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F.C.C. Begins Rewriting Rules on Delivery of the Internet...

Feb 12, 2004 6:13PM PST

"WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 - Homes could start being connected to the Internet through electrical outlets, and consumers and business may find it easier to make cheaper telephone calls online under new rules that the Federal Communications Commission began preparing on Thursday.

Taken together, the new rules could profoundly affect the architecture of the Internet and the services it provides. They also have enormous implications for consumers, the telephone and energy industries, and equipment manufacturers.

Michael K. Powell, the F.C.C. chairman, and his two Republican colleagues on the five-member commission said the twin moves, and a separate 4-to-1 vote Thursday to allow a small company providing computer-to-computer phone connections to operate under different rules from ordinary phone companies, would ultimately transform the telecommunications industry and the Internet.

"This is a reflection of the commission's commitment to bring tomorrow's technology to consumers today," Mr. Powell said. He added that the rules governing the new phone services sought to make them as widely available as e-mail, and possibly much less expensive than traditional phones, given their lower regulatory costs.

At the same time, once the rules allowing delivery of the Internet through power lines are completed, companies could provide consumers with the ability to plug their modems directly into wall sockets just as they do with a toaster, desk lamp or refrigerator.

Under the new rules, expected to be completed in coming months, electric utilities could offer an alternative to the cable and phone companies and provide an enormous possible benefit to rural communities which are served by the power grid but not by broadband providers. A number of utility companies have been running trials offering high-speed Internet service through their transmission lines."

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I discussed the possibility of using mains connection with an engineer and
Feb 13, 2004 9:26AM PST

Hi Blake,
I swear there would be problems if someone attempted to send signals through a sub-station.
There is no direct connection of wires passing into the substation coils, and out into the homes.
Apparently connections are possible within the substation complex.
I will listen with interest how they propose to overcome this restriction.

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Re:I discussed the possibility of using mains connection with an engineer and
Feb 13, 2004 2:14PM PST

I've been reading of this in electrical magazines and a few computer magazine articles since before cable companies rolled out high speed access.

It's been reported as an emerging technology for over a decade or more.

There will be problems with signal transmissions at substations and even house transformers. I belivee the intent is to 'piggyback' high frequency data on the powerlines and to take them off before going through substations and transformers.

Obviously there is a problem with either the development or the will to invest the capital for R&D since this was discussed over 10 years now. I'm not sure which is the problem.

roger