The Change Mariner

Broadband Over Powerlines?

DigitalJournal.com:

The Federal Communications Commission is looking into complaints from amateur radio operators about the use of electrical power lines for providing broadband internet service, a concept known as BPL, for Broadband over Power Lines.

Many power companies and some members of the commission see this as a promising technology that could be especially useful in getting such service to remote rural areas at a reasonable price. But the cost could be high in terms of radio interference.

The promise of Broadband over Power Lines is an effective and relatively inexpensive way of providing high-speed internet service to homes and businesses through the power lines that already exist. Power lines can be viewed as large pipes bringing energy into an area where other lines branch off to buildings and houses. Not all the frequency range in the line - or space in the pipe - is used, thereby leaving open the possibility of sending signals back and forth over the line.

Matt Oja is Director of Emerging Technology for North Carolina-based Progress Energy, which has been trying BPL service in a limited area for about a year. He says his company is closely monitoring the system to see how well it works and what problems need to be addressed.

Posted by Bob King at May 10, 2004 02:03 AM | TrackBack
Related Categories: Area - Tech - Internet | Industry - Energy | Industry - Internet | Industry - Telecommunications | Quadrant - Technological | Theme - 'Digital Impact'

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