I’m confused. This guy has been in networking since before the IP protocol existed. I believe IP was specified in 1980 (not to be confused with TCP which came to be in the mid 70s).
So, 2008 - 18 = 1990. Did the author of this CNET post mean 28 years :-)!?
As for FTTH (Fiber to the Home), I currently use Verizon for internets and phone....I am getting TV soon. My home is wired much like the author of this post (gig-e wired for a lot of streaming video to my Xboxes and PS3, some wireless for the wife & stepson’s computers) and I have had zero complaints about anything. I only have a 5Mbps line for downloads (2Mbps for uploads), and I can access virtually every bps across the of that “internets” bandwidth at any time.
A friend has the FiosTV....it is fantastic. However, I do not know how it behaves with multiple TVs in use on different channels. I cannot comment on anything else since I have not played around with all of the TV features.
Also, I concur with the other Freeper regarding phone service...save yourself a few bucks and get Vonage or the like....you can save about $10/month easy....maybe more. I didn’t do that, but will be doing that once the 12 month special pricing got elapses this May.
AT&T is not Fiber to the Home, but Fiber to the Remote Terminal (or as the Cable companies call it Fiber to the Node) and then using two copper pairs (instead of the usual one pair) to make a combined DSL line. It was the only way to increase DSL speed from 6MB to 26MB (or whatever the speed of ADSL+ is today). AT&T didn’t want to spend as much as Verizon who is not only replacing their trunk lines with fiber to the Remote Terminals, but also replacing the copper from the RT to the Home with fiber (or some cases with coax to save money).