Today (well yesterday actually but I’m under embargo to not post until tomorrow) I am listening to a webcast on the latest FTTH numbers from the FTTH Council. They check FTTH stats about every 6 months. Here are my notes from the session:

They found that broadband has reached about 61 percent of US homes. At of end of September fiber passed about 13,825,000 homes in the US (that’s 25 percent). That means homes could be hooked up to get FTTH. Homes marketed included 12,369,000 homes. Homes connected rate is at 3,760,000 (that’s about 3.5 percent). Those are the people who have FTTH and can use it.

Most of the FTTH connections are found in about one third of the US. Those areas are covered by Verizon or Independent telcos. Take rates are surpassing 30 percent. So that’s a good sign.

Municipalities are showing interest in FTTH but growth is moderated by difficulties and time to market. Usually municipalities will go to incumbent first. But if they don’t find a willing partner they will go it alone.

Here’s what folks are doing online:

• High definition TV: 43 percent
• Video on demand services: 32 percent
• Full movie downloads: 26 percent
• Online gaming: 21 percent
• Home-based businesses: 7 percent
• Two-way conferencing: 3 percent