Composite service and distribution communications media

A cable (20) which may be used in an aerial or buried installation to serve customers' premises and which is a composite optical fiber-copper conductor type serves present customer needs but has the capability to fulfill the service requirements predicted in the communications market of tomorrow. The cable includes one or more reinforced optical fiber units (22-22) and one or more metallic conductor pairs enclosed in a sheath system. Each optical fiber unit is reinforced to include a plurality of strength members (40-40) arrayed about a buffered optical fiber (36) to enclose the optical fiber and to provide columnar strength to resist compressive forces. A filling compound (52) is disposed within the unit between a jacket (50) which encloses the strength members and the buffered optical fiber.