Fiber optic cables with access features and methods of making fiber optic cables

A cable, comprising:

• a core comprising at least one optical fiber;
• and
• a jacket surrounding the core, the jacket comprising:
• a main portion of a first material;
• and
• at least one discontinuity of a second material bonded to the main portion, the first material being different from the second material, wherein the discontinuity facilitates controlled tearing of the jacket to provide access to the core, wherein the at least one discontinuity is of a different color than the main portion, and wherein the at least one discontinuity forms a narrow strip in the jacket,
• wherein the first material is comprised of at least eighty percent by weight of a first polymer, and wherein the second material is comprised of at least seventy percent by weight of a second polymer and at least 0.5 percent by weight of the first polymer, thereby facilitating bonding of the first and second materials.

A method of making a cable, comprising:

• advancing a core including at least one optical fiber in a first direction;
• and
• extruding a jacket around the core, the extruding comprising:
• introducing a first polymeric extrudate material into the extrusion apparatus;
• forming at least one trough in a flow of the first extrudate material;
• introducing a second extrudate material into the trough to form at least one discontinuity in the first extrudate material, wherein the at least one discontinuity is of a different color than the first extrudate material, and wherein the at least one discontinuity forms a narrow strip in the jacket;
• and
• allowing the first and second extrudate material to draw down and cool around the core, wherein the first and second material form a jacket around the core, wherein the second extrudate material bonds to the first extrudate material.