Along with the growing importance of high-bandwidth broadband Internet access (see preface/page V), the problems and issues of a lack of access have become clear. While high-bandwidth access is common in population-dense areas, rural areas sometimes lack acceptable access levels. The lack of investments in high-capacity data networks (e.g., fiber) is the result of low population density, which does not provide for significant returns. Furthermore, existing copper networks cannot be upgraded to (V)DSL technologies, as a result of physical limitations due to attenuation with the increasing length of the local loop. In population-sparse areas, the distance between the cabinet and the customer renders this approach useless.