Charlotte, North Carolina: UPLC Broadband Over Power Line Conference 2006: DUKE ENERGY BPL site visit !!!

Broadband Power Line 2006
September 17-20, 2006
Omni Charlotte
Charlotte, NC

Sept. 18, 2006

8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Broadband Power Line 2006
Demo Hall Open

See it live! This is a chance to see what all the BPL vendors on the floor have to offer. Sprinkled throughout the day will be 10 minute presentations by each of the vendors on the floor highlighting their products and services – what they have available now and what they have plans to include. What better way to prepare for Tuesday’s educational program than to see where the industry is headed based on what the industries vendors have available?

12:30-1:30 p.m. Networking Lunch in the Demo Hall
2:00-5:00 p.m. BPL Site Visit – Duke Power

Duke is one of the largest and oldest BPL deployments in the country. Their deployment includes several vendors’ equipment as part of the demonstration. They are deploying BPL for a variety of commercial and utility applications, and have a team of personnel devoted to implementing BPL throughout the company’s operations. This site visit truly will offer a different take on BPL than any other tour you might have taken before.

*NOTE: The first group of buses will leave promptly at 2:00 p.m. from the Omni Charlotte. The remaining site visit groups will be staggered. Once you complete your registration, site visit times will be set up.

UPLC Broadband Power Line 2006

read: Previous articles:
DUKE ENERGY selects AMBIENT/DS2 G2 200Mbps BPL gears in N. Carolina !!!


DS2 BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

Ambient Corp. BROADBAND over POWER LINES new 200 Mbps Technology gear based on DS2 CHIPSETS !!!

TXU To Form $8.7 Billion Joint Venture: TXU is testing broadband-over-powerline and automatic meter-reading technology

TXU To Form $8.7 Billion Joint Venture

POSTED: 1:28 pm CDT June 26, 2006
UPDATED: 1:31 pm CDT June 26, 2006
DALLAS -- TXU Corp.'s electric subsidiary will pay a joint venture formed with another energy company $8.7 billion over 10 years to manage its electric-transmission system, a deal the utility hopes will improve service and provide new profits.

TXU said Monday that the new venture, InfrastruX Energy Services, should begin by year end, subject to the restructuring of more than $200 million in debt by TXU's partner in the 50-50 deal, InfrastruX Group.

The joint venture will maintain TXU's power lines and design and build new transmission facilities. TXU will continue to own the lines.

TXU is testing broadband-over-powerline and automatic meter-reading technology that could create more work for the joint venture, officials said.


Tom Baker, chairman and chief executive of TXU' electric delivery subsidiary, said the agreement should improve reliability by augmenting TXU repair crews with those of InfraStrux. He said it would also save TXU $100 million over the cost of doing the work itself.

Still, the savings appear to be a small payoff for such a large outsourcing deal. Baker said the joint venture could be profitable if it brings in more business by providing construction and power-restoration work for other utilities.

"What you may get is growth over time," he said. "It depends on how much growth of that they're able to get. That can improve some of their profitability. We hope the joint venture can be profitable."

Dallas-based TXU said its electric delivery unit would focus on long-range planning and operations of the transmission system.

TXU, the largest electric utility in Texas, said the deal would not materially affect its operating earnings in 2006 or 2007.

The joint venture will be led by Michael T. Lennon, InfrastruX's president and chief executive officer. Lennon said the venture would be financed by refinancing InfrastruX debt, then by traditional equity and debt financing.

TXU said several of its senior executives would join the joint venture's management. The new outfit will have about 2,000 TXU employees and 3,000 from InfrastruX.

TXU expects to keep only about 1,400 people in its electric-delivery unit. Of the 2,000 moving to the joint venture, about 175 are union members, and the company will begin bargaining with them over terms of the change, officials said.

Through its subsidiaries, parent TXU has about 2.3 million electricity customers in Texas and generates more than 18,300 megawatts of power from nuclear, coal and natural gas-fired plants. The company recently announced plans to build 11 new coal plants.

Shares of TXU rose 50 cents, to $56.46 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

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BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

U.S. Sees Broadband Explosion: BPL the Latest Choice !!!

U.S. Sees Broadband Explosion

BPL the Latest Choice
Written By: Sonia Arrison
Published In: IT&T News
Publication Date: July 1, 2006
Publisher: The Heartland Institute

Broadband adoption in American homes grew by 40 percent in the past year, twice the growth rate of the year before, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project. That’s good news that should be followed by more if technology is allowed to move forward, unfettered by heavy government regulations.

Broadband adoption among African-Americans increased by 121 percent between 2005 and 2006 and English-speaking Latino households reported a strong 46 percent increase, bringing those groups’ overall household broadband adoption rate to near parity with white households, according to the report. That quells worries that some populations would be left out of the Internet revolution. Even access in tough-to-reach rural areas is expanding at a brisk 39 percent. While not everyone always finds it easy to get online, the revolution is touching virtually every group in a significant way.

New applications such as social networking sites like MySpace.com or online music services such as iTunes have driven demand for more bandwidth, and that in turn is driving innovation in the broadband deployment market. Not only are the telco and cable companies working to deploy more high-speed lines, but there are also new satellite and broadband over power lines (BPL) options.

AT&T recently announced a satellite-based broadband Internet access service, powered by WildBlue, for rural customers across its 13-state territory. Rural satellite-based broadband subscribers can choose among three service packages, with prices ranging from $49.95 to $79.95 per month, and broadband speed options ranging up to 1.5 megabits per second (Mb/s) downstream and up to 256 kilobits per second (Kb/s) upstream.

But perhaps even more intriguing is BPL.

Imagine just plugging your computer into an electrical outlet in the wall and having instant high-speed Internet access. That’s what BPL promises, and pilot projects have been rolling out all over the country.

“BPL has the potential to bring broadband Internet services to communities who do not have broadband service available today from the telephone companies or cable companies. In fact, in other communities that already have DSL and cable modem service BPL can provide a third broadband ‘pipe’ to customers, thereby increasing competition and consumer choice,” said California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) President Michael R. Peevey.


‘A Light Touch’

The CPUC recently approved a new regulatory framework in an effort to create a more stable market for capital investment in the technology. That’s a step in the right direction, as many investors were worried the highly regulated electric utilities marketplace would drown out entrepreneurial spirit.

New CPUC Commissioner Rachelle Chong, formerly a commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission, has seen the damage caused by heavy regulations in the telecom space. Clearly, she wanted to avoid those problems in the electrical broadband market.

“In taking a light touch approach to regulate BPL, this decision sets the table for electric utilities to bring a new flavor of broadband technology to Californians,” Chong said.

Commissioner John Bohn had similar sentiments. “By removing unnecessary regulations from its path, we free BPL entrepreneurs to invest and take the risks they want, while protecting ratepayers from any downside,” he said.

The new framework takes significant steps, such as allowing third parties to invest in and operate BPL systems and exempting certain types of BPL-related transactions from regulatory review. Those are great improvements and the CPUC should be congratulated for its vision in this space.

Liberalizing the marketplace to allow for the wide adoption of new technologies should not stop with power lines or the CPUC. A host of other issues need proper attention for Americans to reap maximum benefits from the Internet superhighway. Cable franchise liberalization and universal service reform are two obvious areas that come to mind.

In the meantime, the 42 percent of all American adults who have a high-speed Internet connection at home will continue to feed the broadband boom.



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BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

ASM SpA Chooses MainNet's PLUS Solutions for US$7.5m Broadband Powerline (BPL) Communications Project in Northern Italy

Monday June 26, 8:30 am ET
MainNet Unveils its Intelligent Broadband Automated Meter Reading (Broadband AMR) System


RAANANA, Israel, June 26 /PRNewswire/ -- MainNet, a market leader in BPL/PLC solutions, today announced the launch of AmrPLUS(TM) - the Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) system capable of remote operation via an existing power grid - extending the company's advanced, end-to-end BPL product line.
The new AmrPLUS was selected by ASM SpA, the Northern Italian electric company (listed on the Milan Stock Exchange as "ASM") for the largest multi-utility Broadband AMR project known to date, with a total value estimated at US$7.5m. Under the contract, iLight SpA (MainNet's partner in Italy) will support ASM in planning and implementing the system, using its vast experience in bringing Broadband AMR to a cost-effective operational solution. The ASM project introduces a new opportunity for public utility service providers in Italy.

AmrPLUS will be implemented within ASM's BPL-based network - already in the advanced deployment stage - and will span over the city of Brescia in the northern region of Italy, covering some 250,000 households. Installation, configuration and monitoring of the system will be facilitated by NmPLUS(TM) (MainNet's Network Management System - NMS), designed to operate with ASM's existing Billing and OSS systems.

The new network will provide ASM with the expansion flexibility to combine next-generation broadband Internet communication services with automated, multiple-utility meter reading.

ASM has chosen MainNet's customized Broadband AMR solution for its feature-rich, end-to-end system capabilities. "MainNet provided us with the most comprehensive solution, meeting all our needs for same-time meter reading and giving us powerful network control of our wide range of regional utilities including gas, district heating and electricity" commented Eng. Oreste Galasso, Executive Manager of ASM. He added, "The new AmrPLUS will enable up to progressively introduce our complete Digital Divide solution - including advanced communication services such as, broadband Internet access and Voice over IP (VoIP) - at economically competitive prices."

"ASM is a well-established, listed utility service provider in Italy. We are pleased to be part of their expansion plans into next-generation Broadband powerline communications," said Amit Yudan, VP Marketing of MainNet Communications.

"Our launch of AmrPLUS will now enable utility service providers to use BPL for core utility applications (such as, AMR and Smart Grid) to enhance operational efficiency, and in addition, to increase revenues and customer satisfaction by providing intelligent broadband Internet services over the existing electrical grid".



BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

NETGEAR (R) Launches 200 Mbps Powerline Solution for High-Definition Video and Gaming

Monday June 26, 8:30 am ET
Speedy Powerline Technology from DS2 Enables High-Quality HD Video and Audio Streaming in the Digital Home


SANTA CLARA, Calif. and VALENCIA, Spain, June 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NETGEAR®, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTGR - News), a worldwide provider of technologically advanced, branded networking products, today announced the availability of the 200 Mbps Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter (HDX101) and Kit (HDXB101). The Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter enables consumers to seamlessly connect a personal computer, digital video recorder, game console or other Ethernet-ready device to their home network. It distributes high-speed, high-performance, affordable broadband throughout the home, without the need to run any cabling between rooms.
NETGEAR's Powerline HD Ethernet Adapters turn any AC electrical outlet into an HD-streaming, high-speed Ethernet broadband connection -- for real-time high-quality video, gaming and VoIP. NETGEAR's Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter offers built-in Video Quality of Service (VQoS) for consistent performance with encrypted security, at unprecedented data rates, to seamlessly stream high-definition video throughout the entire home. The VQoS feature ensures that video and gaming traffic is prioritized above all other network traffic so that HD video streams are free of interruption from others using the network.

"We've seen great demand for this technology, as its simplicity is unbeatable," stated Kartik Gada, NETGEAR's product line manager for connectivity devices. "Consumers are requiring faster, more reliable, convenient and uncomplicated broadband connections throughout their homes, in order to support a growing number of applications like online gaming, audio distribution and HD video streaming, all of which require copious bandwidth. By working with DS2, we've developed the ideal solution for successfully bridging the gap in areas of the home network that aren't conducive to wireless, without requiring a clutter of cords."

"As a leader in the consumer electronics market, NETGEAR is the perfect partner to bring DS2's 200 Mbps Powerline technology to a growing number of consumers who require multi-device, multi-location broadband connectivity within the home," said Jorge Blasco, chief executive officer of DS2. "We wanted to work with NETGEAR because our strategies are aligned -- we both have a commitment to providing the best products on the market, and take pride in providing simple, reliable, high-speed connectivity. We're a great match."

NETGEAR's Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter Kit (HDXB101) is comprised of two Powerline HD Ethernet Adapters (HDX101), an Ethernet cable, and set-up CD. By simply plugging one of the elegant white Powerline HD Ethernet Adapters to a router and the other to any Ethernet-ready device -- such as a PC, game console, print server, digital video recorder, or the upcoming NETGEAR Digital Entertainer -- consumers have the luxury of up to 200 Mbps speeds without interruption or complicated set-up. The NETGEAR Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter can also make large file transfers to networked storage devices like the NETGEAR Storage Central (SC101) up to 12 times faster than previous Powerline networking products. Its smart design also aptly blends into any home decor with ease, and does not take up any floor or desk space. Furthermore, the HDX101 easily co-exists with other Powerline technologies, so that consumers could use their existing, slower units for basic applications, and the HDX101 as an exclusive network loop for high-definition video and gaming.

Said Nicole Klein, an analyst with Boston-based technology consultancy Yankee Group, "The goal for next-generation home networking technology is two-fold: to offer speeds to support high-definition devices, and to ensure uninterrupted connectivity in wireless problem areas. With Powerline devices operating at 200 Mbps, consumers can stream voice, data, video and gaming throughout their homes at speeds to support their bandwidth-needy lifestyles."

NETGEAR's Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter is available now through leading retailers, e-commerce sites and value-added resellers. It's backed by a one-year warranty and 24/7 technical support. The Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter Kit (HDXB101) containing two devices has an MSRP of $249.99. For consumers needing to connect additional devices to the network, a single adapter (HDX101) is sold separately at an MSRP of $129.99.

About Design of Systems on Silicon (DS2)

DS2 is the world's leading supplier of the 200 Mbps technology that enables home networking and broadband access over Powerline, coaxial cable, and telephone wire. DS2 pioneered the industry with the introduction of its 200 Mbps chipsets, creating the fastest and highest performance solution for simultaneous data, digital audio and high-definition video transmission over any wire. Two preeminent industry groups, the Universal Powerline Association (UPA) and the European Union consortium OPERA (Open PLC European Research Alliance) have adopted DS2 technology in support of multi-vendor standard certified product. Both groups develop and support open standards based on interoperability, security and coexistence. DS2 is headquartered in Valencia, Spain, with a U.S. operations base in Santa Clara, Calif., and an Asian operations base in Tokyo, Japan. For more information, please visit http://www.ds2.es.



BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

Telcos Eye Home Power Lines

By Richard Wilson -- 6/21/2006
Electronics Weekly


Phone operators are coming to the view that using power cabling as a communications network could be the most reliable way of transmitting real-time video, which has been downloaded off the Internet, around the home.


Power line communications IC firm SiConnect says there is growing interest in the technology from BT and other phone operators in France and Germany.

Power line has emerged alongside wireless and Ethernet as one of the three networking technologies being evaluated by the operators as part of what they call the Home Gateway Initiative.

There is a view that power line is more reliable than wireless for transmitting real-time video and audio.

“We are seeing the variability of Wi-Fi in some applications playing against it,” SiConnect CEO, Trevor Sokell told Electronics Weekly.

“Operators are looking for something better and that is what they are talking to us about,” said Sokell.

However, he does accept that power line technology may not be everyone’s choice. “The main challenge is on the marketing side, we do not believe the technology will sell itself,” said Sockell. He also believes the main markets may be outside Europe.

Sokell claims any reliability issues of using existing domestic electrical wiring for networking audio, video, voice and data in the home have been addressed.

The Swindon-based chip developer has opted for an alternative communications protocol to improve quality of wireline networks. This is effectively a peer-to-peer mesh topology which is able to control latency and jitter. This will make the home networks reliable for real time delivery of MPEG video and uncompressed audio, such as IPTV and surround sound home theater systems.


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BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

FCC responds to Manassas ARRL and COMTek`s Broadband over Powerline dispute over Interference issues

FCC responds to broadband dispute


By JACLYN PITTS
jpitts@manassasjm.com
Tuesday, June 20, 2006


It's been nearly three years since Manassas implemented broadband over powerline technology - and local amateur radio enthusiasts have battled with interference they say is caused by the system ever since.

In March, the Federal Communications Commission directed Manassas and Communication Technologies Inc. (COMTek) to investigate these allegations and take steps to eliminate "harmful interference."

Now the FCC has responded to Manassas' report on its progress and directed both the city and COMTek to further address interference issues and the system's non-compliance with FCC emission regulations.

The city and COMTek have 20 days from June 16 to file a detailed report on actions taken and progress made in resolving the interference complaint cited in the March directive, according to the June letter.

COMTek and the city have 30 days from June 16 to provide a detailed report on actions taken to bring and maintain system compliance with FCC emission requirements.

The FCC also directed Manassas and COMTek to provide information regarding plans to ensure adequate notice to customers if the FCC orders the system to be shut down, according to the letter.

COMTek spokesman Scott Stapf said what is requested in the FCC's most recent letter is customary procedure in the complaint process, and the company anticipated such requests.

COMTek is in the middle of upgrading 600 overhead lines, a move Stapf said is on schedule to be completed by the end of this year.

Stapf said he thinks the upgrade will address the FCC's concerns.

"COMTek is fully committed to getting the situation resolved," Stapf said.

Stapf explained that the FCC is simply requesting an update on the company's interference investigations.

George Tarnovsky, vice president for Ole Virginia Hams, a local ham radio group, said he finds the FCC's letter as a "positive motion" on the FCC's part.

"Hopefully this will resolve the interference issues here in Manassas and if not, the FCC will shut them down," Tarnovsky said.

Tarnovsky said he and fellow hams look forward to working with COMTek and the city to resolve all interference issues.

"I think I can speak for all parties in saying we're looking forward to a BPL-interference-free Manassas," Tarnovsky said.

Manassas became the first American municipality to implement the technology citywide in 2003.

By plugging a modem into any city electrical outlet, subscribers can get high-speed Internet access for about $29 per month, approximately half of what cable providers charge.

BPL radiates off power lines and can make certain shortwave radio frequencies inaudible.

COMTek's BPL service runs through the city's power grid and has nearly 1,000 subscribers.


Read Related articles:
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DS2 200 Mbps BPL technology is working with ARRL Laboratory to work out BROADBAND OVER POWER LINES Interference Issues !!!!

Telkonet and Hotel Internet Services Deliver Broadband Internet Access to the Queen Mary

Monday June 19, 8:00 am ET
The Only Viable Solution to Provide Wired and Wireless Access to this Historic 70-Year Old Ocean Liner


GERMANTOWN, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 19, 2006--Telkonet, Inc. (Amex:TKO - News), the leader in providing in-building broadband access over existing electrical wiring, today announced that reseller Hotel Internet Services has installed the Telkonet iWire System(TM) at the world famous Queen Mary, an ocean liner that is now an historic hotel, floating museum, meeting facility, and world-class entertainment destination. Following a site survey and a successful proof-of-concept test to make sure Telkonet's system would function over the ship's original electrical system, Hotel Internet Services installed the Telkonet backbone in just one week. Telkonet's system is delivering high-speed wired and wireless Internet access throughout the 365 suites and staterooms spread over 3 different decks and public areas, including the expansive promenade deck, the hotel lobby and the business center.
Steve Dobbe, Vice President, Hotel Internet Services said, "We became a Telkonet reseller because of the unique benefits of the Telkonet system. Not only is the system easy and quick to deploy, but it also provides an effective Internet solution in situations where no other viable option exists, as in the Queen Mary. The system is ideal for any multi-occupancy site that needs to be up and running with broadband Internet access quickly and without disruption."

Aaron Okajima, IT Manager for the Queen Mary, commented: "I had been searching for a company to meet the challenge of wiring this ship for quite some time. It is not an easy task - the Internet signal has to penetrate the ship's thick metal walls to provide the necessary coverage, and there were aesthetic considerations to take into account, given the original wood paneling and extravagant decor inside the hallways and cabins, making drilling unacceptable. Preservation of the decor and artwork on board the Queen Mary is a high priority and every care is taken when selecting any kind of upgrade to ensure that the historic fabric of the ship is preserved.

"Telkonet's system was clearly the best way to light up the entire ship with broadband Internet access. With Telkonet's solution, it only took 2 men 5 days to wire a 70-year old ship with 365 hotel rooms. If we had installed conventional CAT-5 cable, it would have taken at least three months, with a crew of 4 to 6, and would have cost significantly more. We couldn't be happier with Telkonet's solution.

"The Queen Mary recently celebrated the 70th anniversary of her maiden voyage. In 1936, her communication system was state of the art. Now, her classic decor invisibly shelters today's modern technology demanded by travelers and guests."

The installation consisted of cabling between the Telkonet Gateway and sixteen Telkonet Couplers to connect the ship's power circuits, which together provide the Internet backbone. Wireless access points (WAPs) were also installed, using Telkonet's iBridge unit to energize the WAPs, providing wireless hotspots in stand-alone Internet kiosks located on the Promenade deck, next to the bakery, coffee shop, and the business center. Using the Telkonet system as the backbone for WiFi reduces the amount of cabling necessary to enable the WAPs, which can be placed anywhere there is an electrical outlet. Additionally, the Telkonet iBridges are being offered to the many gift shops that have not been able to enjoy high-speed Internet access for their businesses.


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BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

Lincoln, Nebraska: Broadband options — What are yours?

By NATE JENKINS / Lincoln Journal Star

If Michael Mason is town, then Jon Holzfaster is country, but you won’t notice the distinction by looking at their Internet service.

For years, Mason has sought high-speed Internet to better run his Internet-reliant business. Along the way, he said, he has been told numerous times by Alltel officials that “it’s coming soon.” He even gets advertisements in the mail, Mason said, asking him to subscribe to the most popular high-speed tool, DSL.

But six months before 2007 — a date President Bush set two years ago as the time when all citizens should have affordable access to broadband — Mason still spends his days in the Internet equivalent of a traffic jam.

He’s stuck with dial-up service.

read more: Lincoln Journal Star

Trimax Subsidiary Multi-Source Inc. Receives Outline for 1st Phase of South American Deployment & Proceeds to Final Stage in Securing $100M Contract

Thursday June 15, 8:00 am ET

TORONTO--(MARKET WIRE)--Jun 15, 2006 -- Trimax Corporation (OTC BB:TMXO.OB - News), a leading provider of Broadband over PowerLine (BPL) communication technologies, announced today that its recently acquired subsidiary Multi-Source Inc. ("MSI"), an international BPL systems integrator, received complete infrastructure details of its projected phase one deployment from a State owned Utility in South America.

The initial phase incorporates MSI's Measurement's Canada approved integrated Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) solution that utilizes MSI's Powerline communications technology. Three separate contracts are being negotiated with government owned Utilities for services including AMR. After formal presentation to the federal governing body, the Utility received approval to proceed with regard to the finalization of contracts. According to MSI Directors based in South America, due process is only a few weeks away and once contracts are secured, Trimax/MSI are confident that roll out will be swift and revenues are expected to commence within 90 days.

Based on the market and the Scope of Work being negotiated, the Automatic Meter Reading contracts and Energy Savings will represent estimated revenues in excess of $100 million as well as additional recurring annual revenue for the services components. The company will also realize annual recurring revenues from value added services. These South American initiatives will serve as a model for utilities in other countries, including North America, to reference.

Mike Spasov, Chief Operating Officer of MSI stated, "We are excited about recent developments in our contract negotiations. The final agreements are now very close to being signed. This deployment will enable us to confidently demonstrate our solutions on a large scale to the utilities and communication firms from around the world that we have been in discussions with."

Other developments in South America include MSI's joint venture plan to develop a 5-year BPL initiative that will deploy triple-play Video, Voice and Data over the utilities electrical infrastructure. The utility will be providing Regulatory, Engineering, Legal, and Marketing resources while MSI will be providing Technology, Operations and Network Management.

Broadband over Powerline technology has been receiving increased recognition from emerging markets as the technology can deliver required services with superior performance without the expense of new infrastructure costs such as cabling. Broadband over Powerlines continues to experience substantial growth and recognition worldwide. Trimax/MSI looks forward to delivering its low-cost, high-bandwidth triple-play solutions to underserved and emerging markets.

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BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

Another new Ambient Corp. BPL patent: High current inductive coupler and current transformer for power lines

United States Patent 7,061,370

Abstract
There is provided an inductive power line data coupler. The coupler includes (a) a magnetic core having a high magnetic permeability at a data communication frequency and being configured to allow a power line of a power distribution system to be routed through the magnetic core to serve as a primary winding, (b) a data signaling circuit that provides a secondary winding through the magnetic core for coupling a data signal between the power line and a communication device, and (c) a choke coil coupled to the data signaling circuit for creating a flux-canceling power frequency current opposite in direction and comparable in magnitude to a power frequency current. The coupler may also include a circuit for sensing a level of current in the power line.
----------------------------------------------------
Inventors: Cern; Yehuda (Brookline, MA)
Assignee: Ambient Corporation (Newton, MA)

Appl. No.: 425816
Filed: April 29, 2003

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Previous Ambient Approved Patent: Ambient Corporation`s patent for Inductive coupler for power line communications is approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark office !!!

Investors eye BROADBAND over POWER LINES Trend !!!

Networking: Investors eye power-line trend
June 12, 2006

Institutional and individual investors are eagerly examining prospects in the so-called broadband over power line (BPL) market and are helping finance proof-of-concept projects in the field, experts tell UPI's Networking.


The interest comes as utilities are embracing a "validate and endorse" approach to BPL, said John J. Joyce, president and chief executive officer of Ambient Corp. a developer of technologies for power companies and multi-unit dwellings, based in Newton, Mass.

The customers include one of the largest utilities in the United States, which has deployed broadband networking over power lines on its electrical distribution system and is now expanding that effort into a 700-home pilot project in the Southeast.

Other partners include Con Edison and EarthLink, a spokesman told Networking.

These fast-track projects helped the company late last month close a $10 million round of financing to "migrate" its technology to a next-generation platform, said Joyce.

The technology has been in development for six years and works on medium and low-voltage distribution power grids. Proprietary coupling and telecommunications technologies allow utilities to use their existing medium and low-voltage power lines as high-speed data pipelines, which are capable of delivering broadband Internet and telephony along with conventional utility services. For consumer broadband applications, developers report delivering bandwidth of more than 4 Mbps to the customer.

What's more, other applications, like surveillance and remote monitoring of industrial processes, are also online.

Experts note that there are essentially three technologies for home networking on the power line, including UBP, X-10 and Insteon, which was developed by SmartLabs, a rival of Ambient.

Insteon links power lines plus wireless radio frequency (RF) technology, creating essentially a "dumb" network for transporting low data rates, but one that is ideal for transmitting the right amount of data to connect devices together in the home, a spokesman for Insteon told Networking.

These dumb networks are often linked with bridge software programs by LifeWare and others that support a connection between multi-media networks and home control networks. Experts at the Digital Home conference concluded recently that home control is projected to be a market that is about to see explosive growth.

But U.S. companies are not the only ones powering the trend, Chano Gomez, vice president of strategic relations and marketing for DS2, a power-line networking company based in Spain, told Networking.

A supplier of high-speed power line networking (PLC) chipsets for in-home, high-definition networking, DS2 recently reached a partnership to develop new products based on DS2's 200 Mbps PLC technologywith Taiwan-based Cameo Communications Inc., an international networking products maker.

The companies will develop cheap, high-performance PLC networking products driven by DS2's current and next-generation chipsets, including wall-plug format adapters in addition to a variety of different consumer networking device applications. "The idea is that you can deliver high-speed broadband access in every room without the need to run new cables," said Gomez.

The technologies will support applications like online gaming, whole-house audio distribution and high-definition video streaming, said Gomez.

The companies demonstrated a new wall-plug adapter based on DS2 200 Mbps technology during Computex Taipei 2006 last week and indicated the first DS2-based Cameo products will begin shipping at the beginning of this month, Gomez told Networking.

In addition, last week XAVi Technologies Corp. announced its new home networking product line powered by DS2 powerline chipsets, enabling users to easily transform an entire home's power outlet system into a secure DSL/Cable connection without any additional wiring. The idea is to provide consumers with the much-hyped "triple play" services, including "simultaneous high-definition television, Internet access, and voice over IP," said Wenston Lee, CEO of XAVi.
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Previous article: Google, GS, SENSUS,TXU, GE, EarthLink put $230M in Current Communications ~ 10 Mbps Symmetrical speed Broadband over Power Lines Internet service !!!

Welcome to the BPL Interference Resolution Web Site

provided as a public service by the
United Power Line Council and the United Telecom Council


This web site provides information for the public to contact broadband over power line (BPL) operators with systems deployed nearby that may be causing harmful interference to communications services. The web site is provided in accordance with Federal Communications Commission regulations (47 C.F.R. §15.615). There are two options: users may search the database by zip code or they may access all the information in the database for every BPL system.


Use the Link Below to Access all the Information for Every BPL System:
BPL System Listing

House Clears National Video-Franchise Bill

House Clears National-Franchise Bill
Net-Neutrality Rejection Hurts Senate Chances
By Ted Hearn
6/12/2006


Washington— The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill last Thursday designed to speed phone-company entry into video markets after rejecting language that would have barred broadband-access providers from discriminating among suppliers of voice, video and content services delivered over the Internet.

The bill (H.R. 5252), sponsored by Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Joe Barton (R-Texas), passed by a vote of 321-101. Lawmakers hopeful that phone-company competition spurred on by the measure would drive down cable rates across the country.

The debate on overhauling major telecommunications law shifts to the Senate, where the Senate Commerce Committee is scheduled to vote on parallel legislation June 20 if a consensus can be achieved.

“Consumers won a major victory with tonight’s passage of the video-choice bill. The size of the bipartisan vote increases the momentum for a similar Senate bill,” said Peter Davidson, senior vice president of federal government relations for Verizon Communications Inc.

But Blair Levin, a media and telecommunications analyst at Stifel Nicolaus Associates, told clients that Senate passage would be hard because lawmakers have not reached agreement on key issues, including Internet nondiscrimination.

“The next leg of the journey promises to be tougher, as senators struggle to agree on a basic approach, and there’s not much time left this session for typical Senate wrangling,” Levin said.

WHITE HOUSE STAND
For the first time, the White House took a stand as the Office of Management Budget issued a statement “strongly” endorsing the Barton bill’s national cable-franchising provisions.

“The administration believes that legislation enabling video-service providers to gain a national franchise in order to speed rollout of their infrastructure not only will benefit consumers by increasing competition in the video-TV market, but also will improve high-speed broadband penetration,” the OMB statement said.

Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) offered an amendment that would have banned discriminatory conduct by cable, phone and other broadband-access providers against companies such as Google Inc., Yahoo! Inc. and eBay Inc. Markey’s amendment would have prohibited network owners from blocking of unaffiliated Web-based services and from demanding fees in exchange for priority treatment of Internet-based services.

more...

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BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

Those kids today: Chose PC over TV, study says

Those kids today: PC over TV, study says
By Chris Marlowe
Fri Jun 9, 7:24 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - In households with children, the screen being watched is more likely to be a PC than a television.

A recent study by the NPD Group found that 94% of households with children ages 4-14 had a computer. That edges out TVs, which the consulting firm's report, "Kids and Consumer Electronics," found are in slightly less than 90% of households with that group represented.

Kids own their own electronic products as well, most often a video game system of some kind (slightly more than 40%), a CD player or a television (31%).

The NPD Group industry analyst Anita Frazier said the data demonstrated how ordinary it was for young people to use consumer electronic products.

"Today's kids are digital natives whose activities are fundamentally different than previous generations," she said.

It's a trend that continues to grow, too. Frazier said more than twice the amount of kids personally own a portable digital music player now compared with last year, while cell phone ownership is up 50%.

To put that in perspective, however, about 23% of households with children had a digital music player regardless of who owned it.

Frazier also said that children first began using a consumer electronic device at a younger age than in 2005, by about 6 months when averaged out, and that they did so more frequently and with a wider range of products. She expects these trends to continue.

NPD surveyed adults older than 25 with children ages 4-14 in their households for the study, which follows the first Kids and Consumer Electronics report a year ago.


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BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

Bandwidth hogs should find an alternative broadband web access as House rejects Net neutrality rules !!!

re: House rejects Net neutrality rules
By Declan McCullagh
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

Published: June 8, 2006, 6:30 PM PDT
Last modified: June 8, 2006, 7:00 PM PDT

update The U.S. House of Representatives definitively rejected the concept of Net neutrality on Thursday, dealing a bitter blow to Internet companies like Amazon.com, eBay and Google that had engaged in a last-minute lobbying campaign to support it.

By a 269-152 vote that fell largely along party lines, the House Republican leadership mustered enough votes to reject a Democrat-backed amendment that would have enshrined stiff Net neutrality regulations into federal law and prevented broadband providers from treating some Internet sites differently from others.

Of the 421 House members who participated in the vote that took place around 6:30 p.m. PT, the vast majority of Net neutrality supporters were Democrats. Republicans represented most of the opposition.

The vote on the amendment (click for PDF) came after nearly a full day of debate on the topic, which prominent Democrats predicted would come to represent a turning point in the history of the Internet.

"The future Sergey Brins, the future Marc Andreessens, of Netscape and Google...are going to have to pay taxes" to broadband providers, said Rep. Ed Markey, the Massachusetts Democrat behind the Net neutrality amendment. This vote will change "the Internet for the rest of eternity," he warned.

At issue is a lengthy measure called the Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement (COPE) Act, which a House committee approved in April. Its Republican backers, along with broadband providers such as Verizon and AT&T, say it has sufficient Net neutrality protections for consumers, and more extensive rules would discourage investment in wiring American homes with higher-speed connections.

The concept of network neutrality, which generally means that all Internet sites must be treated equally, has drawn a list of high-profile backers, from actress Alyssa Milano to Vint Cerf, one of the technical pioneers of the Internet. It's also led to a political rift between big Internet companies such as Google and Yahoo that back it--and telecom companies that oppose what they view as onerous new federal regulations.

As the final House vote drew closer, lobbyists and CEOs from both sides began stepping up the pressure. eBay CEO Meg Whitman e-mailed more than a million members, urging them to support the concept, and Google CEO Eric Schmidt on Wednesday called on his company's users to follow suit.

Defenders of the COPE Act, largely Republicans, dismissed worries about Net neutrality as fear mongering.

"I want a vibrant Internet just like they do," said Rep. Lamar Smith, a Texas Republican. "Our disagreement is about how to achieve that. They say let the government dictate it...I urge my colleagues to reject government regulation of the Internet."

The debate over Net neutrality had become more complicated after earlier versions of the COPE Act appeared to alter antitrust laws--in a way that would have deprived the House Judiciary Committee of some of its influence.

But in a last-minute compromise designed to placate key Republicans, the House leadership permitted an amendment (click for PDF) from Smith that would preserve the House Judiciary Committee's influence--without adding extensive Net neutrality mandates. That amendment to COPE was approved.

While the debate over Net neutrality started over whether broadband providers could block certain Web sites, it has moved on to whether they should be permitted to create a "fast lane" that could be reserved for video or other specialized content.

Prohibiting that is "not a road we want to go down, but that's what the Markey amendment would do," said Rep. Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican. "The next thing is going to be having a secretary of Internet Access (in the federal government)."


BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

Cameo partners with DS2 to deliver HD quality powerline communications products

Taipei, Taiwan, 6 June, 2006 – Cameo Communications Inc, a leading international networking products manufacturer with offices in Taiwan and China, and DS2, supplier of the world’s most mature, highest speed powerline networking (PLC) chipsets for in-home, high-definition quality networking, have announced a partnership to develop products based on DS2´s 200 Mbps PLC technology.


Cameo will work with DS2 to develop low cost, high performance PLC networking products driven by DS2’s current and next generation of chipsets. The DS2-based product lineup includes wall-plug format adapters in addition to a variety of different consumer networking device applications to deliver high speed broadband access in every room without the need to run new cables.




“Cameo firmly believes in the principle of providing both top quality and the best possible price/performance ratio. Our driving force is commitment to value, quality and reliability and DS2´s high performance, mature chips provide the best price/performance ratio on the market as well as being the only mature standards based HD quality chips available for product development today”, said Frank Kuo, Director of Cameo’s Technology Research and Development Center.




Ramón Garcia, Director of DS2´s Asian office who will be demonstrating applications supported by DS2´s 200 Mbps chipsets during Computex (Grand Hotel Hyatt, Rooms 1130 & 1131) said, “DS2 is excited to work with Cameo to develop the latest generation, low cost PLC networking products. DS2’s chipsets provide simple, reliable broadband connectivity that offer the necessary bandwidth to support applications like online gaming, whole-house audio distribution and high-definition video streaming. All these applications are now mainstream, and not supported by legacy PLC products.”




Cameo will be showing products including the SOHO-HPE2001 wall-plug adapter based on DS2 200 Mbps technology during Computex Taipei 2006, from 6 to 10 June, in the Grand Hyatt Hotel, VIP Room No 1034. The first DS2-based Cameo products will begin shipping at the beginning of June 2006.



BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

TAIWAN: Computex Taipei 6-10 June 2006: This year, cutting-edge technology player DS2 200Mbps PLC, will be attempting to make their presence felt

Record visitor numbers expected at Computex '06

Aaron Tan, ZDNet Asia,
June 06, 2006

The number of visitors to Computex Taiwan is expected to surpass 130,000 this year when the doors to the world's second largest IT trade show opens Tuesday.

According to event organizers, last year's show attracted 129,947 visitors, the highest turnout in its 25-year history. This year, some 133,000 visitors are expected to pack four halls of the Taipei World Trade Center and Taipei International Convention Center.

Like previous years, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council and the Taipei Computer Association (TCA) are co-organizing the event.

Since its inception in 1981, the trade show has touted itself as a platform for IT vendors in Taiwan to showcase their products. Today, the closely-watched event is the world's second-largest IT trade show after CeBIT in Germany, and maintains its status as Asia's largest IT event.

TCA Chairman Frank Huang said the show has grown with Taiwan's information technology industry over the past decades.

"That Computex has replaced Comdex as the world's second largest IT show demonstrated two things," he noted, in a statement. "First, it showed to the world Taiwan's strength in IT design and manufacturing and, to a larger extent, the emergence of Asia as the world's leader in information."

He also pointed out that Taiwan's IT companies have evolved from original design and equipment manufacturers to some of the world's most famous brands.

Acer, no doubt, is one such company that Huang had in mind.

With an early focus on product design and educating Taiwan's next generation of engineers, the founders of Acer gradually established the Taiwanese company as one of the world's top PC makers today.



This year, cutting-edge technology players such as DS2, will be attempting to make their presence felt at Computex. The company specializes in powerline communications, an increasingly popular mode of broadband Internet access in Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea and China.

Ramon Garcia, director of DS2's Asian office in Tokyo, told ZDNet Asia that his company will be demonstrating its new 200Mbps powerline technology at the show this year.

Because of the large density in many Asian cities, Internet service providers have been deploying such technology to provide data, voice and video services within buildings, Garcia said.

Some 1,300 exhibitors will show their wares at Computex this year, and are also expected to lust over the prestigious 'Best Choice' product awards to be handed out at the event. The award was started in 2001 to encourage innovation in the Taiwanese IT industry, and to assist vendors in pursuing business opportunities abroad.

The event organizers are inviting experts and scholars from the government, academic circles and the industry to take part in the selection process for the awards. This year, 22 products in 11 categories are expected to be awarded. The Asus A636 personal digital assistant and the BenQ CM3500 multifunction printer were among the winners last year.

In addition to product showcases, a series of forums graced by industry experts will also be held on the exhibition grounds. At the e21 Forum, for instance, Anand Chandrasekher, Intel vice president and director of sales and marketing, will discuss the impact of technology's rapid change on consumers and businesses worldwide.

Other technology areas on show include Net telephony, PCs and notebooks, motherboards, software, car electronics and digital home systems.


DS2 200 Mbps Powerline Technology

XAVi announces HD quality networking products based on DS2 200 Mbps Powerline chips

Taiwan, Tapei, 5 June 2006 –- XAVi Technologies Corporation, a professional solutions provider for Broadband Access and Digital Home applications today announced its new home networking product line powered by DS2 powerline chipsets.



Utilizing the most advanced 200 Mbps Powerline HD technology from DS2, XAVi´s new product line will allow users to easily convert an entire home’s power outlet system into a secure DSL/Cable connection without any additional wiring. “DS2’s chipsets provide the perfect solution for the “triple play” services of simultaneous high definition television, internet access, and voice over IP while maintaining the highest quality user experience. It adds to our competency in ADSL products allowing us to extend the reach to provide whole home coverage. With DS2´s 200 Mpbs chips we can deliver a HD quality service with these products”, said Wenston Lee, CEO of XAVi.

“XAVi, is a leading provider of ADSL customer premise equipment (CPE) solutions and a great partner for DS2. Its xDSL CPE and Broadband Gateway products deliver data, voice, video, and multimedia services for corporate, SME, SOHO, and residential users are the markets that DS2 chips are designed to serve,” said Ramón Garcia, Director DS2´s Asian Office.


XAVi will be showing its networking products based on DS2 200 Mbps PLC technology at Globalcomm 2006 in Chicago (USA), from June 4-8, at McCormick Place South, Level 3 Exhibit Hall A, booth #67051. They will also be exhibiting DS2’s solution at Computex 2006 in Taipei (Taiwan) from June 6-10, at Hall 1, Communication Products Area, booth #412a.


XAVi’s wall-plug adapters XP302A and XP302H based on DS2’s DSS900X series chipsets will begin shipping in June 2006. Later this summer 2006 the XP302D will be available – a power supply integrated with DS2’s 200 Mbps chipset for PLC networking.



BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

IQPC`s 3rd annual Broadband Over Powerline 2006 conference in the US

50 days left days to go Broadband Over Powerline 2006. Put it in your diary!

Broadband Over Powerline 2006


Unleashing the full potential of Broadband Over Powerline for your business: core applications, commercialized broadband and the logistics of a large-scale deployment
July 25 - 26, 2006 · Hilton Garden Inn, Dallas, TX

What to watch out for at Broadband Over Powerline 2006

2 site visits: CenterPoint Energy, Houston & CURRENT's BPL Demo House, Dallas

Intellon's HomePlug AV Integrated Circuits Featured on Texas Instruments' Residential Gateway Demo Showcasing End-to-End Video at Globalcomm

Monday June 5, 8:00 am ET
Intellon's ICs Enable Reliable High Definition Video Streaming over Customers' Existing in-Home Electrical and Coax Wiring


CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 2006--Intellon Corporation, the leading provider of HomePlug®-compatible integrated circuits for home networking, networked entertainment and broadband over powerline applications, announced today that Texas Instruments (TI), a member of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, has included Intellon's HomePlug AV standards-based 200-Mbps solution in its video over DSL demo at Globalcomm 2006. The demo is representative of a service provider's transport network for delivering video to the home and distributing video to any room within the home.
By visiting TI's booth at Globalcomm (Booth #35061), service providers and equipment manufacturers will be able to see a video stream being delivered over ADSL2+ to TI's AR7 Residential Gateway, connecting to various home networking technologies, including an Intellon HomePlug AV adapter, and ultimately delivering the IPTV experience over powerline to a TI DaVinci(TM) IP-STB.

"TI's broad portfolio of end equipment technologies enable end-to-end broadband solutions, and TI offers an RG solution flexible enough to accommodate various home networking technologies for the distribution of voice, video and data throughout the home," said Kurt Eckles, director of Marketing and Customer Support for TI's Residential Gateway and Embedded Systems business unit. "Our advanced broadband technologies, combined with Intellon-enabled HomePlug AV standards-based ICs, deliver high-performing home entertainment connectivity solutions for service providers."

"Intellon's HomePlug solutions have proven to be what service providers, consumers and equipment manufacturers want and need - simple, robust and reliable IPTV experiences," said Andy Melder, SVP of strategic business development with Intellon. "The inclusion of Intellon's new HomePlug AV solution in TI's residential gateway demo validates the importance of offering a robust, plug-and-play solution for whole-home video distribution."

Globalcomm 2006 will be held June 4 - 6 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL.

also:
PCCW Selects Intellon's HomePlug(R) ICs for 'Do-It-Yourself' Multimedia Home Networking Installations

Monday June 5, 8:00 am ET
Hong Kong's Largest Telecommunications Provider Relies on HomePlug With Turbo for Easy and Reliable Connectivity


OCALA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 2006--Intellon Corporation, the leading provider of HomePlug-compatible integrated circuits (ICs) for home networking, networked entertainment and broadband over powerline (BPL) applications, today announced that PCCW Limited, one of Asia's leading integrated communications companies, is successfully deploying network adapters based on its leading HomePlug 1.0 with Turbo ICs to capture broadband customers unwilling to install new wiring in their homes.
PCCW has top market share for Hong Kong's broadband market with over 800,000 subscribers, of which 550,000 customers have also signed up its world largest IPTV service -- nowTV. The Intellon-based HomePlug with Turbo adapters enable a customer-installable alternative to running new cables along floors and under rugs to connect the PCCW broadband modem to computers, digital media adaptors and IP set-top-boxes in the home. With this No New Wires® alternative, those subscribing to PCCW services simply connect an adapter to the modem and any convenient power outlet, and another to a power outlet close to the computer or IP set-top box -- providing invisible connectivity and allowing customers to place their computers and TVs anywhere they choose.

"Because HomePlug Turbo is a very simple, plug and play solution, we are now offering our customers a do-it-yourself option for Broadband multimedia home networking services," said Dr. Allen Wong, director of product development for PCCW. "On all fronts, Intellon provided the best combination of user friendliness, price and time to market, allowing us to get a solution in place for our customers very quickly."

"Partnering with PCCW on its in-home connectivity provides Intellon with the opportunity to showcase our strength in broadband and multimedia networking over in-home powerlines," said Cameron McCaskill, vice president of business development for Intellon. "Powerline networking solutions based on Intellon ICs are proving to be a valuable selling tool for service providers like PCCW looking to grow and retain their broadband and IPTV customers."

Bangalore, India: Firm develops online energy meter

Saturday, Jun 03, 2006
P. Manoj


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It can help check power theft and meters being tampered with
It can help identify the causes for transmission and distribution losses
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Bangalore: Electricity supply companies grappling with power theft and meters being tampered with now have access to a technology that can track, on a real-time basis, energy consumption and losses, help manage load requirements and even deliver high-speed broadband connectivity over power lines.

An online energy meter developed by the little-known Bangalore firm Echrome Embedded Services Pvt. Ltd. comes with power line communication technology that enables communication of energy consumption and other information to the utility companies along with a feature for delivering data over power lines at a speed of 14 megabits per second (Mbps).

"Unlike the present system, where a meter has an RR number, our energy meter has an IP address so that each meter can be individually queried to find out the status," P.H. Srinivas, Chairman and Managing Director, Echrome Embedded Services, told The Hindu .

The deployment of the online energy meter can help identify the causes for transmission and distribution losses and, hence, devise a way of minimising it, prevent meters being tampered with and facilitate energy management through load balancing according to the requirement of a particular area. It can help track meter faults quickly and eliminate the need for utilities to hire private agencies to carry out meter reading, he explained. Echrome is working on increasing the data carrying speed over power lines from 14 Mbps to 200 Mbps by August.

With Internet penetration still low in the country, broadband over power line could be a good solution for rapid last-mile Internet connectivity. "Power utilities can use their existing infrastructure to deliver broadband to households and earn additional revenue," he said, adding that Echrome was in talks with electricity supply companies in the State to roll out the technology. Echrome's power line solution can also help track tax evaders in the manufacturing sector. Utility companies are already aiding income tax officials to track defaulters, but this is currently possible only in the case of big manufacturing set-ups.

By calculating the total energy consumed for manufacturing a particular item, the taxman can ascertain the quantity produced, the sales tax paid and thereby detect defaults.

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BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!: India: Project launched to deliver broadband over power lines

BROADBAND over POWERLINES:"The cost is about 1/10th that of installing fiber optic cable to customers, said Dan Pecarina, HBC vice president of tech*

HBC tests latest BPL technology
Published - Saturday, June 03, 2006
By David Krotz / Winona Daily News- MN

.
Hiawatha Broadband Communications is using new technology and existing infrastructure to expand its territory.

After extending its cable television, telephone and high-speed Internet services to St. Charles and Wabasha in recent years, the Winona-based company is looking

farther afield to places like Iowa and Illinois.

HBC is testing new technology to deliver broadband Internet signals over existing power lines, which could make ultra-fast service available to every resident of Rochester, Minn. If it works there, company officials say, they will turn to other cities that are already lining up to be next.

In early 2004, HBC teamed up with Rochester Public Utilities and the Shpigler Group of Nyack, N.Y, to test the technology, known as broadband over powerline, or BPL. By July of that year, it was bringing high-speed Internet to the home of a Rochester architect over his existing home electric lines.

The cost is about a tenth that of installing fiber optic cable to customers, said Dan Pecarina, HBC vice president of technology. Cost savings for service providers and customers is a major motivator for those perfecting the technology. Because HBC has already installed a fiber optic network in Winona, the company has no plans to bring the new service here.

The technology is being used now in Manassas, Va., the first city in the country to offer it successfully. Customers pay $28.95 monthly for Internet access at speeds 10 to 15 times faster than dial-up connection speeds.

HBC and its partners are working on a system that could deliver services at even higher speeds.

The company hopes the newest generation of the technology will be able to deliver internet, telephone and cable TV service over the power lines. Earlier versions proved unreliable for video.

“The hardware we’re looking at now has us intrigued,” Pecarina said. “We now know that telephone and Internet works quite well. We’re hoping it is capable of delivering video.”

One problem that has slowed the implementation of BPL is possible radio interference, including the short wave radio bands used by ham radio operators.

Pecarina says HBC hasn’t seen any problems with interference in its tests. Using new equipment supplied by the Shpigler Group, HBC will begin 45 days of testing in the middle of June and hopes to add tests of video and television channels after that.

“By fall we will be looking at whether to roll out services (to the whole city),” Pecarina said. Various licenses and city approvals are needed.

Eventually, HBC could expand its BPL services to other communities that have shone an interest, said CEO Gary Evans. “We’re visiting with a lot of communities that have municipal utilities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois.”

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BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

CPUC President Michael R. Peevey: BROADBAND OVER POWERLINES can be the third broadband pipe to Californians !!!

Broadband Starting to Bloom
By Sonia Arrison
TechNewsWorld
06/02/06 5:00 AM PT

Liberalizing the marketplace to allow for the wide adoption of new technologies should not stop with power lines or the California Public Utilities Commission. A host of other issues need proper attention for Americans to reap maximum benefits from the Internet superhighway. Cable franchise liberalization and universal service reform are two obvious areas that come to mind.

Broadband adoption in American homes grew by 40 percent in the last year, twice the growth rate of the year before, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project. That's good news that should be followed by more good news if technology is allowed to move forward, unfettered by heavy government regulations.

Broadband adoption among African Americans increased by 121 percent between 2005 and 2006 and English-speaking Latino households reported a strong 46 percent increase, bringing those groups' overall household broadband adoption rate to near parity with white households, according to the report. That quells worries that some populations would be left out of the Internet revolution. Even access in tough-to-reach rural areas is expanding at a brisk 39 percent. While not everyone always finds it easy to get online, the revolution is touching virtually every group in a significant way.


Enabling Access
To be sure, new applications such as social networking sites like MySpace.com or online music services such as iTunes have driven demand for more bandwidth, and that in turn is driving innovation in the broadband deployment market. Not only are the telco and cable companies working to deploy more high speed lines, but there are also new satellite and broadband over power lines (BPL) options.

For instance, AT&T (NYSE: T) recently announced a satellite-based broadband Internet access service, powered by WildBlue, for rural customers across its 13-state territory. Rural satellite-based broadband subscribers can choose among three service packages, with prices ranging from US$49.95 to $79.95 per month, and broadband speed options ranging up to 1.5 Mbps downstream and up to 256 Kbps upstream. But perhaps even more intriguing is BPL.

Imagine just plugging your computer into an electrical outlet in the wall and having instant high speed Internet access. That's what BPL promises, and pilot projects have been rolling out all over the country.

"BPL has the potential to bring broadband Internet services to communities who do not have broadband service available today from the telephone companies or cable companies. In fact, in other communities that already have DSL and cable modem service BPL can provide a third broadband 'pipe' to customers, thereby increasing competition and consumer choice," said California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) President Michael R. Peevey.

A Light Touch
CALIFORNIA PUC recently approved a new regulatory framework in an effort to create a more stable market for capital investment in the technology. That's a step in the right direction, as it was clear that many investors were worried that the highly-regulated electric utilities marketplace would drown out entrepreneurial spirit.

New CPUC Commissioner Rachelle Chong, formerly a Commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission , has seen the damage caused by heavy regulations in the telecom space. Clearly, she wanted to avoid those problems in the electrical broadband market.

"In taking a light touch approach to regulate BPL, this decision sets the table for electric utilities to bring a new flavor of broadband technology to Californians," Chong said.

Commissioner John Bohn had similar sentiments. "By removing unnecessary regulations from its path, we free BPL entrepreneurs to invest and take the risks they want, while protecting ratepayers from any downside," he said.

Feeling the Boom
The new framework takes significant steps such as allowing third parties to invest in and operate BPL systems and exempting certain types of BPL-related transactions from regulatory review. Those are great improvements and the CPUC should be congratulated for its vision in this space.

Liberalizing the marketplace to allow for the wide adoption of new technologies should not stop with power lines or the CPUC. A host of other issues need proper attention for Americans to reap maximum benefits from the Internet superhighway. Cable franchise liberalization and universal service reform are two obvious areas that come to mind.

In the meantime, the 42 percent of all American adults who have a high-speed Internet connection at home will continue to feed the broadband boom.
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CALIFORNIA: Regulators ease the way for broadband over power lines
By Jessie Seyfer
Mercury News
Posted on Fri, Apr. 28, 2006

BPLTODAY.com...Thanks for featuring this BPL blog !!!

BPLTODAY RESOURCE BLOG

BPLTODAY RESOURCE BLOG

US PTO issued patent to AT&T Corp. for: Interference control in a broadband powerline communication system

A broadband powerline communication system is disclosed which makes use of knowledge of the spectrum characteristics of a local radio environment in order to improve the performance of the system. A determination is made of the spectrum characteristics of a radio environment in the vicinity of the broadband powerline communication system that is transmitting data on modulated carrier frequencies. Certain ones of the carrier frequencies otherwise used by the broadband powerline communication system may be masked (i.e., not used) by all or part of the broadband powerline system in order to avoid interference based on the determination. In various embodiments, the spectrum characteristics are determined 1) in advance and used to compile a configuration database comprising frequency masking parameters; 2) by monitoring the local radio environment using the transmitter/receiver nodes of the system; or 3) based upon receipt of an indication from a conflicting user that the user is experiencing interference. Various combinations of these spectrum characteristic determination techniques may also be used.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inventors: Gerszberg; Irwin; (Kendall Park, NJ) ; Henry; Paul Shala; (Holmdel, NJ) ; Sutliff; Larrie; (Briarcliff Manor, NY)
Correspondence Name and Address: AT&T CORP.
ROOM 2A207
ONE AT&T WAY
BEDMINSTER
NJ
07921
US


Assignee Name and Adress: AT&T Corp.


Serial No.: 074221
Series Code: 11
Filed: March 7, 2005


BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!