Comments for Communications Insights: Trends and Cool Stuff

Comment on Marketing FFTH by Ted S.

Ted S. — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:36:10 +0000

There are several “planned communities” out here in Colorado that have done what Ken is suggesting. The developers have contracted with third party providers (San Isabel Telecom is one that I know of) to bring fiber from the home to their node. If the homeowner wants it, they can receive services from San Isabel over the fiber connection, otherwise Qwest, Comcast, and CenturyTel are able to provide service over copper.

Qwest, Comcast, and CenturyTel are making great strides in certain areas to bring fiber closer to the home but it is still “a mile away”. In more remote areas like Steamboat Springs, the situation is even worse - if you live just outside the town limits, the chances are very good that you don’t even have copper cable service run to your street (never mind your house). Several wireless broadband ISPs have capitalized on this but some people still would like the option of receiving Cable TV - and over the air isn’t an option we are way over the “cliff” here. In fact it’s more of a Continental Divide.

Comment on FFTH: Fiber From the House by kennethrcarter

kennethrcarter — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:30:04 +0000

Brian, you raise an interesting question about the architecture of the fiber access network, whether it is passive or active. This is probably not a decision best left to the consumer. I am personally a fan of active architectures (AON). I think that they offer better CAPEX vs. OPEX performance and offer the best “future-proofing”. However, offering a either a passive or active architecture would do little to change the value proposition of FFTH. However, offering a passive architecture, would leave open the option of selling an upgraded product further down the line.

Comment on Marketing FFTH by kennethrcarter

kennethrcarter — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:18:06 +0000

Rudolf, Jeff,

Thanks for your helpful comments. You both make the salient point that the marketing of FFTH has to be handled delicately in order demonstrate its value and get home owners to buy-in. Perhaps, Joe the Fiber Layer is not the best term of art. The point is to demonstrate the the FFTH provider is not Verizon, Comcast, or other network provider.

BTW, Rudolf, you in the Netherlands cheat. You use submarine cables for local loops! ;- )

Comment on Marketing FFTH by Jeff Goldthorp

Jeff Goldthorp — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:39:19 +0000

Ken - read ur ffth post. I dunno. Seems to me that joe the homeowner might be squeamish about backlash from neighbors if joe the fiber layer turns out to be a little shady. I’m picturing joe the plumber showing up with pipe wrench in hand swinging for joe the homeowners head over a damaged septic system. But maybe I just don’t have enough faith in my fellows. Cool idea though.

Comment on FFTH: Fiber From the House by Brian Savin

Brian Savin — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:21:22 +0000

What about G-PON?

Comment on Marketing FFTH by Rudolf

Rudolf — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:46:35 +0000

How do you think Nuenen got 95% penetration for FTTH?
And why do you think Reggefiber has an FTTH shop in every town they start a project?

Nuenen was really cool, every home that signed up got a small sign that they could put in the front yard to show that they had signed up. The streets filled up with signs Better still marketing was done by working with the local amateur football club etc.

BTW money might actually spoil the success. If your neighbor says its good and there is no financial benefit for him you might trust him more than if there is a financial reward.

Comment on FFTH: Fiber From the House by Communications Insights: Trends and Cool Stuff » Blog Archive » Marketing FFTH

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:31:33 +0000

[...] Communications Insights: Trends and Cool Stuff The Musings of an Expatriate in European Communications « FFTH: Fiber From the House [...]

Comment on No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to dive! by Communications Insights: Trends and Cool Stuff » Blog Archive » The Transition

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:58:57 +0000

[...] I receive any number of email newsletters, touting the next futuristic thing. This one caught my attention: The Transition. Its designers tout the Transition as not being not a flying car. Rather it is a “roadable aircraft.” With a pair of 10-foot-wide foldable wings, it is a single-engine, pusher-prop airplane which can drive on the road when it lands. As such, The Transition must meet Federal Aviation Administration standards when it is an airplane and National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and Environmental Protection Agency regulations when on the road.What makes the Transition so interesting to me is not the flying car concept. This idea has been around for decades. What is so interesting is its regulatory origins. According to Popular Science, the Transition’s inventor, Carl Dietrich, got the idea from a 2004 Federal Aviation Administration rule change. The FAA created a new class of planes, called light-sport aircraft. To fly one, pilots would need only 20 hours of training, half that required for the most common license (haven’t gotten mine, yet).I have made the point in a previous Cool Stuff, that there is some optimal level of regulation, which while guarding against the “morals of the marketplace”, would still enable new firms to enter. These new firms bring with them, new forms of welfare-enhancing competition and new business models not contemplated by the regulator at the time when it promulgates its rule changes.Insight: I simply must have one. I think I will clean out my garage so I have space for it to park next to my sQuba. [...]

Comment on Irish International Advisory Forum on Broadband by Communications Insights: Trends and Cool Stuff » Blog Archive » The Transition

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:44:32 +0000

[...] have made the point in a previous Cool Stuff, that there is some optimal level of regulation, which while guarding against the “morals of [...]

Comment on John McCain Claims to have developed the policy creating Wi-Fi and mobile phone by Rick Sarlin

Rick Sarlin — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:30:33 +0000

This “article” is worth sending to a broader distribution channel e.g., Op Ed page New York Times, etc. As of now too many politicians are getting away with this kind of obfuscation, and when called on it, either deny they initially said it or weasel out of its true meaning.

I agree that penalties and retractions should be instituted. If not, these distortions and out right lies truly umdermine our democracy.