Alcatel-Lucent recently hired a senior vice president of transformation. The title seems a bit odd, but the company might be on to something.; Alcatel-Lucent; Editorial Director and Associate Publisher Stephen Hardy offers his thoughts on the future market acceptance of 40-Gbps technology.; 40G; Lightwave; A too-successful trip to the optician provides Stephen with an inspiration about the development of national broadband policy.; broadband policy; Lightwave; nbn; Editorial Director Stephen Hardy comments on recent M&A announcements.; Lightwave; M&A; Editorial Director and Associate Publisher Stephen Hardy gives his impressions of this year's OFC/NFOEC, direct from the show floor.; first take; Lightwave; OFC/NFOEC; Editorial Director Stephen Hardy offers his prediction on what will be the hottest topic at OFC/NFOEC.; 100G; 40G; Lightwave; OFC/NFOEC; Stephen Hardy; Senior Editor Meghan Fuller Hanna comments on what the Nortel bankruptcy filing means for the industry.; consolidation; first take; Fuller Hanna; Nortel; Editorial Director Stephen Hardy offers his perspective on market research in today's darkening economic times.; first take; Lightwave; Stephen Hardy; As part of its new redesign, Lightwave has launched First Take, a video blog. Check back here every month (and, once we get rolling, perhaps more frequently) to hear -- and see -- what's on the minds of the Lightwave editorial staff.