An apparatus and system are provided for delivering communication services
such as video, data and telephony services to individual residential
units.According to one embodiment, an optical network terminal (ONT) for
providing communication services to a single residential unit comprises a
passive optical network interface (PI) circuit, a residential service
interface (RSI) circuit, and a power unit. The PI circuit receives
optical signals from an optical fiber and transmits optical signals onto
the optical fiber. The PI circuit is adapted to convert received optical
signals containing voice information to electrical voice ATM cells,
received optical signals containing data information to electrical data
ATM cells, and received optical signals containing video signals to
electrical video signals. The PI circuit is also adapted to convert
electrical voice ATM cells and electrical data ATM cells to optical
signals for transmission over the optical fiber.