ABSTRACT
This chapter provides background information into fiber optic technology including how this technology is useful in the broadcast facility. The 20th century saw a great jump in the development of fiber optic technology. The U. S. military moved quickly to use fiber optics for improved communications and tactical systems. The broadcast industry also embraced fiber optic transmission. The fiber optic feed, because of its quality and reliability, soon became the primary video feed, making the 1980 Winter Olympics the first application of fiber optic television transmission. Fiber optic technology has proven to be a tremendously valuable medium for communications systems. Fiber optic systems for media and data networks operate in the infrared portion of the spectrum. Fiber optic systems may be used to move the broadcaster's content around the facility, to a transmitter site, or connecting multiple sites to share or distribute content.
