Abstract:
An apparatus for supplying network services over fiber optic cable to a particular building includes a gas service pipe. The service pipe conveys gas between a gas main and a gas meter for the particular building. A flexible tube is disposed inside the service pipe. The tube is sealed at each end to an outside surface of the service pipe at a pressure fitting for providing access to the inside of the tube. A fiber optic cable is disposed through the inside of the flexible tube, with each end of the fiber optic cable outside the service pipe. Using techniques of the present invention, service pipes are employed to connect network cable to buildings across a paved street. The techniques avoid the costs and inconvenience associated with standard practices that involve cutting trenches across the streets.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention generally relates to laying fiber optic cable for providing network services. The invention relates more specifically to techniques providing fiber optic cables through gas service pipes.  
           [0003]    2. Discussion of the Related Art  
           [0004]    As increasing use is made of computer networks, including the Internet, to provide information, demands have increased for increasingly fast delivery of that information. Fiber optic cable provides more information per second (called bandwidth), requires less energy, and produces less heat than metal wire of the same thickness. Consequently there is an ever-increasing demand for fiber optic cable connections to homes and businesses.  
           [0005]    Unlike metal wires and cables that already go to essentially all home and businesses in the form of telephone wires and power cables, fiber optic cables are available to only a small fraction of homes and businesses. Consequently there is an extensive effort underway to deliver fiber optic cable to more homes and businesses. Communication companies and computer network service providers are expending great effort, including investing great sums, to bring fiber optic cable to more homes and businesses. The effort is especially intense in cities where more potential customers are reached with every mile of cable laid than are reached per mile in rural areas.  
           [0006]    Fiber optic cables are usually buried to protect from exposure to weather and accidents and to protect from vandalism. In addition, may community regulations require cables be buried. Burying fiber optic cables in cities is inconvenient and costly. Roads are closed for days at a time while trenches are cut, cable is laid, junction boxes are installed, cables are connected, and roads are repaired. There is a trend among some communities to require cable-laying contractors to repave the streets rather than just patch the cut. All these factors increase the cost per unit distance of laying the cable in cities.  
           [0007]    It has been recognized that trenching and repair costs might be reduced if fiber optic cable is laid inside gas mains and sewers.  
           [0008]    A proprietary system has been developed that pulls cable through long haul gas mains, which transport gas from one region of the country to another. The gas in the long haul mains is under high pressure, for example at about 1200 pounds per square inch gauge (psig). A gauge pressure is measured relative to atmospheric pressure. Another proprietary system has been developed for pulling fiber optic cable through pressurized gas mains within cities. Gas mains are so designated by the gas utilities that operate them, and provide gas for a large number of customers, usually spread over many city blocks. Gas mains typically run through public property or easements.  
           [0009]    However, the proprietary systems are not designed for the gas service pipes, which branch from the street gas main to buildings of gas customers. Gas service refers to pipes and fittings that are used to convey gas from a gas main to an inlet side of gas metering equipment. As used herein, service pipes refer to pipes employed in such gas service. Service pipes include branch service pipes that convey gas to multiple gas meters and single service pipes that convey gas to a single meter. Service pipes typically run across private property. Service pipes are often under 12 inches in diameter and typically 6 inches or less in diameter. Service pipes are typically operated at about 60 psig, and are often tested at maximum pressures of about 100 psig. There are indications that the proprietary systems are too costly to apply on the short runs of service pipes, and would not even work on most of the smaller diameter service pipes.  
           [0010]    It is a disadvantage to be unable to pull fiber optic cable through service pipes. Many buildings targeted for fiber optic connections are across paved streets from the fiber optic network cables that are already connected to the network, even when the street gas mains carry the network cable using a proprietary system. If the service pipes are not employed to connect network cable to such buildings, then standard practices are employed from a street main or from any other conduit carrying network cable located across a street. The standard practices involve cutting trenches across the streets once per block, with all the commensurate costs and inconvenience.  
           [0011]    Based on the foregoing description, there is a clear need for techniques that provide fiber optic cable through gas service pipes.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to method and apparatus for providing fiber optic cables through service pipes that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.  
           [0013]    According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for supplying network services over fiber optic cable to a particular building includes a gas service pipe. The service pipe conveys gas between a gas main and a gas meter for the particular building. A flexible tube is disposed inside the service pipe. The tube is sealed at each end to an outside surface of the service pipe at a pressure fitting for providing access to the inside of the tube. A fiber optic cable is disposed through the inside of the flexible tube, with each end of the fiber optic cable outside the service pipe.  
           [0014]    According to another aspect of the invention, a method for pulling fiber optic cables through service pipes includes stopping gas flow from a gas main to a gas service pipe. A first nipple is joined to the service pipe at a first location convenient for connecting fiber optic cable to the particular building. The first nipple provides a pass way between the inside and the outside of the service pipe for a flexible tube. A second nipple is joined to the service pipe at a second location convenient for connecting fiber optic cable to a network cable. The second nipple provides a second pass way between the inside and the outside of the service pipe for the flexible tube. The flexible tube is fed through a catch nipple, after passing the flexible tube through the other nipple and through the inside of the service pipe. The flexible tube is sealed to the first nipple and to the second nipple for pressures up to a predetermined maximum pressure. A fiber optic cable is fed through the flexible tube.  
           [0015]    According to another aspect of the invention, a method for supplying network services over fiber optic cables to a particular building includes sealing a flexible tube in a service pipe from a first point proximate to the particular building to a second point proximate to a network cable. The service pipe conveys gas between a gas main and a gas meter for the particular building. The tube is sealed for pressures up to a predetermined maximum pressure. A fiber optic cable is fed through the flexible tube. A first end of the fiber optic cable adjacent to the first point is connected to equipment in the particular building. A second end of the fiber optic cable adjacent to the second point is connected to the network cable.  
           [0016]    Using techniques of the present invention, service pipes are employed to connect network cable to buildings across a paved street. The techniques avoid the costs and inconvenience associated with standard practices that involve cutting trenches across the streets.  
           [0017]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structures and steps particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.  
           [0018]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0019]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
         [0020]    In the drawings:  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 is an exploded block diagram of a nipple assembly that forms a pressure tight seal between the nipple and a plastic tube, according to one embodiment;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a cross section of a service pipe with a fiber optic cable in a sealed flexible tube, according to an embodiment;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B together form a flow chart of a method for pulling fiber optic cable through a service pipe, according to an embodiment; and  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method for supplying network services over a fiber optic cable to a particular building, according to an embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0025]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
         [0026]    Apparatus with Cable in Service Pipe  
         [0027]    Embodiments of the invention make use of a nipple attached to a service pipe, that passes a flexible tube between the outside and the inside of the service pipe. The nipple has sidewalls that extend away from the outer surface of the pipe to which the nipple is attached. The sidewalls provide a means for attaching and removing other components. For example, the sidewalls include threads so that pressure fittings may be attached to the nipples to form pressure-tight seals up to a predetermined maximum pressure.  
         [0028]    Any manner known in the art for forming nipples on pipes may be used. For example, a length of small-diameter pipe can be welded open end to an outer surface of a pipe. A hole of diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the small pipe is drilled into the portion of pipe covered by the small pipe. For another example, a section of metal pipe may be originally cast so as to form the nipple or a section of plastic pipe may be originally molded so as to form the nipple.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a pressure fitting  100  that seals the nipple to a plastic tube, according to one embodiment.  
         [0030]    The nipple is a steel pipe  110  of inner diameter D 1  welded to a steel service pipe  101  of inner diameter D 2  substantially greater than D 1 . For example, service pipe  101  is a four inch steel pipe and pipe  110  is a 0.75 inch pipe. The steel pipe  110  is affixed to the service pipe at an angle of 45 degrees so that a flexible tube  120  inserted through the nipple  110  can be bent more easily to turn in one direction inside the service pipe  101  than in the opposite direction. The nipple  110  includes threads  111  for attaching other components.  
         [0031]    A flexible tube  120  of outer diameter D 3 , less than D 1 , passes through the nipple  110  into the service pipe  101 . For example, a 0.63-inch plastic tube passes through the nipple  110 . Only a portion of the flexible tube  120  is depicted in FIG. 1; the tube may be arbitrarily long and extend along the inside of the service pipe  101  for a considerable distance, as described in more detail below.  
         [0032]    After a flexible tube  120  is passed through the nipple  110 , the remaining elements depicted in FIG. 1 form a pressure fitting that seals the tube  120  to the nipple  110 . The illustrated pressure fitting includes an adapter nut  132  with female threads that engage threads  111  of the nipple  110 . The fitting also includes a gasket  134  placed over the end of the tube  120  that juts out of the nipple  110  beyond the adapter nut  132 . An adapter body  136  includes threads  135  that engaged the female threads of adapter nut  132 . When engaged and tightened, the adapter body  136  presses on the gasket  134 , deforming the gasket  134  to form a pressure-tight seal in the cavity between the nipple  110 , the adapter nut  132 , the adapter body  136  and the tube  120 . In the illustrated embodiment, the adapter body  136  includes a hollow stiffener  138  to prevent the tube  120  from pinching closed when the adapter body is tightened. In one embodiment, the stiffener  138  rotates freely with respect to the rest of the adapter body  136 . The adapter body includes threads  137  for attaching other components to the nipple assembly, such as a cap or a clamp that grabs a fiber optic cable later fed through the tube  120 .  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 2 is a cross section of a system  200  that uses an apparatus having a service pipe  220  with a fiber optic cable  295  in a sealed flexible tube  290 , according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 depicts a street level  201  and sidewalk levels  202 ,  203  on either side of the street.  
         [0034]    Before installing the system  200 , the service pipe  220  is originally connected below street level  201  to a street gas main  207  through a stop valve  205 . Stop valve  205  can be operated through a valve box  204  from the sidewalk level  202 . Service pipe  220  is also connected to a building  299  through gas service riser  208 , another stop valve  206 , and a gas meter  209 . For example, the service pipe  220  and the service riser  208  are 4-inch pipes; and the street gas main  207  is larger than 12 inches. A network cable that carries data for network services is available in telecom handhole  230  from the sidewalk level. In one embodiment, the network cable emerges from the street gas main  207  using an existing proprietary system. In another embodiment, the network cable in the handhole is laid there by some other existing means that does not use the street gas main  207 .  
         [0035]    After installing the system, the service pipe  220  includes two nipple assemblies  271  and  272  that form a pressure-tight seal with the flexible tube  290 . A fiber optic cable  295  passes through the nipple assemblies  271 ,  271  and the flexible tube  290  inside the service pipe  220 . One end of the fiber optic cable  295  connects to the network cable in telecom handhole  230 . The other connects to equipment, not shown, in the building at the service riser  208 .  
         [0036]    According to the illustrated embodiment, one nipple assembly  271  is attached to the service pipe  220  on a fitting  210  joined to the service pipe  220  by couples  261  and  262 . According to the illustrated embodiment, the system  200  is installed by cutting out a section of the service pipe  220  at a cross-street location convenient for connecting to the network cable. The cross-street location is indicated by the position of nipple assembly  271 . The cut out section occupies that portion of the service pipe replaced by the fitting  210  depicted in FIG. 2. The cross-street location might be accessed by digging from sidewalk level  202 , but does not need to involve cutting into the street, represented in FIG. 2 by the street level  201 . In one embodiment, the nipple of nipple assembly  271  is attached to the section of pipe cut from the service pipe, so that the fitting  210  is fabricated from the cutout section of the service pipe.  
         [0037]    The nipple of nipple assembly  272  is attached to the service pipe  220  at a building-side location convenient for connecting fiber optic cable to equipment in the building. The building-side location might be accessed by digging from sidewalk level  203 , but does not need to involve cutting into the street.  
         [0038]    According to one embodiment, the flexible tube is then passed through the nipple of nipple assembly  272 , through the inside of the service pipe  220 , and out an opening created by cutting out the section of the service pipe at the cross-street location. The opening is at about the position occupied in FIG. 2 by the couple  262 . By tool or by hand, the flexible tube  290  is fed through the nipple of nipple assembly  271  on the fitting. In one embodiment, the fiber optic cable  295  is inside the tube  290  when the tube is fed through the nipples and service pipe. In another embodiment, the tube is empty. The fitting  210  is then joined to the service pipe with couples  261 ,  262 .  
         [0039]    Pressure fittings are then used to form a pressure-tight seal rated for a certain maximum pressures somewhat greater than the expected operating pressure for the gas delivery system. For example, the tube is passed through the adapter nut  132  and gasket  134  and fitted onto the stiffener  138  of adapter body  136 ; and the adapter nut is tightened. The seal is rated for pressures of about 75 psig to about 100 psig.  
         [0040]    The fiber optic cable  295  is then pushed through the tube  290  until the cable  295  can be connected to the network cable in the telecom handhole  230 . At the other end, the fiber optic cable  295  is connected to equipment in the building  
         [0041]    Method of Pulling Cable  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B together form a flowchart of a method  300  for pulling fiber optic cable through a service pipe, according to an embodiment. Although the steps are illustrated in the following flowcharts in a particular order, the steps may be reordered or occur at overlapping times in other embodiments.  
         [0043]    Referring to FIG. 3A, in step  310 , the flow of gas into the service pipe from the feeder gas main is stopped. For example, the stop valve  205  is closed by reaching through valve box  204  from sidewalk level  202  to stop the flow of gas from the street gas main  207  into the service pipe  220 . In some embodiments, this step includes providing an alternative supply of gas to the building. For example, a tank of pressurized gas is provided and hooked up to the building&#39;s gas meter. In another embodiment, a by-pass pipe is connected from the gas meter to a different service pipe that is not fed through stop valve  205 .  
         [0044]    In step  312 , the gas is purged from the service pipe. For example, a tap is cut into the service riser to let the gas escape to the atmosphere and exchange with ambient air. In some embodiments, a denser inert gas is forced through the tap to displace the original gas.  
         [0045]    In step  314 , the building-side location is accessed, digging an access hole to reach the location, if appropriate. For example, the service pipe  220  is uncovered just street-side of the service riser  208  with its valve  206  and gas meter  209 . In a preferred embodiment, a roadway used by motor vehicles is not cut or disturbed during any digging. In step  316 , the cross-street location is accessed, digging an access hole to reach the location, if appropriate. Again, in a preferred embodiment, a roadway used by motor vehicles is not cut or disturbed during any digging.  
         [0046]    In step  320 , a first nipple is joined to the service pipe  220  at the building-side location. For example, at that location a small diameter hole is drilled into the service pipe and a matching diameter pipe is welded at about a 45-degree angle to cover the hole in the service pipe. The nipple is angled such that the horizontal component of a vector, which has its base at the tip of the nipple and its head at the joint with the outer surface of the service pipe, is directed to the targeted location of the second nipple. Step  320  includes the step of forming a pressure tight seal between the nipple and the service pipe. In some embodiments, step  320  is performed after step  340  or after both steps  340  and  342 , as described below.  
         [0047]    In step  330 , a second nipple is joined at the cross-street location. For example, at that location a small diameter hole is drilled into the service pipe and a matching diameter pipe is welded at about a 45-degree angle to cover the hole in the service pipe. The nipple is angled such that the horizontal component of a vector, which has its base at the tip of the nipple and its head at the joint with the outer surface of the service pipe, is directed to the targeted location of the first nipple. Step  330  includes the step of forming a pressure tight seal between the nipple and the service pipe. In some embodiments, step  330  is performed after step  340  or after both steps  340  and  342 , as described below. In some embodiments, step  320  is performed after step  330  or overlapping in time with step  330 .  
         [0048]    In step  340  an opening is cut into the service pipe that is sufficiently large to allow an operator to manipulate a flexible tube through the nearest nipple (the catch nipple) from inside the service pipe. The manipulation may be performed manually or with the assistance of a tool. It is anticipated that some tools may allow the opening to be smaller than an opening used for manual handling of the tube. In embodiments in which the catch nipple is welded directly to the service pipe, the opening is cut nearby so that, during step  342  described below, an operator can reach in, grab the tube, and feed the tube up into the catch nipple from inside the service pipe. In other embodiments, described later, the opening is cut before the catch nipple is attached, the tube is fed through the catch nipple during step  342  described below, and the catch nipple is attached so as to close the opening.  
         [0049]    In a preferred embodiment, step  340  comprises cutting and removing a longitudinal portion of the service pipe. For example, a portion of the service pipe is cut and removed at the cross-street location. The portion removed is located in FIG. 2 where the fitting  210  is depicted. Step  340  includes normal safety precautions for cutting into gas pipes. In some embodiments, step  340  includes installing, on the portion of the service pipe still connected to the street gas main, a temporary cap with a vent about three inches above the sidewalk level  202 . In some embodiments, step  340  includes placing a Ventura assembly on the portion of the service pipe connected to the service riser to draw out remaining gas. In some embodiments, step  340  includes checking for trace amounts of gas to assure safe levels. For example, a JW leak detection unit is employed to ensure that gas concentrations are below one part per million by indicating a reading of 0% when the unit is set for a maximum scale of 4%.  
         [0050]    In step  342 , a flexible tube is fed through the farthest nipple from the opening, in the direction from outside to inside the service pipe, through the service pipe, and then through the catch nipple. The tube is fed through the catch nipple using the opening cut in step  340 .  
         [0051]    In some embodiments either step  320  or step  330  or both overlap or follow step  340  of cutting an opening in the service pipe. In some such embodiments, joining the catch nipple overlaps or follows step  342  for feeding a flexible tube through the catch nipple.  
         [0052]    In one of these embodiments, in which at least one of steps  320 ,  330  overlaps steps  340 ,  342 , joining the catch nipple includes attaching the catch nipple to a sleeve and then welding the sleeve to the service pipe over the opening. This step overlaps the step of feeding the tube through the nipple after the nipple is attached to the sleeve and before the sleeve is welded to the service pipe. In other of these embodiments, joining the catch nipple includes attaching the catch nipple to the longitudinal portion of the service pipe removed to create the opening in step  340  and then joining the longitudinal portion with the catch nipple attached back onto the service pipe with a pair of couples. This step overlaps the step of feeding the tube through the nipple after the nipple is attached to the longitudinal portion and before the longitudinal portion is joined to the service pipe.  
         [0053]    For example, the tube is fed through the nipple of nipple assembly  272  at the building-side location, along the inside of service pipe  220  to the opening of the longitudinal portion, which occurs in FIG. 2 at the position of the couple  262 . In this example, an operator&#39;s hand reaches through the opening cut in step  340 , grabs the tube and feeds the tube through the longitudinal portion cut from the service pipe and through the catch nipple of nipple assembly  271 , from inside the longitudinal portion to the outside. The longitudinal portion is then attached to the service pipe portions still in place. For example, the longitudinal portion is welded to the portions still in place, or joined with a pair of couples  261 ,  262 .  
         [0054]    A result of this embodiment is depicted in FIG. 2, in which the fitting  210  comprises the longitudinal portion of the service pipe with the catch nipple attached, and the couples  261  and  262  join the longitudinal portion to the in-place portions of the service pipe  220 . In some other embodiments, the longitudinal portion is cut at the building-side location and the first nipple is the catch nipple.  
         [0055]    In step  350 , the flexible tube is sealed against the first and second nipples. The seals prevent the leakage of gas from the service pipe up to a maximum pressure that exceeds the expected operating pressure. In the preferred embodiment, the maximum pressure is selected in the range from about 75 psig to about 100 psig for an operating pressure of 60 psig. The flexible tube is therefore chosen to be impermeable to the gas in the service pipe at least up to the maximum pressure. In some embodiments, step  350  is performed before the fitting  210  with the catch nipple is joined to the service pipe  220 .  
         [0056]    For example, referring to FIG. 1, step  350  includes attaching an adapter nut  132  to threads  111  on each of the nipples. Then a gasket  134  is placed around the tube at each end jutting from the two nipples. Then the stiffener  138  of an adapter body  136  is inserted into the tube at each end, and the threads  135  of the adapter body  136  are engaged with the female threads of adapter nut  132  on each nipple. The adapter body  136  is rotated to tighten it against the gasket  134  and adapter nut  132  until a seal sufficiently tight to withstand 100 psig is formed. For example, nipple assemblies  271  and  272  in FIG. 2 are formed as a result of step  350 .  
         [0057]    In some embodiments, step  350  includes multiple steps conventionally performed for testing pressure seals. For example, for an operating pressure of 60 psig, the maximum pressure may be set at 100 psig. In one embodiment, a 100 psig test is performed on the flexible tube for ten minutes, checking for leaks with soap applied to the nipple assemblies. This embodiment also includes installing a test cap over the opening at the cross-street location, injecting inert gas or air to a pressure of 100 psig and testing for leaks at all fittings for ten minutes, then purging the test gas from the service pipe.  
         [0058]    In step  360  a fiber optic cable is fed through the flexible tube. The cable is fed in either direction, either from the building-side location to the cross-street location, or in the opposite direction. In some embodiments, the fiber optic cable is inside the flexible tube when the flexible tube is fed during step  342 . Step  360  includes pulling the fiber optic cable through the tube so that a length sufficient to reach a network cable juts out of the second nipple, the nipple at the street-side location.  
         [0059]    Referring to FIG. 3B, in step  370  a pressure tight seal is formed over the opening. Step  370  is optional in embodiments in which the step of joining the catch nipple, either step  320  or step  330 , also serves to cover and seal the opening cut in step  340 . Step  370  is employed in embodiments in which the catch nipple is welded directly to the service pipe near the opening cut in step  340 . After feeding the flexible tube through the catch nipple, the opening is sealed in step  370 .  
         [0060]    In step  372 , the flow of gas into the service pipe is restarted. For example, in the illustrated embodiment stop valve  205  is opened. This embodiment also includes pressurizing the service pipe and checking all fittings for leaks with soap film, including the couples  361 ,  362  and the nipple assemblies,  371 ,  372 . After passing the test, this embodiment includes bonding the couples, priming and wrapping all connections. Some embodiments include reconnecting the service riser  208  if it was disconnected, removing a by-pass line or tank connected to provide temporary service, and checking gas equipment in the building to ensure all are operating properly and that the gas pressure is set in the correct range. In some embodiments, step  372  includes refilling any access holes dug, and otherwise cleaning up the work sites.  
         [0061]    In step  374 , a fiber optic cable in the flexible tube is replaced. Gas service to the building through the service pipe is not interrupted. For example, stop valve  205  is not turned off. Instead, the old cable  295  is extracted through one of the nipples and the new cable is fed through one of the nipples. In some embodiments, the replacement cable is attached to the old cable  295  so that extracting the old cable  295  simultaneously pulls the new cable through the tube  290 .  
         [0062]    Method of Supplying Network Service  
         [0063]    [0063]FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method  400  for supplying network services over a fiber optic cable to a particular building, according to an embodiment.  
         [0064]    In step  410  a right of way is obtained to use a service pipe for passing fiber optic cable between a network cable and the building. Typically, the service pipe is on private property and is owned by the owners of the building. In some cases, however, the permission of the gas utility will also have to be obtained. A lease of property rights might be involved.  
         [0065]    In step  420  a flexible tube in sealed in the service pipe. The tube is sealed in such a manner as to not leak for pressures up to a certain maximum pressure. For example, tube  290  is sealed in service pipe  220  with pressure fittings at nipple assemblies  271  and  272  so as not to leak gas at least up to a pressure of 100 psig, as described above for steps  310  through  350  of method  300 .  
         [0066]    In step  430  a fiber optic cable is fed through the flexible tube. For example fiber optic cable  295  is installed with the flexible tube, as described above for step  360 . In other embodiments, the fiber optic cable  295  is pushed through the flexible tube  290  after the flexible tube is sealed into the service pipe  220 , as also described above. Step  430  also includes replacing the original fiber optic cable  295  by feeding a new fiber optic cable through the tube  290 , as described above for step  374 .  
         [0067]    In step  440 , the two ends of the fiber optic cable are connected to the network cable and to equipment in the building, respectively. For example, one end of fiber optic cable  295  closest to nipple assembly  272  is connected to a hub in building  299 . The other end of fiber optic cable  295  is connected to a network cable that is connected to the network, in the telecom handhole  230 .  
         [0068]    In step  450 , users of the equipment in the building are charged for transferring data over the network using any method known in the art when the network services are provided.  
         [0069]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variation can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.