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'Monumental Moment' for PLC
FCC energized over power line broadband
(old news - 07:02PM Wednesday Apr 23 2003)
tags: fcc · alternatives
Dubbing it a "monumental moment", the FCC today voted unanimously to solicit public comment and begin seriously exploring broadband Internet service delivered via power lines. Known officially as broadband over power line (BPL) at the FCC, the inquiry will examine delivery methods of the technology as well as exploring any possible interference issues. The technology, though far from practical use, could be a significant boost to competition in the broadband market, with providers suggesting they'll offer $30 or even $20 monthly fees. Reports on the FCC inquiry can be found at InfoWorld, Internet News, or the EETimes.

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Forums » 'Monumental Moment' for PLC
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rusdi
American V
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-28
Flippin, AR
clubs:

HURRY!!!!

I CAN'T wait!!!!
I think, once all the bugs are worked out, this is going to really drop BB prices, & make it as common as a lamp in an electrical outlet!!
--
"The victims were truly innocent, the perpetrators truly evil. Never forget."

jose3030
Premium
join:1999-08-17
Manassas, VA

Re: HURRY!!!!

I see this 3 yrs down the line.

Marilla
I Am My Own Arbiter
Premium
join:2002-12-06
Belpre, OH

Boy.. I sure hope people aren't holding their breath here. I seem to recall talk about this power-line stuff way back at the same time I heard about companies in No.Va. beginning to seriously get into doing cable modems. I'm not at all convinced about the ability to get past the interference issue while providing decent speeds over distance, and I'm not at all convinced about the ability of utilities to get this stuff implemented any faster than cable or DSL. In fact, a case could be made that at least telcos and cable companies have always been in the business of moving data back or forth, but...

Well, I was pretty skeptical when I first heard about DSL, too... I thought the first time someone showed me a news article about it that it was some pie-in-the-sky thing.. so, we'll see. Then again, I hadn't previously heard about DSL 7 years before...
cableblows

join:2001-06-17
Indianapolis, IN

Re: HURRY!!!!

said by Marilla See Profile:
Boy.. I sure hope people aren't holding their breath here. I seem to recall talk about this power-line stuff way back at the same time I heard about companies in No.Va. beginning to seriously get into doing cable modems. I'm not at all convinced about the ability to get past the interference issue while providing decent speeds over distance, and I'm not at all convinced about the ability of utilities to get this stuff implemented any faster than cable or DSL. In fact, a case could be made that at least telcos and cable companies have always been in the business of moving data back or forth, but...

Well, I was pretty skeptical when I first heard about DSL, too... I thought the first time someone showed me a news article about it that it was some pie-in-the-sky thing.. so, we'll see. Then again, I hadn't previously heard about DSL 7 years before...
LOL i still am about DSL
jljohn0605

join:2002-12-30
Arabi, LA

Don't hold your breath for a price drop. The reports show that the speed and price will be the same. The trials have indicated that the cost at this point and only be justified if they can charge the current competitive price for DSL or cable. They can not under cut the current pricing.
tdkyo

join:2002-12-07
Rochester, NY

Power Companies

This could mean that the power companies could be into the broadband business. Hey! We got more choices after this develops! Can't wait to see this happen!

opus74
Deep Thought
Premium
join:2002-03-04
Coello, IL
clubs:
·WildBlue

More Options = Better Prices

We have Telco....
We have Cable....

Now with power line delivery...that makes three options.
When a third provider enters a market, the competition increases dramatically and normally the prices decrease accordingly....

Let's sincerely hope that happens here....

My $.02
LRR
vic102482
Premium
join:2002-04-30
Upper Marlboro, MD
·Verizon FIOS

Re: More Options = Better Prices

said by opus74 See Profile:

When a third provider enters a market, the competition increases dramatically and normally the prices decrease accordingly....


Just a little edit for you;)

Also dont forget wifi!!:)
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Sean Raines
Premium
join:2002-12-04
Phoenix, AZ
clubs:
·Cox HSI

Re: More Options = Better Prices

said by vic102482 See Profile:
Also dont forget wifi!!:)

Or satellite (HA!) =P or T1 and T3 What about OC48? lol
IanR

join:2001-03-22
Madison, NJ

Years away

As PLC is years away from a commercial rollout does anyone feel this is a way for the FCC to divert all the extremely Negative criticism thrown at them for handing ADSL over to the rotten Baby Bells?

My vote. FCC get back onto ADSL NOW.
markopoleo

join:2003-04-02
Bonne Terre, MO
·Charter Pipeline

Re: Years away

DSL still only accounts for a mere %23 of US households. Thats correct, a WHOPPING %6 higher than 5 YEARS ago.
No strides in that department.

Cable is a WHOPPING %56 of US households, up %14 from 5 years ago. Nice improvment.

When PLC (or if) it comes to mainstream, it will be available to ANYONE with electric outlet.

Time to sell your stock in DSL and cable companies.
--
If PLC goes mainstream, every other broadband provider will be considered what dialup is today...not broadband.
alfnoid
Premium,MVM
join:2002-02-18
·Comcast

Re: Years away

said by markopoleo See Profile:

When PLC (or if) it comes to mainstream, it will be available to ANYONE with electric outlet.

Nope.
people need to stop saying anyone who can get power can get this.
It is simply NOT true.

This is the same as saying anyone who can get phone can get DSL. Guess what? I have phone, but can't get DSL.
Same thing.
Special equipment needs to be installed for this to happen.

All anyone is seeing now is that it is possible. Trials mean they are trying it, not that it is ready for public consumption any time soon.

Wait a couple years before you get excited about this.

peace
cableblows

join:2001-06-17
Indianapolis, IN

Re: Years away

said by alfnoid See Profile:
said by markopoleo See Profile:

When PLC (or if) it comes to mainstream, it will be available to ANYONE with electric outlet.

Nope.
people need to stop saying anyone who can get power can get this.
It is simply NOT true.

This is the same as saying anyone who can get phone can get DSL. Guess what? I have phone, but can't get DSL.
Same thing.
Special equipment needs to be installed for this to happen.

All anyone is seeing now is that it is possible. Trials mean they are trying it, not that it is ready for public consumption any time soon.

Wait a couple years before you get excited about this.

peace
also, the city here owns our power, how is that affected?

DrTCP
Yours truly
Premium,ExMod 1999-04
join:1999-11-09
Round Rock, TX

said by markopoleo:
When PLC (or if) it comes to mainstream, it will be available to ANYONE with electric outlet.
This is not true. For PLC to work first your power provider should be ready to provide service and they should install transformer bypass devices across transformers to bring the signal to your home. The cost of these transformer bypass devices are prohibitive to move beyond trials (to serve the agenda of FCC chairman that Telcos do not need regulation since there are viable alternatives) for USA because of the way power is distributed. In Europe they use bigger but fewer number of transformers so significantly less transformer bypass devices are needed.

Anyway, I suspect PLC discussions will suddenly stop after Telcos are deregulated completely.

Maxo
Your tax dollars at work.
Premium,VIP
join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL
clubs:
·Embarq

Pumped

I'm super pumped about the BBR roll out and hope it's everything it's cracked up to be. I don't understand why the FCC is hyping this up so much. Isn't their job to regulate and make things fair. That means they shouldn't be taking sides. Personally I think some power companies are greasing the wheels with $$$$ for the FCC to make sure they get what they want when the real deployment comes. I agree with IanR about how they need to get back on DSL's A$$ and stop diverting the bad publicity they've been getting for how poorly they've been handling that.
--
Militarily speaking its only fair to say that Cobra Commander is a world class bafoon - Destrohttp://maxolasersquad.com

Doctor Dan
Weapons Of Masturbation
Premium
join:2001-10-20
Papiopolis
·inmotionhosting
·Verizon Online DSL

Don't get too excited...

From the computeruser.com article:

quote:
The technology provides broadband connection with speeds of up to 1.8 Mbps, with typical consumers averaging 300 kbps...
Certainly better than dialup, but not competitive with DSL or cable.

- Dan
--
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rusdi
American V
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-28
Flippin, AR
clubs:

Re: Don't get too excited...

You are correct!!
Shouldn't get too excited right now, but just think, not that many years ago (when 56K modems were common & thought to be really fast) who would have thought DSL over those same twisted pair phone lines could deliver the speeds that they do?
Who knows? Perhaps with more research & new thinking..It may be BETTER & FASTER, & CHEAPER than cable or DSL.
--
"The victims were truly innocent, the perpetrators truly evil. Never forget."

ComputerGod

join:2002-10-13
Marietta, GA

Depends on how you look at it. The typical user does not necessarily need more than that, but are merely looking for an improvement over their current dial-up speeds at a reasonable price. If this product is offered for the same price as dial-up service is, and offers up to 6x the speed, it will be a phenomenal hit. Every dial-up user would be a fool not to exploit this faster option for the same price, and any ISP that does not make it available to these users will have a significant problem with churn.

rusdi
American V
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-28
Flippin, AR
clubs:

Re: Don't get too excited...

Agree.
And...Don't think the power companies are not working their marketing folks over-time, probably as we speak..
And the Cable companies & DSL providors are panicing & wondering where they are gonna make up that loss.
(Watch the stock market)
--
"The victims were truly innocent, the perpetrators truly evil. Never forget."

Maxo
Your tax dollars at work.
Premium,VIP
join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL
clubs:
·Embarq

Agreed, that is exactly what I was going to post. The average DSL user isn't the power users that roam this site. Most people just want a connection that is will bring their pages up in a couple of seconds and doesn't tie up their phone lines. This will actually be cheeper than most dial-up accounts for people who pay for an extra phone line. I bet if this only offered 100kbs it would still be a success. I've been posting over and over again making broadband cheap is where the push needs to be at, not at making it faster.
--
Militarily speaking its only fair to say that Cobra Commander is a world class bafoon - Destrohttp://maxolasersquad.com

Doctor Dan
Weapons Of Masturbation
Premium
join:2001-10-20
Papiopolis
·inmotionhosting
·Verizon Online DSL

Re: Don't get too excited...

said by Maxo See Profile:
Most people just want a connection that is will bring their pages up in a couple of seconds and doesn't tie up their phone lines... bet if this only offered 100kbs it would still be a success.
That depends on the pricing structure. As I pointed out earlier, this technology competes with dial-up, and it needs to be priced accordingly (e.g. $20/month). Very few people are going to pay $35+/month for PLC service unless they have no other broadband alternatives.

- Dan
--
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cmhbob
Did...Did I Do That?
Premium
join:2001-03-13
Grove City, OH
clubs:

Re: Don't get too excited...

Consider all the folks on Direcway, who pay ~$100/month for a sometimes spotty connection. Probably 98% of them are using sat because there are no other options. Dialup is too slow, or DSL is too far away, or the cable company is not in the area, or doesn't have net access in the area.
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Doctor Dan
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edited

Re: Don't get too excited...

said by cmhbob See Profile:
Consider all the folks on Direcway, who pay ~$100/month for a sometimes spotty connection.
Precisely, which is why I said previously that "very few people are going to pay $35+/month for PLC service unless they have no other broadband alternatives."

- Dan
--
This message has been modified from its original version. It has been formatted to fit your brain.

[text was edited by author 2003-04-24 10:02:03]

Maxo
Your tax dollars at work.
Premium,VIP
join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL
clubs:
·Embarq

said by Doctor Dan See Profile:
said by Maxo See Profile:
Most people just want a connection that is will bring their pages up in a couple of seconds and doesn't tie up their phone lines... bet if this only offered 100kbs it would still be a success.
Very few people are going to pay $35+/month for PLC service unless they have no other broadband alternatives.

- Dan

Agreed. I'm going on the idea that it will be about $20-$30. If it's much more than that I don't see it competing too much where DSL or cable is available.
--
Militarily speaking its only fair to say that Cobra Commander is a world class bafoon - Destrohttp://maxolasersquad.com
rktbrkr3

join:2003-02-08
White Plains, NY

Salzburg, Austria. 5th December 2002): DS2, the European fabless semiconductor company and worldwide leader in power line communications (PLC) technology has announced their next generation of PLC products at the IQPC´s Commercialising Powerline Communications Conference in Salzburg, Austria.

The next generation technology consists of a family of chip sets designed to provide reliable PLC data communication at rates above 200 mega bits per second. The advanced signal processing techniques employed in this product family will provide PLC-based products further reach than ever before for access applications and optimal plug coverage for in-home networking.

The product family integrates industry standard interfaces and protocols to enable advanced, low-cost, end-to-end PLC networking solutions comprised of Medium- and Low-Voltage PLC links, and In-home consumer networks.

”This new family of products represents a major advancement for PLC technology that now puts PLC on par or ahead of competing technologies in terms of price, performance and the rich set of supported applications that are driving broadband usage, such as high speed internet surfing, Voice-over-IP, and multi-channel video broadcast, just to name a few", said Jorge Blasco, President of DS2.

The technology is based on a Plug and Play networking paradigm, to allow users to self- install onto pre-deployed PLC networks, bringing installation and truck roll costs down to minimal levels. Advanced networking features reduce CAPEX eliminating many of the expensive backbone networking elements required.

Leading Worldwide PLC Equipment providers such as Ambient Corporation, Amperion, Defidev, EasyPlug, EBA PLC Corp, Ilevo, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, PowerNetze, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Tecnocom and Toyocom, have already expressed interest in using the new DS2 200Mbps technology in their next generation of PLC equipment. The new chip set will be available in volume in the second half 2003.

gnucleus7
Number 3 Forever

join:2002-06-06
NASCAR

Sweet!

At last, a hope for the masses that are not offered service by either the telcos or cable companies!. This ROCKS!!!!!. I hope it really does happen, there are gobs of people who are not able to get broadband any other way. This is a GOOD thing!. Now, if they can just get the speed thingy dealt with..............
--
I have no tolerence for stupidity or ignorance except for my own

sundancek

join:2002-05-23
Hyde Park, NY

Re: Sweet!

Just for those who don't know... But Electric Companies are very slow to change. Most of the stuff we do is the same as from 30 years ago. Why change what works. Its a great idea and offers an additional revenue stream but will be an interesting regulatory issue as the electric customers maintain the system which the net would be utilizing....
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uniquecp
Where'D It Go
Premium
join:2001-08-07
Scottsdale, AZ

I have to wonder....

The thing I am trying to get clear in my thinking is, the Telcos etc have been whining about the amount of money they are losing over BB and that they need to get rid of regulation etc to be profitable. Why are so many players trying to get in? Especially the power companies, who have been complaining about the power business not being profitable due to regulation etc. etc. etc. something is out of whack with a heavily regulated business trying to get into what is basically a loosing business promising that there will be cheaper rates, you think? HMMMMMMMMMM
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hamman_4
Premium
join:2003-04-10
96003-6602
·AT&T Yahoo

Re: I have to wonder....

Well it is like this...when deregulation hit, the government made the utilities get out of the generation business. What that mean't was that they were forced to sell a significant percentage of the existing generation facilities, guess who bought them...out of state power companies..lol. Then, when the peak energy demands hit the states utility systems, they no longer had control over their generation needs and were foreced to turn to outside sources to meet the energy demands of their consumers. Government in their wisdom, dispanded the existing power control grid management group simply because it was composed by a majority of the utilities in the state, and created a new one. This one was supposed to be impartial, made up of neutral parties that was overseen by...guess who..the government.

So here is what happened!!! It was Mid summer in California, the temperatures were at all time highs, energy demands followed as customer demands for refrigeration to cool homes, offices, buildings, cold storage units were outrageous, additionally the ag customers had to pump water for their crops (California produces over 50% of the nations vegies, fruits, nuts...then the law of supply and demand kicks in. In the days prior to deregulation, the utilities had control over the supply but not now...now the controlling entities are from out of state. What do they do, strangely schedule plant shutdowns for "emergency repairs", have on-site problems with the generators that result in the state having to import energy from outside California. Guess who owns those generators outside the state...you got it..the same ones that own those that are within the state...don't you love deregulation. The result, energy costs skyrocket to prices that are in some cases 10 to 100 times what the utilities had typically paid for in the past when they had control. They have no choice..their customer's are screaming...they must take the energy and pay on a honor system. The power was dispatched by the government controlled power broker and everyone was happy except...the utilities didn't forecast these levels of expeditures as they could not foresee what was pure blackmarket piracy. Eventually the states utilities cash drawers were emptied and guess what...they had to file for bankruptcy just like you and I so that they could restructure their debts. That is exactly what happened...ask Pacific Gas & Electric Company and Southern California Edision...they are still in these legal proceedings.

Who won? The outside power generators because the reaped extraordinary profits, the power broker (government) because they got a piece of the pie for allowing the energy to flow thru their hands, and the stock holders of these outside energy providers as earnings per share went thru the roof.

Who lost? The ordinary consumer because they will eventually pay for all these costs one way or the other because it is them that provides the states utilities with their revenue stream. The utilities, because they incurred costs that were never supposed to occur...remember the concept..deregulation reduces costs not increases them...they went bankrupt and saw expenses resulting from this that never were anticipated (except by them) but who listens to monopolies...government has all the answers after all don't they know what is best for the people...ha ha ha... Then there were the poor employees on ENRON who just plain got the you know what.

In short, if you are reading this and your state has not yet grasped deregulation of the power industry but they are moving in that direction. Write your elected officials now...ask them what went wrong in California..after all it is supposed to be a progressive state. Ask them if they can insure that will not happen to them. Ask them why the State of California's credit rating went down the tubes. Be certain to stay informed and don't sit back and let government tell you what is best, for it is rich that get richer and those like you and I that insure that age old statement becomes reality by not questioning our elected officials.

chow

hamman_4
Premium
join:2003-04-10
96003-6602
·AT&T Yahoo

Electrification ...hmm...ground your PC

Well, we had to eventually see this coming as many of the states mandated deregulation of the power industry for quite some time allowing the once captured customer the option of choice. That choice was to elect their own Energy Service Provider (ESP), without prejuduce of those monopolies that once where "King of the Hill". We saw ESP's actually springing up overnight, those that advertised only clean and environmental friendly sources of energy to those huge multibillion dollar companies that came, grabbed, and then folded (ENRON comes to mind). What did this mean to the bottom line monthly power bill to the average residential consumer...ha..not much. Approximately 20% of the power bill price was controlled by the ESP, of which their claims of saving the consumer as much as 20-30% was a little misleading. If your saving 30% of the 20% they have control of that means a whopping 6% is true savings to you and I. Since the average residental power bill in the United States is about $60 (+ or -) that means the customer saved $.72 off their monthly bill, yahoo!!! That is a prime example of how politicians deregulate monopolies to save you and I money. Hell, we spent more in paying our taxes to them so that they could accomplish this wonderful achievement than we will ever see as a payback in real terms.

So, keeping that in mind...the FCC steps in, another governmental body, it's mission, to open the market further to broadband for the everyday consumer. Now, think about it, do you really expect that it will be a significant breakthru? Who will pay for all this new equipment that the power companies will need to purchase, capitalize, earn the governmental blessed authorized rate of return on (which is for the stockholder not you and I), perform both routine and emergency maintenance on, etc. The obvious answer is the power company right, wrong....after all it is the consumer who pays the power company monthly so that they can do all of this stuff, certainly all this new stuff means our power bill will rise. So, for those that don't utilize the new technology because they already have it, you will probably see a rise in your power bill as is typical. After all, when a new substation is built a few hundred miles away from you, and you don't see the benefit from it, you still are paying for it so that those that are benefiting don't have to pay the entire bill. That is what the role of your local Public Utilities Commission is for...to see that a form of socialized collection and spending is not only allowed but followed by means of tariffs/rules and obviously accounted for as well. That is the funny part, neither the utility nor the Public Utilities Commission is always quite sure how that accounting practice should look and feel like...but as long as the numbers look good then everything must be good. Just ask the accounting firm for Enron, they can tell you all about it.

Now, once again I point out this new plan by the FCC. Do you now get the picture...all that glitters is not gold, it probably more like a lamb in sheep's clothing.

Chow

P.S. for the record..I am in the business of monitoring deregulation of the power industry in California...and let me tell you...government really messed that state up big time...those poor customer's will be paying for ever for the blunder that occurred when the state's highest ranking political figure put his pen to paper ordering that great political blunder. As a side note, over 1/2 of the ESP's that originally went into business just a few short years ago, no longer do business in California...that 30% of the 20% could not keep them in business.
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