Aerial fiber optic cables maximize profitability of utility rights of way

The ongoing deregulation of the electric utility industry, combined with the opening of telecommunications markets with the Telecommunications Act of 1996, have presented tremendous opportunities for electric utilities to maximize profitability of their rights of way. The addition of fiber optic cable to utility transmission and distribution lines for telecommunications purposes is creating additional and, historically, unexpected short and long term revenue for many electric utilities. This paper briefly describes some of the models electric utilities have employed to take advantage of these emerging opportunities, and overview the different types of fiber and aerial fiber optic cables available to build the necessary infrastructure (lashed fiber optic cable, all dielectric self-supporting cable, optical ground wire, and wrapped fiber optic cable (SkyWrap)).