its fiber rollout, reaching 18 million U.S. homes in two to three years, rather than five years as previously announced. SBC plans to deploy 38,800 miles of fiber at a cost of $4 billion to $6 billion. http://www.nwfusion.com/edge/news/2004/1014fccexemp.html
The Federal Communications Commission voted to allow incumbent telephone carriers to refrain from sharing fiber-to-the-curb deployments with competitors, prompting one incumbent to announce an accelerated fiber rollout. Commissioners supporting the decision called it a step toward consistency with rules that allow the incumbent telephone carriers from sharing most fiber-to-the-home network facilities with competitors. The FCC, in its triennial review order finalized in August 2003, argued that the forced sharing of fiber to the home as part of unbundled network element rules discourage the four large regional Bells from rolling out new fiber, necessary for advanced broadband services. After the FCC vote, incumbent local exchange carrier SBC said it plans to accelerate its fiber rollout, reaching 18 million U.S. homes in two to three years, rather than five years as previously announced. SBC plans to deploy 38,800 miles of fiber at a cost of $4 billion to $6 billion.
https://www.nwfusion.com/edge/news/2004/1014fccexemp.html
The FCC Thursday cleared the way for power companies to roll out broadband-over-power-line (BPL) service by approving a set of rules designed to limit interference to other radio frequency devices such as amateur radios. FCC Chairman Michael Powell acknowledged concerns from the American Radio Relay League and other ham radio operators, but he called the FCC’s adoption of the BPL rules a “historic day” for the future of U.S. broadband services. The FCC’s action requires providers of the alternative to cable modem or DSL service to employ devices that can switch frequencies if they cause interference and that can be shut down remotely. Commissioners – who praised BPL as a broadband competitor that will drop prices and spur new services – also will require a national database of BPL installations for public safety agencies, amateur radio operators and others concerned over potential interference.
https://www.nwfusion.com/edge/news/2004/1014fccappro.html
For the first time since the dot-com crash in 2000, telecommunications and data network service providers around the world are increasing their capital expenditures, especially on next-generation technologies such as packet voice and IP/MPLS routers, according to Infonetics Research. But in North America, service provider capex will dip 5% this year compared to 2003 because IXCs, MSOs, CLEC/ISPs and IOCs are decreasing spending, while RBOCs and Canadian ILECs increase purchases.
