An all-dielectric, self-supporting (ADSS), loose-tube fiber optic cable includes a plurality of buffer tubes respectively containing stacks of optical fiber ribbons. The buffer tubes are longitudinally stranded around a longitudinally extending central strength member to define a lay length. A longitudinally extending outer strength assembly extends around the plurality of buffer tubes, and a longitudinally extending sheath extends around the outer strength assembly. A first end of a section of the cable can be attached to a first pole extending upward from the ground and a second end of the section of the cable can be attached to a second pole extending upward from the ground so that the section is suspended between the poles and the section is tensioned due to the weight of the cable. The arrangement of the buffer encasements and the optical fiber ribbons is such that the optical fibers are strained by tensioning of the fiber optic cable that exceeds a predetermined value, and any attenuation of optical signals propagating through the optical fibers is negligible for optical fiber strain up to approximately 0.3 percent. For example, the arrangement of the buffer encasements is preferably characterized by a lay length of at least approximately 400 millimeters. A longitudinally extending inner sheath can extend around the plurality of buffer encasements so that the outer strength assembly is positioned between the inner sheath and the outer sheath.