[LeArc] Peoria Journal Star Article.

[Joe Rossmiller]

Radio league: Cable plan may cause trouble

Group: Interference likely if Princeton uses power lines for high-speed
Internet

July 27, 2004






By BRANDON COUTRE


of the Journal Star


PRINCETON - As the City Council moves forward with plans to offer high-speed
Internet via the city's electrical system, a group of amateur radio
operators is planning to protest the project.

"They're about to create a nightmare of interference. They're trying to put
this stuff on the power lines, and they're not designed for that," said
Stephen Gross, a member of the American Radio Relay League.

Broadband over power lines can cause interference with police and fire
radio, as well as shortwave radio, according to Gross.

Over the past eight months, city officials have been developing a program
that could provide high-speed Internet throughout the city via fiber-optic
lines and, in the long run, through they city's electric system.

By offering high-speed Internet, Princeton officials hope to gain a
competitive edge in attracting businesses and bolster economic development.

Gross said he is in full support of the fiber-optic program, but when it
comes to broadband over power lines, he is strongly opposed.

"Princeton needs to realize we are not going to go away. We are going to
make a stink out of this. We're going to do whatever it takes for them to
forget about this project," said Gross, who lives in Mount Morris.

Gross plans to attend the next City Council meeting with a group of other
amateur radio enthusiasts to let the city know of their opposition to the
project.

Princeton City Manager Andrew Brannen said he has heard of Gross' complaints
but said the city is continuing on as scheduled.

Any interference issues will be dealt with during a pilot program in a small
area of the city, which should happen early next year.

"We were well aware that there were some communities that had interference.
It's a local issue. If it is present in our system, we will deal with it
before we make it available citywide," Brannen said.

Offering Internet service through electricity is a new technology. Gross
said the Princeton project is the first of its kind in Illinois.

Gross said he also wants to caution Princeton that because the city owns its
electric system, it could face fines from the Federal Communications
Commission if interference were to occur.

A week ago, city officials announced they will begin contract negations with
Connecting Point Computer Center in Peru to provide the Internet service.

Internet through fiber-optic lines, which mostly large businesses would
utilize, should be available around the end of the year. Internet service
via electricity, which mostly smaller business and home users would utilize,
will take much longer to initiate.