Broadband to the People: FCC Adopts BPL

Business Wire ^ | 10/14/2004 | Business Wire

[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

[orangelobster]

"How on earth can internet connectivity be free?"

I'm not a tech guy, but I read about a number of cities already providing free access via wi-fi. I imagine that if the technology becomes cheap enough that it would be a government service or if private, cheap enough to be supported by advert. dollars.

[CDHart]

Thanks! It can't come too soon for me. We're in a town with two ISPs, neither of which are very good and only provide dialup connections. But Medicare and Medicaid want us to bill online. We can't firewall our systems because we can't get high speed access. It's very frustrating.

Carolyn

[Myrddin]

I'm an Extra Class ham with (originally) a First Class Radiotelephone license with a RADAR endorsement. I cared for the HF radios on 180 tuna boats, their base stations and assorted freighters in San Diego. These people are critically dependent on high seas HF radio to keep in contact with their offices and homes. The hash from BPL will wipe out their ability to be heard by the base stations. It is a safety issue for many ships at sea. There are also reports of interference all the way up to the aircraft AM band. That is a huge safety issue. The FCC is pandering to the money interests at the power company at the expense of all users of radio spectrum.

[orangelobster]

Sounds like a valid concern.

[Musket]

I've heard about these experiments too, usually happening in smaller towns. It will be interesting to see how they all end up.

I find it a very large stretch that someting that costs on average $40 a month per household to suddenly be free. Advertising could cover it, but would you want that much spyware on your machine? Not me.

[Chemist_Geek]

I'm not going to bother to upgrade from Tech.

[SERKIT]

http://www.arrl.org/news/bandthreat/

[orangelobster]

Here's an article about a committee set up to look into free wi-fi access for all of philadelphia. Some cities already have this. I can see large to moderate size cities doing this. For rural areas though this new technology may be the answer.

http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=3C4BEC8B-6B92-4FDD-A0EB85C290CAA326&title=Philadelphia%20Goes%20Wireless&catOID=45C9C787-88AD-11D4-A57200A0CC5EE46C&categoryname=Science%20%26%20Tech

[hosepipe]

[ "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. ]

BULL.....
Ok that speaks for the duties of a coulpa FCC employees what happened to the other 280 million dollar budget..

(( NOT )) Allowing outright in you're face sedition by the mainstream media is one of the things the FCC was created for.. they have failed horribly.. Heads should roll.. Dan Rathers little faux pas is not so little since most media do the same thing.. and for decades.. Spikeing the truth for well spun opinion consistently with unilateral links to the democratic party should at least raise a few eyebrows.. or maybe a visit from the FCC.. nothing from them.. could it be that the FCC is salted with 90 to 95 percent democrats like the media and acedemia are salted ?...

Actually what it does do is paint the FCC as yet another arm of the DNC... The FCC has no business fooling around with the internet.. the public airwaves yes.. The market can deal with the internet just fine...

[Musket]

Thanks. We're getting a little off topic here but that answers some of my questions.

One limit of the Wireless Philadelphia proposal, says Ms. Neff, is that it aims to provide Internet access to outdoor areas, not inside everyone's house or place of business.

Officials are in talks with Internet service providers, who worry that the city may be cutting into their business.

The Wireless Philadelphia program is projected to cost about $10 million. City officials hope at least some of that money will come from private sector investors or business partners.

Ha. A network built by the Government paid for by some hope and the rest taxpayer money. Based on that article, I bet it fails. Or doesn't live up to it's expectations. Well - Keep Hope Alive.

Getting back to topic, I wonder what a BPL Network Infrastructure looks like.

Anybody have an idea/link?

[LasVegasMac]

I can't wait to see what happens when operators start pointing their antennas at the power lines and letting loose with a kw.

LVM

[Denver Ditdat]

Even if what others are saying about interference to AM radio and whatnot, isn't the internet and webcasting already making these technologies obsolete?

Only if we intend to accept the net as the be-all and end-all of communications. If you use an AM radio in your car, while camping, or working in your yard, forget it - it will be a cacophony of buzzes and squawks. Likewise, boaters who use the HF bands for over the horizon comms may not hear much in the way of BPL interference at sea, but what of the shore stations they are trying to communicate with? Reception of distress calls could get dicey.

I'll admit to having a horse in this race. As a long time ham radio op, I'd hate to see the HF bands become useless. Yes, hams are still out there and still performing yeoman service in public emergencies. Thousands supported the rescue and cleanup efforts in the recent Florida hurricanes. That kind of public service will become difficult or impossible if the bands are covered with BPL noise.

Add the fact that BPL is a Part 15 service - the utilities aren't the primary service on those frequencies. BPL has to accept any interference from the primary service on the band, be it broadcasters, hams, public services, etc. If your downloads keep getting interrupted by RF from another service, too bad. That's something BPL users will have to grit their teeth and live with.

Transmission lines for electric power simply aren't designed to carry RF. They are going to radiate the frequencies BPL is using, and receive those same frequencies from various licensed sources.

Just my perspective, but it's tough to see an upside to this technology.

[batmast]

I wonder what a BPL Network Infrastructure looks like.
See this website: http://www.ambientcorp.com/technology.html

[Denver Ditdat]

Yep, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL)is an excellent source of info concerning the downside of BPL. Little of it seems to be reported in the MSM, though, just the blue sky projections.

[Denver Ditdat]

RTTY contest weekends should be particularly interesting. ;-)

[mdmathis6]

Can you imagine the presidential debates in the mid century: "And this president has turned his back on the have not internet users who only get 1.5meg/sec download while his rich friends get the ultra 3 gig a second services, I HAVE A PLAN that will right this inequality...."(sarcasm)

[Ready4Freddy]

And just how was the internet service via your POTS? When you didn't have electricity, I mean........

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.

[js1138]

There are such things as laptops and batteries.

[Fatalis]

Bring an AM radio near your home computer or monitor. Notice the wretched digital noise emitted. Soon, all the electric power lines will be giant antennas spreading this crap across the electromagnetic spectrum.

I've noticed it with some stations but not all on the radio on the shelf over my computer. Occasionally if I want to listen to a ballgame I use a second radio across the room. I'd assumed there was a problem with the tuner on the first radio. You're saying its because of my computer?

[Musket]

Good link. Thanks.