Telecommunications Essentials

The Broadband Home

Consider the top technological advances over the past 100 years—developments in airplanes, antibiotics, television, computers, the Internet. In this context, the housing industry today is where the auto industry was in the 1950s. Although the technological revolution has affected most aspects of our lives, our homes have been left behind. But that will change with the introduction of intelligent appliances that work together to complete tasks; for example, self-cleaning surfaces will make life easier power-generating fuel cells will save money and visual reminders will help protect you and your family.

As broadband access alternatives are deployed, an interesting phenomenon occurs. The bottleneck shifts from the local loop ...