Local access evolution in the United States

Abstract

The US local exchange telecommunications market is undergoing dramatic regulatory, technological, and structural change. For the near-term, this change will continue and the future architecture of the local exchange will remain uncertain. Three mutually exclusive technology scenarios, and the necessary conditions for the occurrence of each, are presented. "Fiber-in-the-loop Dominates" is deemed "Unlikely", "Fiber-coaxial Dominates" is judged "Somewhat Likely", and "Technology Mosaic" is believed to be the "Most Likely" outcome.