Communities living with a fiber optic infrastructure have established a nonprofit organization to educate homeowners and businesses about the benefits of optical access networks. The goal of the Washington-based Fiber Optic Communities of the United States is to inform consumers about fiber-to-the-premises living, which offers the potential for distance learning, telecommuting and telemedicine. The fiber infrastructure can be used for Internet access, telephone service, videoconferencing, and home security and automation.