Loop back connector to utilize reverse drops in an indexing system; and methods

A telecommunications cable distribution architecture comprising:

• a plurality of indexing components each including:
• a first multi-fiber connection interface defining a plurality of sequential fiber positions;
• a second multi-fiber connection interface defining a plurality of sequential fiber positions;
• a plurality of indexing optical fibers connected between the first and second multi-fiber connection interfaces in an indexed configuration;
• a forward drop fiber routed from the first multi-fiber connection interface to a forward drop location;
• and
• a reverse drop fiber routed from the second multi-fiber connection interface to a reverse drop location;
• the indexing components being daisy chained together end-to-end in an upstream to downstream direction with the first multi-fiber connection interface of each indexing component being positioned upstream from its corresponding second multi-fiber connection interface, the first and second multi-fiber connection interfaces of adjacent indexing components in the daisy chain being optically coupled together;
• and
• the second multi-fiber connection interface of the downstream-most indexing component being mated with a loop-back connector that optically connects an active plurality of fiber positions of the second multi-fiber connection interface with an inactive plurality of fiber positions of the second multi-fiber connection interface such that signals can be routed from live indexing optical fibers corresponding to the active fiber positions to dead indexing optical fibers corresponding to the inactive fiber positions, and wherein the dead indexing optical fibers are optically connected to the reverse drop fibers.