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The National Advertising Review Board says Time Warner Cable can no longer run ads touting its supposedly "advanced fiber optic network." The ruling is a victory for Verizon, which makes a big deal over its FiOS fiber optic network.

Compliance with the ad-industry watchdog's recommendations is voluntary. However, most major advertisers belong to the National Advertising Review Council, and toe the line when its Review Board issues a ruling.

At the heart of the matter is the distinction between Verizon's all-fiber network and Time Warner's fiber-coax blend. Verizon brings fiber all the way to the customer's doorstep. Time Warner, on the other hand, uses fiber as the backbone of its network and brings it out to local lodes. After that, copper coaxial cable takes over the "last mile" to homes.

The Review Board considered not only the technical point above, but also its effect on consumer perceptions. Neither Time Warner or Verizon presented any information on consumer perceptions, so the Review Board had to wing it, and decided in Verizon's favor.

Ars Technica quotes the recommendation: "The record in this case indicates that 'last mile' architecture is relevant to a network's performance capabilities. Prior NAD cases recognized differences between 'Fiber to the home' networks and 'Fiber to the node' networks, and the evidence in the present case shows those differences continue to exist." Time Warner has already appealed and lost, so the decision stands.