Web coming to electrical outlets

[conjur]

http://money.cnn.com/2004/10/15/technology/web_outlet/

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Electric companies may soon join the fray of providing Internet services after regulators cleared the way for utility companies to offer broadband services through electrical outlets, according to a report published Friday.

"Today is a banner day , and I think years from now we will look back and see it as an historical day for us," said Michael Powell, chairman of the FCC, the New York Times reported. "This is groundbreaking stuff."

The broadband over power lines, or BPL, uses a modem that plugs into electrical outlets, and so far the Web access runs at 1 to 3 megabits per second, comparable to other current broadband offerings, according to the newspaper.

The costs to rolling out the new service would be relatively small, since the electrical grid is widespread, and the potential returns are high, since the electric companies could then also offer a range of services, from voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) phone service to movie downloads.

But the ruling by the Federal Communications Commission is expected to boost interest and investment in the Internet by electric companies, the newspaper reported.

Electrical lines reach more homes than phone or television cables, but the actual service through outlets is years away as electric companies have been thwarted in previous attempts to offer the service, according to the Times.

One trial of the new service has begun in Cincinnati under a joint venture between Current Communications and Cinergy (Research), the local utility. The service offers the access at $29.95 to $49.95 a month, depending on the speed, the Times reported.

Now, if we can just get wireless electricity

 

[lozina]

This mean someone is gonna hack into my fridge and steal my beers?

 

[dmcowen674]

I used one of these BPL Modems a few weeks ago when I was travelling. Worked very well. Very impressive.

Now it will of course all boil down to cost.

 

[GoPackGo]

They are testing it here in my town...if it works well..they might do TV as well.

 

[Ferocious]

Originally posted by: conjur
http://money.cnn.com/2004/10/15/technology/web_outlet/

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Electric companies may soon join the fray of providing Internet services after regulators cleared the way for utility companies to offer broadband services through electrical outlets, according to a report published Friday.

"Today is a banner day , and I think years from now we will look back and see it as an historical day for us," said Michael Powell, chairman of the FCC, the New York Times reported. "This is groundbreaking stuff."

The broadband over power lines, or BPL, uses a modem that plugs into electrical outlets, and so far the Web access runs at 1 to 3 megabits per second, comparable to other current broadband offerings, according to the newspaper.

The costs to rolling out the new service would be relatively small, since the electrical grid is widespread, and the potential returns are high, since the electric companies could then also offer a range of services, from voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) phone service to movie downloads.

But the ruling by the Federal Communications Commission is expected to boost interest and investment in the Internet by electric companies, the newspaper reported.

Electrical lines reach more homes than phone or television cables, but the actual service through outlets is years away as electric companies have been thwarted in previous attempts to offer the service, according to the Times.

One trial of the new service has begun in Cincinnati under a joint venture between Current Communications and Cinergy (Research), the local utility. The service offers the access at $29.95 to $49.95 a month, depending on the speed, the Times reported.

Now, if we can just get wireless electricity

Yeah the person that could invent that would make Bill Gates look poor.

Controlled and safe lightning!

 

[Infohawk]

See, Bush was right. With more outlets we can have more internetS.

 

[lozina]

Originally posted by: Ferocious

Originally posted by: conjur
http://money.cnn.com/2004/10/15/technology/web_outlet/

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Electric companies may soon join the fray of providing Internet services after regulators cleared the way for utility companies to offer broadband services through electrical outlets, according to a report published Friday.

"Today is a banner day , and I think years from now we will look back and see it as an historical day for us," said Michael Powell, chairman of the FCC, the New York Times reported. "This is groundbreaking stuff."

The broadband over power lines, or BPL, uses a modem that plugs into electrical outlets, and so far the Web access runs at 1 to 3 megabits per second, comparable to other current broadband offerings, according to the newspaper.

The costs to rolling out the new service would be relatively small, since the electrical grid is widespread, and the potential returns are high, since the electric companies could then also offer a range of services, from voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) phone service to movie downloads.

But the ruling by the Federal Communications Commission is expected to boost interest and investment in the Internet by electric companies, the newspaper reported.

Electrical lines reach more homes than phone or television cables, but the actual service through outlets is years away as electric companies have been thwarted in previous attempts to offer the service, according to the Times.

One trial of the new service has begun in Cincinnati under a joint venture between Current Communications and Cinergy (Research), the local utility. The service offers the access at $29.95 to $49.95 a month, depending on the speed, the Times reported.

Now, if we can just get wireless electricity

Yeah the person that could invent that would make Bill Gates look poor.

Controlled and safe lightning!

Just don't stand between my wireless device and the electrical outlet!