Broadband over Powerline [Abstract]

Broadband over Power Line (BPL) is an emerging technology that will provide a third method by which consumers can get high speed Internet access in their home. BPL has the benefit of using existing electrical wiring and the potential to network all of the devices in your home. The benefits for power companies are enormous. They are able to leverage a large and expensive power grid by adding a new service and at the same time add to their revenue stream.

The IEEE and the HomePlug Alliance are developing standards for BPL. Because BPL is a last mile technology, the claim that rural customers will quickly benefit from this service is questionable. Several objections have been raised by the National Association for Amateur Radio, The National Telecommunications Information Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Association. In spite of these objections the Federal Communications Commission backs BPL as an emerging technology and has issued rules to govern this service.

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