Note that photons only travel along FO cable because of the charge polarization of the silica. This is a direct analog to 60Hz "electric power" traveling alon

Note that photons only travel along FO cable because of the charge polarization of the silica. This is a direct analog to 60Hz "electric power" traveling along a column of mobile charges in a long conductor. In both cases, the electrons wiggle back and forth, while the photons couple to them, and are guided along. But charge is not energy, in exactly the same way that amperes are not watts, and current is not EM energy-flow. Coulombs wiggle within the waveguide, while the Joules proceed continuously forward as propagating waves. The EM energy is in the form of propagating waves, while electric charge provides the medium: the waveguide.