Fiber advocate Gary Bolton outlines the potential and challenges of wiring fiber into multi-dwelling units (MDUs), using a real-world Adams Morgan condo case to illustrate the discussion. He notes a 26-unit co-op where residents rely on cable-based service distributed through in-building Wi‑Fi, and a proposal to bring fiber into the building at no upfront cost to set up a fiber-ready environment. Final participation hinges on each unit owner’s agreement, with individual households deciding whether to subscribe to fiber once available.
Bolton emphasizes that the installation would require access to each unit and could cause minimal disruption as crews pull fiber through the building. While presented as a no-upfront-cost option, he underscores that some disruption and accessibility considerations are part of the trade-off for a future-ready network with vastly higher potential performance.
From a technical standpoint, Bolton argues fiber’s reliability and speed are clear advantages over coax, with the potential for symmetrical multi-gig services that far outpace today’s patchwork coax offerings. He also notes that modern in-building fiber is discreet—single-thin strands (about 0.6 mm) and elegant wall plates can blend into decor without the bulk and clutter associated with legacy coax systems.
Value to MDUs goes beyond performance. Industry data cited by Bolton shows that fiber can increase property value and revenue: 3.2% higher condo values and 12.8% higher rental values when fiber is present, according to Fiber Broadband Association research. Additional consumer data from RVA Market Research & Consulting in 2025 indicates that 58% of respondents view fiber to the home as the best broadband solution, with Net Promoter Scores for fiber higher than other broadband types. Internet Subway’s white-label model is offered as a real-world example of fiber integration across multiple properties.
Looking to the future, Bolton explains that today’s GPON and XGS-PON fiber ecosystems are already scalable toward 25G PON and 50G PON through modest electronics upgrades, avoiding the more invasive hardware changes that cable networks require. He cites data indicating rising data usage: OpenVault shows median per-subscriber data rising from about 120 GB in 2018 to 431 GB in 2025, and average usage growing from 231 GB to 664 GB over the same period, underscoring the need for more capable, upgradeable broadband within MDUs.
Bolton closes with a practical call to action: organize a show-and-tell session at the condo meeting with the fiber contractor to walk through deployment, address questions about cutting walls or minimal-pull installations, and demonstrate the fiber’s smaller footprint and higher reliability compared with coax. He remains optimistic that a short period of disruption now can yield substantial cash dividends for property owners when units are sold or rented in the future, driven by higher-speed, reliable broadband as a value-added amenity.
