Randolph Stark had a wiring dilemma. A year ago, he was looking for an inexpensive way to connect two buildings in New York City with a fiber-optic link. A dim memory clicked in?something about underground conduit tubes.A bit of legwork and research at the New York Public Library, the post office and the Smithsonian confirmed that in the late 1890s, New York City was one of five U.S. cities that built pneumatic tube systems to help carry parcels of mail around town. Sifting through documents in the National Archives turned up the blueprints for New York City’s 27-mile system. Six months later, the 26-year-old Stark had patented the idea of installing fiber-optic cable in these 8-inch-diameter, cast-iron subterranean pipes. He estimates that what cost $4 million to build 100 years ago would now run close to $40 million, which makes his idea to use the already existing infrastructure fiscally attractive.Until 1953, the pipes were leased by the post office from the private New York Mail and Newspaper Transportation Co. “The city still has a few questions about who owns them and is clarifying their legal status,”Stark says. Progress has been understandably delayed by the terrorist attacks last September.Nevertheless, Stark’s company, Neutron Media, has been consulting with potential telecom partners on projects to lay the fiber-optic cabling in New York City. Stark also plans to take his idea to Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and St. Louis (the other “tubed” cities in the United States) and then overseas. “Pneumatic tube systems are everywhere?in Paris, around Europe and in South America,” Stark says. Related content brandpost Sponsored by Rocket Software Why data virtualization is critical for business success Data is your most valuable resource—but only if you can access it fast enough to address present challenges. Data virtualization is the key. By Milan Shetti, CEO of Rocket Software Nov 28, 2023 4 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by Rocket Software The hybrid approach: Get the best of both mainframe and cloud Cloud computing and modernization often go hand in hand, but that doesn’t mean the mainframe should be left behind. A hybrid approach offers the most value, enabling businesses to get the best of both worlds. By Milan Shetti, CEO Rocket Software Nov 28, 2023 4 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by Rimini Street Dear Oracle Cloud…I need my own space Access results from a recent Rimini Street survey about why enterprises are rethinking their Oracle relationship and cloud strategy. By Tanya O'Hara Nov 28, 2023 5 mins Cloud Computing brandpost Sponsored by Rimini Street How to evolve IT systems into innovation engines Today’s IT leaders are more than eager to modernize with best-fit cloud solutions that drive innovation and rapid business impact, but they need to do so with ROI-based solutions. By Tanya O'Hara Nov 28, 2023 4 mins IT Leadership Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe