Dark Fiber: A Case In Point

Anonymous Coward writes "CNN has posted a story regarding the overabundance of fiber lines that were laid during the 90s gold rush along Oregons Interstate 5 corridor. While over 140,000 miles of fiber has been laid 95 percent of the fiber goes unused and roughly half of the companies who laid the fiber are now gone. The article goes on to further say that even with all that fiber, there is little availability to the consumer because either the local connections aren't there or, because of monopolization by phone companies, too expensive. Even for businesses."

Comments

Dark fiber isn't hurting anyone

[b.foster]

At the risk of stating the obvious, dark fiber that was laid to strengthen the internet backbone and inter-LATA communication circuits has no commercial application whatsoever in this day and age. Why? Let's step back and look at the facts:

• Dark fiber doesn't serve homes or businesses. I have looked at maps of where the dark fiber along I-5 was buried, and I can assure you that it was buried where the right-of-way was cheap - NOT close to any people or commercial entities that could benefit from fiber. Obviously, the last mile problem has not been solved by burying fiber that was just intended to improve connectivity amongst COs anyway.
• The backbone is fast enough as it is. Although the looming collapse of Worldcom's UUnet is frightening, their IP operations will undoubtedly be sold to competitors, who will keep the network running. The bottleneck is not on the internet; it is between the POP and the average consumer, who is generally too stingy to get a faster connection than dialup.
• Wireless solutions are taking over the last mile. Between the four wireless carriers who now offer unlimited IP communications on their networks, and the numerous companies striving to blanket the nation's metropolitan areas with pay-per-month unlimited 802.11b hotspots, fiber is quickly becoming yesterday's news. Although for long distance dedicated lines it cannot be beat, fiber has little or no impact on the average geek or consumer today.

Don't You Just Love It

[RAMMS EIN]

`there is little availability to the consumer because either the local connections aren't there or, because of monopolization by phone companies, too expensive. Even for businesses.''
One nation, under the corporations, with liberty and justice for all who can afford... Now who said that before me?