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Don't forget .... FIBER OPTIC BOOM TIME IS STARTING !!!! .... Number of Fiber-Connected Homes Doubled in 2004 The number of homes in the United States connected to fiber-to-the- premises (FTTP) networks more than doubled in 2004, and the number of homes passed by such networks grew more than fourfold, according to a new study published by Render Vanderslice and Associates and cited by TelephonyOnline, November 30, 2004.

Homes passed were projected to reach 970,000 by the end of the year, up from 189,000 in October 2003. Connected homes were projected to grow to 146,500 from 64,700.

Render Vanderslice further predicts connected homes will grow more than 400 percent in 2005.

The news comes as regulators clarify the landscape for commercial broadband platforms. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has exempted new fiber optic networks from line-sharing requirements it placed on copper access lines. Incumbent telephone companies now can make a business case for integrated broadband services thanks to new high-end consumer video and entertainment services that will use the massive 100 Mb/s FTTP provides. SBC, for example, has committed to a $4 billion FTTP rollout and hopes to serve more than 18 million customers by 2007.