[Hidden-tech] Questions about DSLAMs (Digital subscriber line access multiplexers)

[Robert Heller]

Given that MBI/AXIA will be lighting up the fiber backbone in the next couple 
of months, I have some thoughts and questions.

It is likely going to be 3-5 years before the fiber last mile is completed, 
but I had a thought about a possible interum solution, but I am not sure about 
if/how it could work.

My (limited) understanding about DSLAM technology is that it connects the 
existing copper analog phone lines to some sort of Internet backbone, commonly 
in the form of a high speed digital interface (like a T1 or fiber connection) 
to a central office.  I was wondering: is is technically possible to connect a 
'remote' DSLAM (eg like in the center of a small hill town like Wendell) to 
the MBI/AXIA fiber backbone, instead of running a connection back to the 
teleco (Verizon) Central Office?  This would allow providing DSL services over 
the existing copper using the MBI/AXIA fiber backbone as the backhaul.

If it is *technically possible*, what are the regularitory issues involved?  I 
presume this might be doable by a CLEC, but could a "Municipal Light Plant" do 
it?  Most of the (small) towns in Western Mass have created MLPs for the 
purpose of telecommunication and to join with the Wired West cooperative.

-- 
Robert Heller             -- 978-544-6933 / heller at deepsoft.com
Deepwoods Software        -- http://www.deepsoft.com/
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