The installation of U-Verse in the University of Houston College of Technology AT&T Laboratory was completed in November 2008 by a team of at&t technicians supervised by AT&T Project Manager and UH COT alumn Russ Gundrum with UH AT&T Lab Manager Sergio Chacon. This project was the first of its kind in an educational institution and the Lab became to use U-Verse in a telecom lab environment.

U-Verse is an AT&T solution that combines high-definition television service, high-speed Internet, and VoIP that is transmitted using single-more fiber to the node and regular telephone copper twisted-pair cabling to the final destination. An optical switch called VRAD (Video Ready Access Device) converts the optical carrier signal coming from the Central Office to signals that can be transmitted over a DS0 line using up to four streams for television, DSL for high speed Internet, and a voice over IP channel.

Despite having some initial problems due to existing old copper wiring in the University (CAT3), we were able to bring a good quality signal up to the technology 2 building (see drawing). We encountered signal loss from the Technology 2 building to the Technology Annex or Technology 1 building which we could not figure out. Project Manager Russ Gundrum came up with a Hum Zapper, a box containing a series of noise reduction coils, that when connected to the line reduced the noise considerably making it possible to complete the installation. Shielded twisted pair was ordered and deployed between the T1 and T2 building completing the U-Verse installation with a much improved signal quality. CAT5 was the unsed to extend the service to the UH AT&T Lab traiing center. The total distance between the D-Marc point to the final destination is about 1800 feet well within the maximum distance allowed by U-Verse.

We have been using U-Verse high speed Internet connection in the training center where we have 17 workstations and connected additional devices to it without problem. We have been able to run multiple routers and workstations plus television at the same time without a glitch.

The Calhoun Lofts, a first class 1,000-room dorm facility, has U-Verse available in every room. Six VRADs supply this complex with television and high-speed Internet and VoIP. This installation was also the first of its kind in an educational institution in the world. There are plans to bring this service to other areas in campus.