NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Internet Over Power Lines (yet again ... )
------- Forwarded Message
From: David Farber <dave@farber.net>
To: "ip" <ip@v2.listbox.com>
Subject: [IP] IBM bringing broadband over power line to rural America
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:17:36 -0500
Begin forwarded message:
From: "lynn" <lynn@ecgincc.com>
Date: November 12, 2008 11:17:47 AM EST
To: dave@farber.net
Subject: IBM bringing broadband over power line to rural America
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-10094866-76.html
IBM bringing broadband over power line to rural America
BM has been hired to help rural Americans get broadband access using
power
lines.
On Wednesday, Big Blue announced it has signed a $9.6 million contract
with International Broadband Electric Communications to bring the
technology to rural America where it hopes to deliver high-speed
broadband
connectivity to millions of people who otherwise wouldn't be able to get
it. IBM and IBEC, which will build and manage the networks, are working
with over a dozen electricity cooperatives in seven states, The Wall
Street Journal reported.
For years, people have hoped broadband-over-power line technology, or
BPL,
would allow power companies to become the third alternative in the
broadband market, competing against cable operators and telephone
companies. But technical limitations and interference issues with local
emergency radios and short-wave ham radios have stood in the way of mass
adoption.
snip
[ As the full story notes, BPL's technical limitations
are still very much a problem. Not a surprise.
-- Lauren Weinstein
NNSquad Moderator ]
- -------------------------------------------
Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now
RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/
Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
------- End of Forwarded Message