Good question Dave. I'm just repeating what I was told by our marketing
guys.
I'll run that question past those guys at work tomorrow! (I'm just the
dumb RF guy;-)
I suppose it has to do with who pays for the extra hardware to get the data
they need pumped back. If the package enticement is "come get internet
access from us and lower your electric bills to boot", then they could
probably charge the customer up front for the additional hardware needed
and get this data pumped back for free. Otherwise they'd have to either
give away the hardware to get sign-ups (costing them $) or else charge for
the hardware without the enticement of providing net access as part of the
package--probably a tough sell. Then again probably a tough sell even with
the internet access package.
73, de ed -K0iL
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Bernstein
Given the large number of homes in this country with cable or DSL
connectivity, why aren't electric utilities already providing these serv
ices
if they represent such a compelling opportunity? Cable+HomePlug or
DSL+HomePlug is indistinguishable from BPL for this purpose.
-----Original Message-----
From: rfi-bounces@contesting.com On Behalf Of EDWARDS, EDDIE J
You are all missing one important detail that could make BPL worthwhile
even
if it doesn't get but a small share of the internet business; as I and
others have mentioned here on "RFI" before, the real reason for the "data
pipe" into the home is to provide value-added electric services that can be
added to the electric bill.
Once there's a data link to most homes, an electric utility can provide
Outage Detection (faster restoration), Outage Notification, Distribution
Automation, Automated Meter Reading (saves utility $), Energy Load
Management (for discount in rate), not to mention other more futuristic
possibilities.
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