This book examines the emerging communications technology called Residential Broadband, which will provide greater bandwidth to homes and businesses than is currently available through traditional Internet Service Providers (ISP). The focus is on the local loop, the connection between a residential or business dwelling and a service provider. One of the main issues addressed is who this provider might be, with the current frontrunners being the telephone company, the local cable company, or an ISP. The other main issue addressed is how the bandwidth will be achieved, which brings up topics such as wireless schemes for the local loop, coding and modulation techniques, and protocols to manage the bandwidth and control the access to and from the residential broadband system. The author gives a detailed overview of the current state of the system and offers a peak into its near future. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or. Read Less