Economic evaluation of loop feeder relief alternatives

The loop feeder network is the arterial part of the transmission network between telephone subscribers and their local central office. As subscriber demand grows or otherwise changes, the feeder network must be expanded or reconfigured to keep up with the demand. This expansion process, known as feeder relief, requires careful planning and evaluation to ensure that feeder facilities are provided where and when they are needed at the lowest possible cost. This paper identifies a number of feeder relief alternatives and presents a method for computing the present worth of expenditures (PWE) associated with a given alternative. This method enables one to compare relief alternatives and approach an optimal relief plan. The method uses mathematical models of loop cost, published previously, and standard economic computations.