Video-ready access device

Cross connect box (left) and VRAD (right) on a suburban street in Houston, Texas

A video-ready access device, more commonly known as a "VRAD," provides DSL access and HD TV programming to customers subscribed to IPTV services such as AT&T's U-verse, Bell Canada's Bell Fibe TV and Telus's Optik TV. VRAD equipment manufactured by Alcatel-Lucent supplies access to 200 to 400 households per box depending on configuration. The VRAD boxes are fed by fiber optic cable.

There are 2 types of VRAD systems currently used by AT&T: FTTN (fiber to the node), and FTTP (fiber to the premises). FTTN is widely used where copper facilities exist in established neighborhoods. The FTTN system uses a 7330-ISAM shelf, which is composed of circuit boards providing service, fed by fiber and using existing copper wiring to customers' homes. Due to the copper pairs, there are distance limitations from the VRAD cabinet to the customer's home. The FTTP system uses a 7340-ISAM shelf, which is also composed of circuit boards providing service, that are also fed by fiber. This system is mostly used in areas such as new neighborhoods or large scale developments where fiber can be run to the household, removing the distance limitations of copper. The 7340 then connects to a "serving area interface" (SAI) box, which distributes service to homes in the neighborhood, via a dual strand fiber, which is then split into 32 customer fiber pairs. The fiber pairs are typically led into a customer's residence through an equipment room or garage. The fiber connects to a decoder box, then to the customer's TV, computer and phone lines.

Controversy

To make its U-verse services available to customers, AT&T needs to install VRADs in the areas they will service. The VRADs are quite large, around 150 centimetres (59 in) wide, 122 centimetres (48 in) tall, and 66 centimetres (26 in) deep, which has drawn complaints from homeowners. The utility boxes are also a target for graffiti. One of AT&T's competitors, Comcast, has run ads in the Chicago area against U-verse, based on the size and unsightly appearance of AT&T's VRADs. This has caused AT&T to file suit against Comcast.

Four VRADs have exploded due to faulty batteries, at least one causing shrapnel to hurl "fifty feet throughout the neighborhood." The batteries were manufactured by Avestor, a now-bankrupt company. AT&T replaced all 17,000 Avestor batteries used in its VRADs with Alcatel-Lucent SAFT Ni-Cad batteries. SAFT batteries have a 10 year life and are safer to maintain.