BellSouth, SBC Communications and Verizon agreed on a common set of specifications for fiber to the premises (FTTP) local access networks. The common technical requirements will be based on existing technical standards. The three service providers today issued a letter to telecom equipment manufacturers, alerting them that the providers will soon be seeking proposals for equipment based on the common requirements. The companies will independently finalize their FTTP deployment plans for 2004 and beyond based on the evaluation of these proposals, ongoing internal studies, and on the resolution of related regulatory issues. In a joint statement, the chief technology officers (CTOs) of BellSouth, SBC and Verizon described the common set of FTTP specifications as a major step in driving fiber optics to homes and businesses. The companies are looking to the FCC to issue its final order under its Triennial Review of network interconnection regulations clarifying the extent to which unbundling and pricing regulations, such as those imposed on traditional copper technologies, will apply to new fiber deployments on a nationwide basis.
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- In its landmark ruling on 20-February-2003, the FCC voted 3-to-2 to adopt a new set of network unbundling rules for incumbent local exchange carriers (LECs). Final details of the ruling are expected shortly. Regarding new fiber deployments, the preliminary order said the FCC will not require unbundling of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) loops. "The FCC elects not to unbundle bandwidth for the provision of broadband services for loops where incumbent LECs deploy fiber further into the neighborhood but short of the customer's home (hybrid loops), although requesting carriers that provide broadband services today over high capacity facilities will continue to get that same access even after this relief is granted."
In 1996, the Joint Procurement Consortium -- formed by Ameritech, BellSouth, Pacific Bell and SBC Communications -- agreed on a common set of requirements for ADSL. Members of the Joint Procurement Consortium eventually selected Alcatel as their primary supplier of ATM DMT-based ADSL equipment.
