Better Business Bureau Refers Comcast 'Fiber-Optic' Claim To FTC

The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus has referred Comcast's decision to not participate in the industry group's adjudication process involving the advertising claim that the company provides "fiber-optic network" services to the Federal Trade Commission for further review. The NAD, acting on a challenge by Verizon Communications, had requested substantiation from Comcast for the advertising claim that it delivers services over a "fiber-optic network." Verizon contends that Comcast, like virtually all cable companies, uses a hybrid fiber-coax (HFC) network rather than a pure fiber-to-the-home architecture as used by the telco's FiOS. Because Comcast uses coaxial cable to connect to subscribers' homes, the telco argues, Comcast cannot claim to employ a "fiber-optic network."