The Journal story said that in Texas, state regulatory laws have been passed
enabling utilities to spin off companies that can attract investors and
raise capital to finance ventures without using revenue from power
customers. Other states have not yet done this.
Separately, on an eHam forum for this news item, Ed Hare wrote that this
particular BPL deployment is designed to have minimal RFI with ham radio.
It is the 30 to 50 MHz type, which the Journal did not mention, so may not
be the alarming thing that it first appeared to be.
rob / k5uj
>From: "Jim P" <jvpoll@dallas.net>
>To: "Rob Atkinson, K5UJ" <k5uj@hotmail.com>, <rfi@contesting.com>
>Subject: Re: [RFI] BPL news today's WSJ
>Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 21:21:00 -0600
>
>They are going to get squashed like a bug by Verizon
>and their FIOS offering and SBC and their "Project
>Lightspeed" product.
>
>I just have a question: Is this 150 mil coming out
>of the rates I pay for electric service to TXU?
>
>I have another question too: Have the electic utilities
>(esp TXU north of Dallas) given up on tree trimming?
>
>I can point out several dozen areas JUST on the way
>too and from work where trees are coming into
>contact with distribution-class lines and their
>growth is 'inhibited' as a result.
>
>Jim // WB5WPA //
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Rob Atkinson, K5UJ" <k5uj@hotmail.com>
>To: <rfi@contesting.com>
>Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 5:27 PM
>Subject: [RFI] BPL news today's WSJ
>
>
> >
> > Excerpts and paraphrased portions:
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Today's Wall St. Jour. (Friday 12/19) reports on p. B1 that Current
> > Communications Group and TXU Electric plan to offer BPL to more than 2
> > million customers in Texas. It is reported that this is the biggest
>single
> > deployment of BPL in the U.S. The schedule calls for the rollout
>before
> > the end of 2006. Current is already operating BPL in the Dallas area
>and
> > elsewhere in TX. The new service area will be in North Texas. Under
>the
> > terms of the agreement, TXU the biggest utility company in Tex., will
>sign
>a
> > 10 year contract for $150 million to use Current's technology which will
> > also provide instant alerts about outages, and information about its
> > electrical system. It is thought that the technology would also
>eventually
> > read meters and remotely turn on or shut off power, eliminating utility
> > jobs. TXU has been engaged in a wide-ranging effort to build new
> > businesses and cut costs and has been one of the utility sector's top
>stock
> > performers for the past 2 years.
> >
> > Current, is a private family controlled company. It plans to raise $100
> > million from its investors, which include Google.
> >
> > BPL had technical difficulties, and ham radio operators have objected to
> > spectrum interference, but Current says its service doesn't interfere
>with
> > ham radio.
> >
> > The service is being explored through pilot projects, such as one with a
> > customer owned utility in Manassas Va.
> >
> > Top officials at the FCC have expressed support for BPL because they
>could
> > expand the availability of high speed internet access to rural
>communities.
> >
> > In suburban Washington D.C., Current has set up a home to conduct
> > demonstrations of its power-line broadband. Among the 5000 people who
>have
> > visited, are FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, former FCC Chairman Michael
>Powell,
> > Richard Russell, technology advisor at the White House, and members of
> > congress.
> >
> >
>____________________________________________________________________________
>_______________
> >
> > Rob / k5uj
> >
_________________________________________________________________
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