Book excerpt: Master optical First Mile technologies with this end-to-end solutions guide that incorporates the most current advances and features Understand the range of First Mile technologies available in the marketplace and the policies and technologies impacting future trends Review step-by-step guides to building end-to-end solutions for optical networking Master Free Space Optics, EPON, and PON design and concepts Learn technology options with coverage of the latest optical switching systems Named by an IEEE task force, the first mile refers to the connections between business/residential subscribers and the public networks central office or point of presence. This task force, of which Cisco is a member, is developing standards and products that use Ethernet as the Layer 2 protocol of choice for the economical and efficient delivery of broadband related services. "First Mile Advanced Access Technologies" reviews the standards, policies, products, features and services related to the growing delivery of broadband services. It provides an overview of all the protocols currently bringing services to the first mile, including DSL, cable modems, ISDN, satellite, and broadband wireless. The book then moves forward detailing the advancements and capabilities of optical networking. The book also provides end-to-end solution designs, incorporating the latest advancements in the technologies and reviewing the capabilities of some of the newest optical switching systems. A specific review of scalability keeps current design guides in tune with potential future needs. "First Mile Advanced Access Technologies" offers readers step-by-step, basic to advanced coverage of an end-to-end solution foroptical networking. Ashwin Gumaste is currently completing a PhD in Optical Networking and is also part of the Photonics Networking Laboratory with Fujitsu. He is the author of DWDM Network Design and Engineering Solutions from Cisco Press. , b>Tony Anthony, CCNP, CCIP, is a Technical Marketing Engineer with the Optical Networking Group at Cisco Systems. He is the author of DWDM Network Design and Engineering Solutions from Cisco Press.