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back to article IBM, IBEC do rural Internet broadband

It looks like broadband over power lines is going to get another pass, thanks to the economic stimulus bill that President Obama just signed into law this week. One of the key IT-related features of the bill, and one that IBM chairman and chief executive officer, Sam Palmisano, has been supporting since last November, when …

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  1. Eddy Ito
    Thumb Down

    Time will tell

    "Whutts dis heer? A muntheley bill !!!?!?! Wuddayuh meen, aren't it fuhree???! Wheye I'ull jes' get mah porn the ol' fashuned whay."

    Just a guess, it will come out to roughly $10 million for each person who signs up and keeps it for a year.

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  2. Anonymous Coward
    Paris Hilton

    Russia

    I wonder what technologies and kit Russia used to link up Siberia?

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  3. Hud Dunlap
    Stop

    What about HAM radio

    The issue with Broadband over power lines is that it is interferes with the HAM radio frequency. HAM radio isn't used as much as it used to be but it was still used after Katrina. After a good ice storm takes out power lines it is about all you got left for emergencies.

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  4. Charles

    Is IBM aware of some of the BPL limitations?

    As I recall, some of the problems of BPL is that some powerline structures, such as transformers, have the unfortunate side effect of squelching the signal, this requiring some form of signal jumper to get it past the stoppage. Many have seen the technology as virtually dead against increasing DSL and Cable rates and increasing FTTH adoption...but focusing on the rural and inner city factor could give it a new spark of like since none of the other would find a good return for the deployment.

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  5. Steen Hive
    Boffin

    @HAM Radio

    "The issue with Broadband over power lines is that it is interferes with the HAM radio frequency. HAM radio isn't used as much as it used to be but it was still used after Katrina. After a good ice storm takes out power lines it is about all you got left for emergencies."

    Well duh, if the power lines are down, the power-line broadband won't be doing much interfering will it?

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