700 MHz spectrum, proposed FCC rules

[Scandiman]

Stumbled onto this reading one of my newsletters. This would be a major boost to opening up mobile internet in the US.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/telecom/2007-07-09-wireless-telecom_N.htm?csp=N008

[newton]

Excellent news thanks for posting it :)

[hedgefund]

Great news indeed. Thanks.

BTW, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin, he looks so young, he must be a very smart guy.

[Scandiman]

BTW, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin, he looks so young, he must be a very smart guy. Or politically connected.

I'm very curious how the FCC deals with BPL and ongoing interference issues with Amateur Radio. BPL (Broadband Over Powerline) is another broadband initiative being tested in some US markets and from what I've read is being used in Europe to some extent. Basically the power lines in your home are used to convey an additional signal for high speed internet. It works but has some problems because power lines are unshielded and emanate frequencies that interfere with heavily used Amateur radio bands.

A good write-up with links can be found here for those who are so inclined to learn more. http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/

[Gerry]

This has been kicked around and tested for years and I am not at all surprised BPL is not mainstream.

Essentially, powerlines are not only the carrier, they are the "antenna" of sorts. Powerlines and electricity is everywhere and this would enable broadband access to even the remotest location. Got Power? Got Internet!

Needless to say, it is the IP's and major telecommunications companies and cable companies against this. At one point I was looking to potentially invest in the company making the adapters for the computer connectivity.

Essentially, plug your computer into any receptacle in the house, and your are online. Wireless? No router required.

[Scandiman]

This has been kicked around and tested for years and I am not at all surprised BPL is not mainstream.

Essentially, powerlines are not only the carrier, they are the "antenna" of sorts. Powerlines and electricity is everywhere and this would enable broadband access to even the remotest location. Got Power? Got Internet!

Needless to say, it is the IP's and major telecommunications companies and cable companies against this. At one point I was looking to potentially invest in the company making the adapters for the computer connectivity.

Essentially, plug your computer into any receptacle in the house, and your are online. Wireless? No router required.Deployment is not quite that easy. BPL needs to be bridged over every transformer which creates plenty of infrastructure issues. What is different in the US from EU is that there are typically many more residences per transformer in EU making deployment much cheaper there than here.

[fathomjh]

Interesting news. Worth pondering IMO.