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
Was that hour or so of internet access good for you, too? ;>)
I think you'll gonna have to decide whether you want electricity coming through the wires into your house or broadband. Can't have both! The cat will take broadband (as it goes without saying.)
Say goodbye to profanity and hate speech on the net.
It's ok if you can send and receive email.
Besides, many people have generators. That will give you electric power, but won't help if you get your internet through the power line. The phones are much more reliable.
Yup. There's going to be massive interference, particularly for those who listen to broadcasts with omni-directional antennas, because they won't be able to attenuate the noise source. Too bad, really.
Well, that, and the fact that ADSL was the only broadband game in my neighborhood until Comcast finally started offering cable inet here. The phones are much more reliable.
How about Time Warner? Just askin' cuz Mr. Mew ain't home and I need an interpreter :)
I gave up cable for DSS several years ago. Cable was out, or had bad quality several days a month. I've lost maybe an hour total in three years due to weather interference with satellite.
BTTT
It means that you can get broadband service for $30 +/- monthly.
Here's my take on this. BPL is experience the typical product cycle - initial euphoria, overly optimistic projections, eventual reality sets in, lowered expectations as cost and technical challanges are encountered and eventual real product need is found at a lower use rate. Does anyone think the current broadband suppliers are going to just give up and walk away? Not. I still think cable has the best chance at converging all your communications needs - TV, Digital Radio, Voip Phone, Broadband, etc ... The only one missing is cell phone but your still down to just 2 suppliers.
BPL is a potential interference issue but I don't think FCC emission requirements have been relaxed. Utility companies will find that meeting these emission requirements for above ground distribution will be a real challange if not impossible. You can be assured the local HF users will find the offending utility and force them to fix it or shut it down. For new development power is routed underground and can be shielded. Proper filtering can be installed as it exits underground within a building structure. For older/existing neighborhoods, forget it. The cost will be too high. Nothing is free, even public utility provided BPL. There is a whole infrastructure behind those "free" wires.
both tests of BPL were shut down early because of massive interference to amateur radio....
this decision is a big F.U. to shortwave radio listerners, and ham radio operators across the country...
remember, they were the first ones on the air after Hurricane Charley!
Now when I put my AM radio next to my computer I have to be pretty close to it for the audio to be garbage. Now I don't normally sit on the power lines listening to radio, and my car is a fair amount of distance from most power lines. Seems you have to be inches away to adversly affect the radio. What I'm trying to say is - is this really going to be the problem that many people say it will be or is it just a red herring?
You betcha....turn the radios on while on your computers and see the distances where the interfences starts.
>>>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?
I was listening to a guy (Timtron) on shortwave talking about how he tracked down the worst noise in the station to a ps,
took it apart, and saw that the manufacturer wired the connections on the pcb that were silk screened for caps.
He installed some appropriate capacitors to take care of the problem. Actually, I've put my Palm T|E next to an AM radio and got noise.
Thank you. People just don't realize.
You're right! The rotten, corrupt bastards in the FCC have done it again. I hope they realize that Hams provide a vital link in emergency communications. Anything for a buck.
Yes you will be able to plug into an AC outlet and have broadband. It will also mean massive RF interference over a broad spectrum.
I grew up on shortwave and still love it. It's a sad day but I predict it will turn around. The Dutch tried it and found that it caused so much interference that they shut it off.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.