Broadband Over Power Lines: Coming Soon?

Decaffeinated Jedi writes "With technology improving and costs droppings, News.com offers up an interesting report on renewed interest in delivering broadband Internet access via power lines (a technology known as BPL). Earlier this month, the Federal Communications Commission proposed a new set of rules for utility companies that might want to offer BPL services as a way to 'encourage broadband for the entire United States' -- particularly hard-to-reach rural areas. As the article notes, EarthLink has already started testing BPL service in using power lines leased in Wake County, North Carolina. Could cable and DSL face a new competitor in the broadband market in the near future?"

oh sure, great...

[enrico_suave]

The only problem with this solution is that when the power goes out you are going to lose your internet access.

=)

E.

Good Lord

[DNS-and-BIND]

Man, how many slashdot articles can there be about this? It's worse than the "Mozilla browser almost done" articles that kept coming for almost three years.

Debug

[wpiman]

Self installation kit.... Take the black wire and white wire and stick this meter across the terminals. I wonder how many people will inadventently fry?

Uncapping?

[ravenspear]

I can think of at least one advantage of BPL from the providers' POV. It would definitely discourage uncapping.

Because the power companies ...

[burgburgburg]

have got the maintenance of their lines down to a science. They've got all this slack time and it's not like the power lines are unduly taxed, stressed, in risk of imminent collapse. That's so ...2003.

First thing I'll do when I get Powerline BB..

[Fr05t]

.. is play Duke Nukem Forever on my Phantom gaming console. I've heard this same thing so many times I have lost hope - especially since anyone that I talked to at my local power provider said they either never heard of it or don't care.

Broadband Over Power Lines: Coming Soon?

[hendridm]

Is it that time of the year already? Wow, I guess it as been awhile since our last BPL-to-the-masses announcement. Maybe this year it will dethrone DNF for the #1 vaporware spot.

Re:stating the obvious

[Dun Malg]

*whoosh* ...

What ARE those things flying over my head?

How sad

[jkabbe]

Enron must be rolling over in its grave!

Not again...

[GoMMiX]

It's coming...

It's not...........

It's coming..............

It's not...............

It's coming........we think.........

No wait, nevermind - it's not...

Hey, when it's here - gimme a call!

I can't wait to get BB over PL

[Kufat]

So I can download that Duke Nukem Forever ISO. They should be coming out at about the same time, I think.

Re:Let's hope not...

[Anonymous Coward]

What we need are more very high voltage power lines in my back yard with magnitudes more EMF.

I want to light up a lightbulb without plugging it in.

Awesome (from article)

[DjMd]

The venture set up a test in Manchester, England, but soon discovered a snag in its technology: Neighboring lampposts were picking up data signals and rebroadcasting them as radio waves.

Coming soon to a lamppost near you, pr0n.

http://hot-action.lamppostpr0n.elec/

Re:Let's hope not...

[Cyno]

Well, normally I wouldn't want to support yet another broadband monopoly. However if I can make the rest of you suffer through these "inconveniences" it might be worth it. :)

Cable over power lines, Ned Flanders investigates!

[Anonymous Coward]

NED: But Reverend, could cable and DSL face a new competitor in the broadband market in the near future?"

LOVEJOY: Ooh, short answer: "yes" with an "if." Long answer: "no" with a "but."

How about internet over water pipes

[ikeee]

since we are looking into every single line that runs into houses to bring internet to homes, are water lines going to be next? How about pulsating water like morse code to transmit data, or better salinate it so that it can carry electricity?

Re:stating the obvious

[WormholeFiend]

"Are you fucking retarded? Please never post again"

1) yes I am.
2) oops. :P