In the wake to the FCC ruling exempting Fiber-to- the-Curb (FTTC) loops from unbundling requirements, BellSouth said it plans to increase the number of homes it annually equips with an advanced fiber platform by 40% in 2005.
"The FCC has taken a step in the right direction by putting functionality over form with their decision to treat Fiber-to-the-Curb and Fiber-to-the-Home architectures equally. We urge the FCC to take the additional step of making clear that there are no unbundling requirements under Section 271 for broadband elements. As the FCC continues to clear out the regulatory underbrush, consumers will increasingly gain access to the broadband products and services they desire, " said Herschel Abbott, Vice President - Governmental Affairs at BellSouth. http://www.bellsouth.com
- In September 2004, Ron Dykes, Chief Financial Officer at BellSouth, said more than half of BellSouth households are now served by fiber-fed, short copper loops (<5000ft). IPTV lab tests are underway and look promising, he said, and the company's next steps will be a field trial, followed by an economic validation of the business case. Meanwhile, BellSouth's DirecTV offer has been extended to all of its retail channels.
