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What does IPFTTPHDTV spell? (Sorry for the spittle) It spells Internet TV piped into your house.

SureWest Communications, a Roseville, Calif.-based telecommunications company announced the beta testing of commercially offering high definition television over broadband Internet Protocol (IP)-based fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) network. The company says it will be the first company in the United States to provide such offerings.

As part of its broadband growth strategy, SureWest has built an FTTP network throughout the Sacramento, CA region, passing more than 80,000 marketable homes. SureWest currently expects to launch HDTV over IP commercially in November 2005.

SureWest's fiber network currently provides a speed of up to 10 megabits per second (Mbps) high-speed Internet service, with the option to double that speed up to 20 Mbps.

SureWest enhanced its ability to deliver advanced IP video service over a fiber network with a Cisco IP Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) featuring Cisco Catalyst 4510 and Catalyst 6509 switches that help enable SureWest to deliver high speeds based on the 100 Mbps standard bi-directional to its residential customers.

"Customers are increasingly demanding more advanced services, and we are committed to working with providers like SureWest to enable video/IPTV networks that scale with a lower total cost of ownership and that have unparalleled video-application linkages for a better user experience," said Jeff Spagnola, vice president of service provider marketing, Cisco.