Economic considerations of fiber in the loop plant

Determines when fiber in the distribution network will be at economic parity with copper, what the sensitivities are, and how the prospect of fiber distribution will affect near-term planning of the digital loop carrier (DLC) on fiber versus copper in the feeder network. Based on nominal assumptions for declining fiber system costs and maintenance savings, fiber would be at parity with copper in the year 1992. Under more conservative fiber cost trend rates and with no maintenance savings, the parity point would shift to the year 1995, with the cost trend rate assumptions having the largest impact. In feeder planning, it was found that DLC on fiber is the economic choice over copper for feeder lengths greater than approximately 8000 ft, if the distribution area is to be converted to fiber in the early 1990s