Banerjee, A. and M. Sirbu (2005). Towards Technologically and Competitively Neutral Fiber to the Home (FTTH) Infrastructure. In Broadband Services: Business Models and Technologies for Community Networks. I. Chlamtac, A. Gumaste and C. Czabo. New Jersey: John Wiley. http://itc.mit.edu/itel/docs/2003/banerjee_sirbu.pdf
This paper is a good introduction to issues of competition in the Fiber to the Home (FTTH) industry, the current structure of industry, and how it may evolve. In particular, the paper helps readers understand what different FTTH architectures may mean in terms of the possibility of running open access fiber networks. That is, networks where one entity may own the core infrastructure, but where a number of others may compete to provide services using that infrastructure. Paying attention to what kind of FTTH architecture is built is crucial. At present, as a result of a FCC decision, incumbents who invest in FTTH are not obligated to offer competitors access to these networks at regulated rates. Therefore, they may deem it unnecessary to build architectures that support competition now, eliminating the potential for future competition. On the other hand, municipalities and community associations may have a greater interest in service level competition; this paper can help them understand of the significance of the choice of fiber layout strategies in this regard.
