Network interface device communication via power line

An optical network terminal (ONT) comprising:

• circuitry operable to receive operating power from an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) unit via a power line that extends between the ONT and the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) unit;
• a first interface operable to transmit first data to the UPS unit via the power line;
• and
• a second interface operable to transmit second data via a line different from the power line.

A network comprising:

• an optical network terminal (ONT);
• an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) unit;
• and
• a power line that delivers power from the UPS unit to the ONT,
• wherein the ONT is operable to transmit first data to the UPS unit via the power line, and transmit second data via a line different from the power line.

A passive optical network (PON) comprising:

• an optical line terminal (OLT) unit;
• an optical network terminal (ONT) unit coupled to the OLT unit via an optical link;
• and
• an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) unit coupled to the ONT via a power line that extends between the ONT and UPS unit and delivers power to the ONT,
• wherein the OLT unit is operable to transmit data to the ONT unit via the optical link and receive data from the ONT unit via the optical link, and
• wherein the ONT unit is operable to transmit data to the UPS unit via the power line.