City of Light: The Story of Fiber Optics

NOTES TO PAGES 186–191 315
55. Ira Jacobs, ‘‘Fiber optics technology and application in the Bell System,’’
Proceedings Fiber Optics and Communications (FOC ’78) (Information Gatekeepers
Inc., Brookline, Mass., 1978, pp. 12–13).
56. John Midwinter, ‘‘Optical fiber communications systems development in
the UK,’’ IEEE Communications Magazine, Jan. 1982, pp. 6–11. The contracts were
signed in Mar. 1979.
57. Richard Epworth, interview, Dec. 2, 1994; Richard Epworth, ‘‘25 years of
optical communications,’’ unpublished manuscript.
58. Richard Epworth, ‘‘The phenomenon of modal noise in analog and digital
optical fiber systems,’’ in Charles K. Kao ed., Optical Fiber Technology II (IEEE Press,
New York, 1981, pp. 260–269). Originally presented at Fourth European Conference
on Optical Communications, Genoa, Italy, September 1978.
59. Richard Epworth, paper ThD1 (revised summary, in postdeadline section),
Technical Digest, Topical Meeting on Optical Fiber Communications, Mar 6–8, 1979,
Washington (Optical Society of America, Washington); Clemens Baack et al., ‘‘Modal
noise and optical feedback in high-speed optical systems at 0.85 µm,’’ Electronics
Letters 16 592–593 (1980).
60. Double-crucible fibers never quite caught up with other processes, and the
technology worked poorly for both single-mode fibers and long-wavelength fibers.
Clive Day, British Telecom Labs interview, Dec. 1, 1994.
61. Robert Olshansky, telephone interview, Feb. 21, 1997.
62. ‘‘Japan shows its strength in optical communications,’’ Laser Focus December
1977, pp. 48–52
63. T. Miya, Y. Terunuma, T. Hosaka, and T. Miyashita, ‘‘Ultimate low-loss
single-mode fiber at 1.55 µm,’’ Electronics Letters 15 106–108, 15 February 1979.
64. The reference is to George Orwell’s novel 1984. Bill Plummer, telephone
interview, Mar. 21, 1997; Will Hicks, interview, Feb. 4, 1994.
65. Clive Foxall and Sidney O’Hara made the decision to change materials;
O’Hara also pushed single-mode fiber. Alan Steventon, interview, Dec. 1, 1994.
66. ‘‘An optical link is installed in Las Vegas for independent telephone meeting,’’
Laser Focus January 1978, pp. 64–66.
67. Dobson telephone interview.
68. Figures from Kessler Marketing Intelligence circa 1978, presented at the
Newport Conference on Fiberoptic Markets. While I no longer have the original
source, I vividly remember the story.
69. Wall Street Journal February 24, 1978, p. 14; March 31, 1978, p. 29.
70. ‘‘Wire maker to acquire 13% of Valtec, specialist in optical communications,’’
Laser Focus April 1977, p. 36; Rich Cerny, interview, January 9, 1997;
‘‘Two new entries in fiber optic market: Siemens-Corning and Canada Wire,’’ Laser
Focus February 1978, pp. 76–78.
71. ‘‘Valtec seeks entry to cable-TV market with acquisition of metal-cable
maker,’’ Laser Focus December 1977, pp. 43–44.
72. ‘‘James Godbey dies at 43, a founder of Valtec Corp.;’’ Laser Focus January
1979, p. 74.
73. Eric Randall telephone interview, February 18, 1997.
74. Postdeadline reports,’’ Laser Focus World, February 1980, page 4; also Wall
Street Journal January 8, 1980, p. 18.
75. ‘‘M/A Com’s purchase of Valtec expands resources for development,’’ Laser
Focus August 1980, pp. 52–54; Wall Street Journal June 18, 1980, p. 14; September
24, 1980, p. 39.