Fiber Optics

Google Fiber Plans Expansion In Several Cities With Pending Deals In Many More

by Robert Carpenter, Editor-In-Chief Google Fiber is a remarkable story and the tale keeps growing. At the recent Power & Communication Contractors Association annual convention, one of the speakers included a senior representative in charge of the Southeast U.S. construction. When I asked what the..

CNX Awarded Fiber Broadband Development Contract In Kentucky

Warren County Fiscal Court awarded Connected Nation Exchange (CNX) a contract for fiber broadband development on behalf of Warren County, KY in the advancement of the county’s goal to provide fiber-based broadband services throughout the county. CNX will develop technical and financial models in an..

Fiber Optic Networks Experience Huge Growth

The number of homes in the United States directly connected to fiber optic networks continues to grow – 13 percent in 2015, reports the Fiber to the Home Council (FTTH) survey released in November. More than 12.3 million homes in the U.S. are connected to fiber, said Michael Render, president of RV..

January 2016 Newsline

Latest Industry Developments S&N Partners With  Bechtel To Build Fiber  Optic Networks S&N Communications, a U.S. provider of construction and maintenance services for telecom, cable and utility companies, finalized a partnership with Bechtel, an engineering, construction and project management co..

Ericsson Joins The FTTH Construction Business

Company Has Developed Strategic Partnership With Ditch Witch, Vermeer Last fall, Ericsson announced plans to become a major provider of broadband deployment (fiber-to-the-home (FTTH)) services in the North America which would provide consumers with faster delivery of high-speed broadband services. ..

American Samoa Fiber Optic Network

Meticulous Prep, Planning Essential To Success A combination of thorough planning and field-tested experience is critical to achieving a high level of construction success. This was the case in American Samoa when Michels Communications was given about 18 months to build a robust fiber optic networ..

2015: Could Have Been Worse, Could Have Been Better

by Robert Carpenter, Editor-in-Chief As we wrap up 2015, one can’t help but reflect on a year that was, that could have been and that wasn’t. It was a year of international and national terror, though amazingly those horrific acts have seemed to have little lasting impacts upon the markets and thu..

USA FIBER Announces dark fiber network in Virginia

President and co-founder of USA Fiber, Judd Carothers, announced that the company would be focusing on building key routes that enable its customers to connect simply and reach their clients, infrastructures or applications with improved speed, latency and uptime – they will hone their focus by buil..

Fiber Optic Reel Handling Accessories Make Cable Deployment Safe, Productive

General Machine Products Company (GMP) introduces two new reel handling accessories to its line of underground cable placement tools and equipment. These components – the Reel Buck and the Reel Caddy – are uniquely engineered to make fiber optic cable deployment safer and more productive. All of the..

Despite Higher Costs, Electric Utilities Increasingly Favor Undergrounding

The question invariably is asked after severe weather or other disasters knocks out electrical power and communications services: “Why don’t they put those overhead lines underground where they’re protected?” That question has been asked many times in many places over the past few years as heavy winter storms, tornadoes and hurricanes have affected much of the country, knocking out power, communications and other vital services.

School District Goes Underground To Enhance Internet Connectivity

When USD 233 – more commonly known as the Olathe, KS, Public School District – was formed in 1965 by consolidating five smaller districts, enrollment totaled 3,687 students. Since then, it has grown every year and is now the second largest of all the school districts in Kansas. The 2013 school year began with more than 29,000 students attending classes at the four high schools, nine middle schools and 35 elementary school buildings that compose the district.

Editor's Log: Best Guesses & Fingers Crossed

The November elections are over and the nation has survived. But the question remains: when will the much ballyhooed economic recovery begin in earnest? It looks like 2013 is going to be another interesting and challenging year in which the underground infrastructure market must endeavor to persevere. And we will.

Maryland Broadband Network Promises Major Rewards

As the new year began, construction was nearing completion for 800 miles of fiber optic cable that will comprise the central segment of the state of Maryland’s One Maryland Broadband Network (OMBN) project. Ultimately, this project will create a comprehensive high-speed broadband fiber-optic network to connect more than 1,000 institutional and community facilities throughout the state.

Major NC Fiber System Goes Totally Underground

RST Global Communications, LLC (RST), based in Shelby, N.C., has completed the first phase of its Real Fiber Network, an underground, 100 percent fiber-optic network that includes backbone, middle and last mile installation.

Editor's Log: Growing Up Fiber

It wasn’t that long ago that those involved in the fiber communications realm were considered dreamers. Shortly after the fiber back-bone build-out bust of 2000-2001, fiber trunk lines were everywhere but rarely utilized. The U.S. was awash in dark fiber systems, waiting for not just business, but individuals as well, to embrace fiber to the premises – at a high cost. Most consider that cost to connect fiber to homes and business as just too high and the return too low to make a working business model. It would take decades for fiber to become in vogue enough to justify lighting up the dark fiber, justify build-out costs and truly provide fiber to the premise.

Contractor Finds Success Embracing Island’s Pristine Environment

It’s among the most historic, unspoiled and coveted vacation spots anywhere in North America. Located off the southern tip of Cape Cod, MA, Martha’s Vineyard is the largest true island along the East Coast of the United States.

Vermeer Introduces Microtrencher For Fiber Installation

Vermeer is launching a system for cutting narrow trench in paved rights-of-way, primarily for installing duct for fiber optic cable. “The target market is the last-mile, fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) installations,” said Jon Kuyers, product manager of the Vermeer utility segment. “The system is the complete package for installing micro duct for fiber.”

The Private Fiber Option

For home internet users with broadband connections, "high speed" service usually is considered a necessity. Yet there are many regions in America that do not have broadband access, and an increasing number of small communities recognize attracting new business is unlikely to succeed without access to broadband.

Telecom Waits, Hopes For Boost From Stimulus Funds

Various federal economic "stimulus" programs are under way to help bring America out of the crippling recession that has been affecting almost every segment of the economy.