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Posted on 10/14/2004 9:52:31 AM PDT by batmast
FCC Adopts Milestone Decision for Broadband over Powerlines; BPL Will Transform US Electric Grid into Broadband Third Wire, Promote Competition and Enhance Electric Service for Consumers
WASHINGTON & GERMANTOWN, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 14, 2004--In a groundbreaking decision, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today unanimously affirmed the widespread deployment of Broadband over Powerline (BPL) services and technology. BPL will provide consumers nationwide with high-speed Internet access through their existing electrical outlets. BPL also assists utilities with critical intelligence to enhance the security, reliability and efficiency of the U.S. electric power grid.
"This is one of the defining moments for the widespread adoption of broadband by Americans, and a great testament to the FCC's leadership and to the cooperation and support of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Today's FCC decision is as significant as the Commission's decision a decade ago to foster competition in the mobile telephone and video programming businesses, through PCS and direct broadcast satellite licensing," said William Berkman, Chairman of CURRENT Communications Group, a BPL service operator in the residential and small business markets. "The fact is that BPL does 'double duty,' enabling two critical infrastructure improvements - it gives our nation a viable new broadband alternative and it enables significant modernization of the nation's electric distribution system."
Today's FCC decision confirms the application of existing technical rules to BPL deployments and implements additional rules to facilitate continued BPL roll-outs, marking the conclusion of a nearly two-year rulemaking process. Incorporating these rules, BPL will provide for significantly more efficient and reliable electric distribution networks nationwide in a variety of ways, including:
-- Automated outage and restoration detection;
-- Automated meter reading;
-- Load management through remote monitoring and operation of switches, transformers and other electric utility network equipment;
-- Remote capability to connect and disconnect electrical service;
-- More efficient demand-side management programs.
CURRENT BPL provides homes and small businesses with high-quality broadband and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services through a joint venture in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana with Cinergy Corp. (NYSE: CIN), the utility holding and diversified energy company. The service will pass approximately 50,000 homes by year-end. Through a second joint venture with Cinergy, known as ACcess Broadband, CURRENT will deploy BPL to smaller municipal and cooperatively owned power companies covering 24 million customers across the United States.
"We, and Cinergy customers, have been thrilled with the results of our BPL service," said William J. Grealis, Executive Vice President of Cinergy. "The CURRENT Broadband(TM) service bridges the 'last mile' from the electric distribution network into customers' homes without the need to install additional wires and leverages the widely accepted and easy-to-use HomePlug(R) modem standard for in-home networking. It's enabled us to provide customers with affordable, user-friendly Internet service. At the same time, BPL will enable us to improve the performance of our core electric network without significant incremental capital investment."
"The future is bright for BPL," said Mr. Berkman of CURRENT. "BPL is a high-quality alternative that transforms every in-home power outlet into a broadband outlet and will help bridge the gap in services to America's underserved communities. Furthermore, it enables electric utilities to enhance their systems' reliability and broaden their service offerings efficiently through a single general communications network built on their existing infrastructure."
About CURRENT Communications Group, LLC
CURRENT Communications Group, LLC is a privately held company based in Germantown, Maryland. CURRENT is a residential and small business broadband service operator and designs, builds and provides technology and innovative power line equipment and solutions for delivering broadband services domestically and internationally. CURRENT was founded by Liberty Associated Partners, LP, an investment partnership managed by principals with extensive investment and operating experience in telecommunications, media, Internet and related technologies. Through Associated Group, LLC, these principals, along with Liberty Media Corporation (NYSE: L), are the primary investors in Liberty Associated Partners. CURRENT is also backed by EnerTech Capital and Cinergy Corp. (NYSE: CIN). EnerTech Capital is a venture capital firm focused on investing in software and technologies that service the energy and communications markets. Many of the investors in EnerTech Capital's funds are major U.S. and international utilities. Additional information about CURRENT is available at www.current.net and www.currentgroup.com.
About Cinergy Corporation
Cinergy Corp. has a balanced, integrated portfolio consisting of two core businesses: regulated operations and commercial businesses. Cinergy's regulated public utilities in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky serve 1.5 million electric customers and about 500,000 gas customers. In addition, its Indiana regulated company owns 7,000 megawatts of generation. Cinergy's competitive commercial businesses have 6,300 megawatts of generating capacity with a profitable balance of stable existing customer portfolios, new customer origination, marketing and trading, and industrial-site cogeneration. Cinergy's integrated businesses make it a Midwest leader in providing both low-cost generation and reliable electric and gas service.
Contacts
CURRENT Communications Jay Birnbaum, 301-515-7617 or Qorvis Communications Maura Corbett / Brian Lustig 202-448-3132 / 703-744-7826 or Kekst and Company Eric Berman, 212-521-4894
Ham Radio Ping ListPlease Freepmail me if you want to be added to or deleted from the list.
You may now remove your tinfoil hat.
"There's only one company presently that you can invest in. It's Ambient (ABTG)."
What about Cinergy (CIN) itself, the electric utility holding company mentioned in the article. They pay over a 4% dividend and look like any of a number of other utilities in terms of P/E, debt, etc. Does this new technology being introduced through their system first give them any chance at improved income and profits?
And I've been studying for my license....
Carolyn
Michael Powell at the FCC has been a big advocate for this. He is doing progressive work in the interest of the public.
Contrast this with the democrat Michael Copps at the FCC who is trying to censor "Stolen Honor" from the sinclair stations and who is advocating excessive fines for "obscenity" on network television.
The republicans at the FCC are progressive, the democrats at the FCC are backwards and vindictive. Clear Choice.
"Could someone who understands this stuff tell me what this means"
My understanding is that this is technology that would facilitate internet connectivity through your electrical socket, instead of phone lines, DSL line, or cable. This would create more competition and would allow wider access. My guess is that in the future internet connectivity will be free, but your guess is as good as mine.
I understand its being tested in the Ohio market. If its successful, you're going to see broadband access so cheap it can be metered. LOL!
Exactly. This will be the end of shortwave, amateur radio, and AM radio (except local stations).
Years ago the FCC became political. The commission's engineers have little influence these days. Almost all of the engineering studies have shown that radio interference will be greatly increased with BPL. It was tried in Europe and was a disaster. Follow the money trail. The big power companies want a piece of the Broadband action and had enough political power in Washington to get the FCC approval.
Keep studying, but plan to concentrate your activities on VHF and above. It will be a sad day if the HF bands become a mess of digital hash, but I'll still be active. Time to concentrate on satellites, ATV, and meteor scatter, I guess.
"This will be the end of shortwave, amateur radio, and AM radio (except local stations)."
If you have cheap broadband I don't know as you need these other things. Any kid with a computer and broadband can already set up his own radio station from his bedroom and webcast worldwide for little or no money.
This isn't neccessarily in the interest of the public. Mostly it's in the interest of the transmission line owners.
"This isn't neccessarily in the interest of the public. Mostly it's in the interest of the transmission line owners."
I'm no expert on this stuff, but I take it from your name that you are. Wouldn't this provide cheap or eventually free broadband to everyone? Even if what others are saying about interference to AM radio and whatnot, isn't the internet and webcasting already making these technologies obsolete? As the professional engineer please elaborate.
So when my power goes out during a hurricane, so does the internet. The only thing that made it through Frances and Jeanne was my phone service.
"What about Cinergy (CIN) itself?" (for investing)...
Cinergy is a big utility whose bottom line will not be significantly affected. The only "pure play" is Ambient (ABTG) http://www.ambientcorp.com/
How on earth can internet connectivity be free? Someone has to pay for the people who install and maintain servers, routers, switches, accounts, etc, etc, etc...
bump
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