[Yaesu] [Fwd: It looks like BPL is being offered in Manassas, VA]

[Brian Carling]

Interesting story, Dick...

I have to wonder why we are LOSING the BPL propaganda battle. 
When you do a WEB SEARCH on Google or the other search engines and input 
the term "BPL" the first page of results has NOTHING from ARRL or other am=
ateur 
radio sources. That is un-necessary and it makes me ashamed that my fellow=
 
hams at ARRL HQ are not more "web savvy."

You would think with the vast sums of money being donated to this cause th=
at we 
could do his one basic SIMPLE thing and submit our web pages that tell the=
m OUR 
side of the BPL stories so that when 
some reporter goes looking for BPL they get some point of view 
other than the triumphal proclamations of the greed machine, 
a.k.a. the two headed monster of the Power Companies and the FCC.

No insult intended to the FCC but this really is shameful that they have n=
ot stopped 
this thing still!

Still I am VERY glad you wrote to his person at Potomac News and 
told them some of the real story behind BPL.

Brian Carling,
Proud but perplexed ARRL member.

On 22 Oct 2003 at 10:42, rertman@ix.netcom.com wrote:

> Hi, folks:
> 
> I just sent this to the Potomac News reporter who wrote the article.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Dick W1NMZ
> 
> 
> > Dear Sari:
> > 
> > Interesting article, but I don't see any mention of the electronic
> > interference this technology will will cause.  It operates over a
> > frequency range of 2 MHz to 80 MHz.  This includes long range, short
> > wave communications used by international broadcasters (including
> > Voice of America), as well as U.S. Government agencies such as the
> > State and Defense Departments.  It will also interfere with amateur
> > and Citizens' Band radio communications.
> > 
> > I'm an electronics engineer retired from Lockheed Martin, where I
> > specialized in preventing, detecting and eliminating electronic
> > interference for more than 20 years.
> > 
> > You might want to look into the electronic interference aspects of
> > this technology, which is called Broadband on Power Lines (BPL).
> > 
> > I'll be glad to provide what assistance you may need if you and/or
> > The Potomac News decide to look into this.
> > 
> > Regards,
> > 
> > Dick Ertman
> > 
> > > Innovative Web access to shock Manassas
> > >
> > > SARI KREIGER
> > > skreiger@potomacnews.com
> > > Saturday, October 18, 2003
> > >
> > > Manassas residents will soon be the first in the United States to
> > > buy Internet access over city power lines.
> > >
> > > The City Council voted unanimously on Thursday to grant a
> > > franchise to Prospect Street Broadband, LLC., bringing a year-long
> > > preparation process to fruition.
> > >
> > > Residents can purchase the service within 120 days of the contract
> > > signing, which is expected to occur next week, according to Energy
> > > Services Manager Brett Massey.
> > >
> > > In May 2002, a small pilot group of city residents and businesses
> > > began using the service. A modem is plugged into the electrical
> > > outlet on one end, and the computer on the other, to gain
> > > high-speed access to the Internet.
> > >
> > > "They were very impressed by the speed, reliability and
> > > flexibility," said Utilities Director Allen Todd.
> > >
> > > Freda Wallace, an administrative assistant with Robert Loveless
> > > Architecture in Old Town Manassas said the company has been
> > > receiving the service since February.
> > >
> > > "We've had good service with it," Wallace said. "The only time it
> > > has been down is because of our equipment, or because they're
> > > testing something on the lines because it is a pilot program."
> > >
> > > The Connecticut-based company that received the franchise will be
> > > responsible for the equipment, connection, monthly billing,
> > > advertising and 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week customer support.
> > > The city will expand the current fiber network, which is almost
> > > complete, update optical electronics and install and maintain
> > > equipment external to the residents' homes.
> > >
> > > "The grantee will be providing most of the capital of this project
> > > and assume most of the risk," said John Hewa, assistant electric
> > > director for the City of Manassas. "There's very little financial
> > > risk to the city."
> > >
> > > John F. Berry, chairman and CEO of Prospect Street Broadband, said
> > > the service is very easy to use and no special training is
> > > necessary. Residents can purchase the service and obtain access
> > > from any city outlet.
> > >
> > > "You sign up once and you can sign on at home, a friend's house,
> > > the ice skating rink, where ever," Berry said.
> > >
> > > If residents opt for this Internet service provider, they will pay
> > > approximately half of normal high-speed access, as the tentative
> > > service price is $29.95 a month for residents, and $69.95 for
> > > commercial access.
> > >
> > > "It will be competitively priced and a quality service," said Vice
> > > Mayor Harry J. Parrish II.
> > >
> > > Wallace said the service was comparable in speed to any DSL
> > > program available. "It's very fast," she said.
> > >
> > > And as a fringe benefit, the city can also monitor power outages
> > > through this technology. Todd said the city has been trying for
> > > years to achieve that capability.
> > >
> > > Two bids were received on Sept. 8, and Todd said the city spent a
> > > considerable amount of time examining both proposals to ensure the
> > > best outcome for residents.
> > >
> > > "We've never had a franchise quite like this before," Todd said.
> > > "We wanted to make sure we had measures that would protect the
> > > services we promise the citizens."
> > >
> > > The contract that the council voted to approve calls for a 10-year
> > > term, with a five-year extension. A minimum payment of $24,000
> > > after the first year, and $124,000 after the second and third year
> > > is guaranteed to the city. Initial figures project that Manassas
> > > could receive up to $4.5 million in revenue after the 10-year
> > > period.
> > >
> > > Councilman Ulysses X. White questioned city staff about future
> > > price hikes, as he was reminiscent of a similar situation with
> > > cable television in the city.
> > >
> > > But Todd said with competition available, residents wouldn't be
> > > stuck with high bills and no options. Rather, this new offer gives
> > > residents exactly that -- options.
> > >
> > > Councilman Eugene R. Rainville said residents will benefit from an
> > > extra use of the electrical system their tax dollars already fund.
> > >
> > > "Now they can get Internet at a low price," Rainville said. "I
> > > would encourage all of our citizens to at least look at it as an
> > > alternative."
> > >
> > > And according to Parrish, residents may receive an added bonus if
> > > enough people patronize this service.
> > >
> > > "It looks like the council might have the opportunity to look at
> > > tax reduction," Parrish said.
> 
> Moderator: Ray Brown, KB=D8STN
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