Advertising watchdog asks Time Warner Cable, Cox to drop claims they run fiber-optics networks
By APTuesday, May 4, 2010
Time Warner Cable, Cox asked to drop ad claims
PHILADELPHIA — An advertising watchdog is asking Time Warner Cable and Cox to drop claims that they run fiber-optics networks, after Verizon complained about their ads.
The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus says both cable TV companies describe their networks as “fiber-optic networks” in their advertising when in fact they are referring to networks that include both fiber and traditional copper cable.
A purely fiber-optic network transmits data faster and has greater capacity than a hybrid. Verizon Communications Inc. has been building out a network that extends fiber optics to the home, rather than just a hub in the neighborhood.
The NAD is the advertising industry’s self-regulatory body.
Time Warner Cable Inc. is appealing the decision. Cox says it will consider the decision in future ads.
