Customer premises equipment for residential broadband networks

The evolution of telephone networks from narrowband to broadband will require a rethinking of the rules for customer premises equipment. The introduction of a variety of transmission technologies and network interfaces will require that incumbent local exchange carriers and entrants have the ability to deploy and manage equipment to terminate high-speed digital signals. This article presents a perspective on the types of terminal equipment which are likely to be utilized in the residence in the future, the types of access network connections this equipment will have, and the regulatory situation with respect to broadband CPE, in light of the history of CPE and the Telecommunications Act of 1996.