A Study of the Technical and Economic Feasibility of Providing Narrowband and Broadband Communications Services in Rural Areas. Volume I

摘要

The purpose of the report is to provide the REA with information regarding the technical and economic feasibility of providing narrowband and broadband communication services in rural areas of the United States. The report is organized into three parts as follows: Part A - A report on the market--Deals with estimating the market for narrowband and broadband services in rural areas. An entire section on the use of communications in automated power distribution systems is also included. Part B - Existing technology--Pertains to providing narrowband (telephone), broadband (CATV), and combined narrowband/broadband services with the existing technologies of wire-pair cable plant and coaxial cable plant. Part C - Emerging technology--Pertains to providing narrowband/broadband services with the emerging technology of fiber optic systems. The report is contained in two volumes. Volume I contains Part A and the first five sections of Part B. Volume II contains the last three sections of Part B (Sections VI-VIII) and Part C.