A new report by Innovation Observatory, more than $378 billion will be collectively invested in building electricity smart grids by 2030. Sources: Http://Xrl.Us/Bii2sf http://xrl.us/bigqfh

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

The Cambridge Springs-based cooperative has developed a plan in cooperation with IBEC Inc. to provide broadband over the cooperative's electric lines

July 05, 2006]
Rural broadband step closer

(Erie Times-News (PA) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Jul. 1--CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS -- The common electric outlet might soon bridge the digital divide for customers of Northwest Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

The "digital divide" refers to the separation between those who have access to high-speed broadband Internet and those without, who are most often residents of rural areas where cable is not available and phone companies do not readily provide DSL services.


The Cambridge Springs-based cooperative has developed a plan in cooperation with International Broadband Electric Communications Inc. to provide broadband over the cooperative's electric lines.

The technology, called "broadband over power line," turns every electric outlet in a home into an Internet port with the proper equipment for subscribers.

Northwest Rural Electric Cooperative serves more than 21,100 customers, including 14,970 in Crawford County, 4,747 in Erie County and 1,091 in Venango County. It also serves a handful of customers in the counties of Mercer, Warren and Ashtabula, Ohio.

Cooperative spokeswoman Mary Mulligan-Haines said that from the cooperative's perspective, it is premature to discuss details of the plan being developed with IBEC.

"That is the company we are working with, but we don't know for sure if this is going to happen. We don't want to get people's hopes up," she said. "The main issue is whether there's enough people interested in making the investment."

IBEC officials were more certain.

The company is submitting an application this month for a federal Rural Utilities Services loan and/or loan guarantee to fund development of the system.

"Northwest (Rural Electric Cooperative) is among a group of 13 rural cooperatives that we are going in with for a loan request," said Rick DiLella, IBEC's national sales director. "Pending approval, we intend to build out all 13 of those cooperatives."

DiLella said the company could have a decision on its loan request as soon as 90 days after submitting its application, but he expects it will take longer, perhaps four to six months.

"We have no way of knowing,"he said.

The company, based in Huntsville, Ala., already is well along in developing broadband-over-power line systems for a cooperative in Virginia and southern Illinois, DiLella said.

Christopher J. Beichner, Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission associate director for strategic initiatives, said rural electric cooperatives are particularly well-suited for bridging the digital divide in rural areas.

"If you look at the history of rural electric cooperatives, they were formed because there was an electric divide at one time -rural areas were not getting electric service," Beichner said. "Cooperatives are serving very rural areas of Pennsylvania that don't now have broadband. The ability to provide it over their electric lines is a big push forward."

DiLella said IBEC's broadband-over-power line service is cost competitive with the DSL services provided by telephone companies and with cable services.

IBEC's broadband-over-power line has some additional benefits over most competing services, including the ability to use any existing electric outlet, its transmission speed and the fact it does not require a minimum contract period, he said.

The technology is relatively new, especially in the United States, but has been proved in Europe, DiLella said.

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

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