| Dark fiber is a portion of a fiber optics line that is | | | | Some have suggested that universities could be |
| not being used. During the late 1990s, fiber was a | | | | inter connected in a closed system much like the |
| growing industry. Fiber optics is a way of | | | | internet. This system could be used for distance |
| transmitting information over a cable using light | | | | learning centers as well. With growing shortfalls in |
| instead of using wire and electrical impulses. Some | | | | the budgets of university systems, this would |
| readers may remember the advertisements of | | | | allow for one professor to lead a class of many |
| the crystal clear sounds on the telephone. | | | | more students than he could have in a class on |
| As the fiber optics networks were being laid, it | | | | campus. |
| was discovered that the cost of the fiber cable | | | | Other suggestions include physicists being |
| was very small as compared to the cost of | | | | connected to national laboratories where they can |
| building the conduit and installation. As an example, | | | | perform experiments. Once again, this would allow |
| the cost of laying a cable with 100 fibers was the | | | | many more scientist to work on a project than |
| same as a cable of 10,000 fibers. As a result, | | | | would be able to work onsite. This could maximize |
| telecommunications companies, would lay larger | | | | the use of expensive equipment, in order that the |
| cables whenever building the network. | | | | expensive of building duplicate equipment was not |
| Power companies also laid fiber optics cable in the | | | | needed. |
| same trenches as new power lines. Their hope | | | | With the current emphasis upon computerized |
| was to sell these fiber optics lines to | | | | medical records, hospitals and clinics could also be |
| telecommunications companies. | | | | interconnected through currently dark fiber to a |
| This overbuilding of the fiber optics network has | | | | centralized medical record bank. |
| led to many fibers in the network having never | | | | Banks are also showing interest in dark fiber, as it |
| been used. A fiber that is transmitting light signals | | | | provides a secure way for sending information |
| is referred to as lit. One that is not in use is | | | | that is less likely to be hacked into. |
| referred to as dark fiber. | | | | The excess of dark fiber available today offers |
| With the drop in price of dark fiber lines, there is | | | | many possibilities. |
| much speculation on its use. | | | | |