APRIL 27, 2009 -- Business fiber availability increased more than 8% in the U.S. between 2004 and 2008, according to Vertical Systems Group's (search Lightwave for Vertical Systems Group) latest research study. Fiber penetration now extends to 19.1% of U.S. commercial buildings with twenty or more employees, up from 10.9% in 2004. All remaining locations comprise the "Fiber Gap," or business locations with no fiber access facilities.

"Driven by increased capex for fiber build-outs, the number of business locations with access to fiber facilities grew significantly during the past four years," says Rosemary Cochran, principal at Vertical Systems Group. "Residential fiber build-outs, such as Verizon's FiOS and AT&T's U-verse offerings, are extending accessibility to adjacent business sites, both large and small. Access to these facilities has in turn spurred growth in new business broadband services."