Fiber optic cables are disclosed that include at least one optical fiber
and a flame-retardant cable jacket. The flame-retardant cable jacket has
a cavity wherein the at least one optical fiber is disposed within the
cavity. The flame-retardant cable jacket includes one or more
flame-retardant additives and the flame-retardant cable jacket is
essentially free of a water-soluble component that can dissolve and
migrate into the cavity. By way of example, the flame-retardant cable
jacket is a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) essentially free of ammonium
octamolybdate. Other variations include fiber optic cables having a
barrier layer for inhibiting the migration of water into a cable cavity.