What method uses light to transport information through thin filaments of glass or plastic?

The method that uses light to transport information through thin filaments of glass or plastic is fiber optics. This technology relies on the principle of total internal reflection, which allows light signals to travel long distances with minimal loss. Fiber optics are widely utilized in telecommunications for internet, television, and telephone services because they can transmit large amounts of data at very high speeds.

In contrast, Internet Protocol (IP) and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) are networking protocols used to facilitate communication over networks but do not dictate the physical medium used to transport information. Wireless technology, while effective for transferring data, uses radio waves instead of light and does not utilize the properties of glass or plastic filaments for information transmission. Thus, fiber optics stand out as the method specifically involving the use of light in its operation.