NARB asks Time Warner Cable to curb fiber network claims
updated 04:20 pm EST, Wed February 9, 2011
Time Warner asked to clarify fiber network ads
Time Warner Cable is being asked by a National Advertising Review Board (NARB) panel to stop claiming in ads that it uses fiber optic wires. Competitor Verizon challenged the validity of Time Warner's claims, as it offers a true fiber optic network, FiOS. The ads claim Time Warner's network is "dramatically faster" because of its "advanced fiber optic network."
In reality, the cable company uses a hybrid of fiber and coaxial cable, frequently called fiber to the node, that runs legacy cabling from a head end unit in the neighborhood to a given home This adds more confusion for consumers, as Verizon calls its true service fiber to the home. NARB said Verizon "respectfully disagrees" with the panel's decision.
Verizon is upset as it has invested about $23 billion in building its FiOS network in some parts of the US. It launched FiOS in 2004 and has boosted it up to as much as 150Mbps, or about 50 percent faster than the fastest mainstream cable Internet access in the US.
