Solid state light system with broadband optical communication capability

An LED-based light operable in cooperation with a building environment regulator that provides high speed data communication and regulates at least one environmental condition in one or more rooms of a building, the LED-based light tube comprising:

• a tube including a light transmitting portion and a pair of electrical connectors attached to opposing ends of the tube, the electrical connectors compatible with a standard fluorescent light fixture;
• one or more first LEDs operable to produce light that passes through the light transmitting portion of the tube;
• one or more second LEDs operable as a light sensor to generate a first signal whether an area of one or more of the rooms is in an occupied state or a non-occupied state;
• one or more third LEDs providing an optical communication system with WiFi or DSL speed;
• and
• a controller operable to control the first LEDs in response to the first signal and communicating with other devices through the one or more third LEDs the first signal indicative of whether the area is in the occupied state or the non-occupied state to the building environment regulator.