It is mind bugling to discover how many houses are being build today without proper infrastructure to accommodate technology currently available and with no room for expansion for technologies not far away from hitting the market.

Today's home wiring includes more than the standard suite of electrical connections. Dedicated wiring for data, telephone, audio, and video are fast becoming standard options.

Structured wiring distributes a variety of data signals to electronics in the home, such as cable television, telephones and Ethernet computer networks. A structured wiring system is designed with "home run" cables from each room in the house back to a central distribution box. Structured wiring typically uses RG6 cabling for video signals rather than the prior standard of RJ59, which cannot transfer digital images. For voice and data transfer, the system uses Category 5 wire, which is, four pairs of twisted, unshielded, solid copper. Category 5 wiring allows much faster data transfer rates — equal to bandwidth — than telephone systems. In 2002, the Federal Communication Commission began requiring new wiring installations and modifications to use a minimum of Category 3 wire for voice and data transfer. Category 3 wires is similar to Category 5, except it has two pairs of wire instead of four, resulting in less bandwidth; today that platform has become obsolete.

With greater bandwidth, Category 5 wires is more expensive and often avoided by home builders since their job is simply to past inspection and not spend a cent more. The bottom line is that when it comes to Home Infrastructure Wiring you have two choices; spend a little extra now or pay a lot later.

The total installation cost of a structured wiring system depends on the size of the home, the number of desired technologies, and the number and types of devices connecting the whole-house system to each technology. Besides the improved networking capabilities, Category 5 wiring can also become the basis for extensive home automation systems, including security systems, energy use controls and more.