I have a solution and humbly request feedback and discussion
Posted by David Miller on May 24th, 2007
Problem: Scattered internet/intra net capabilities within Harrisonburg with unfulfilled promise of wireless IPv6 implementation city wide.
Solution:
High-speed internet and intranet functions can now be transmitted through existing infrastructure utilizing a technology know under different trade names, one such example is BPL Technologies. Below is a proposal to utilize this technology to solve many problems that the City is currently facing. Quoting the Director of Finance for the City of Harrisonburg Lester Seal, “HEC was the smartest investment the City of Harrisonburg ever made”. Why not reinvest in that by adopting BPL Technology within the city using IPv6 technology. This would not only achieve the goals of the IPv6 wireless franchise initiative but additionally achieve three further goals. First goal: provide no cost high-speed internet/intranet capability to city resources. (Insert cost of internet + intranet for all departments including the school system). Second goal: provide internet hotspots to economic districts such as Historic Downtown to assist the economic development initiative. Third goal: provide a revenue stream to the city’s coffers in the same manner that HEC already does while decreasing HEC’s operating costs* (approximately 5 million dollars are added to the city’s coffers by HEC currently).
CURRENT Technologies, a subsidiary of CURRENT Group, develops, builds and provides innovative BPL networking technology.
CURRENT Technologies® equipment is overlaid on the electric distribution network to enable CURRENT Smart Grid Services for utilities and high speed broadband services for consumer and business users.
CURRENT Technologies solution is being deployed commercially with Duke Energy, formerly known as Cinergy, in and around Cincinnati, Ohio with plans to expand throughout Duke’s 1.5 million customer service territory in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. The network’s robust performance and reliability have created high customer satisfaction. Additionally, CURRENT Technologies is deploying a BPL network solution in Dallas and other Texas communities in conjunction with Oncor (formerly TXU Electric Delivery). Once completed, the CURRENT™ BPL network will serve two million Oncor customers.
CURRENT Technologies BPL system is capable of providing multi-megabit speeds for residential and commercial Internet users leveraging the HomePlug® power line modem standard. In addition to traditional data services, the system also supports Internet telephony, gaming, digital quality video streaming and other advanced broadband services. CURRENT Technologies BPL is “always on” at every outlet in the home or business without the need for re-wiring. In addition, the system provides for a variety of applications that will create the “digital utility” by improving the security, reliability, and efficiency of electric distribution networks.
With CURRENT Smart Grid Services solution, utilities can transform the electric distribution system grid into an intelligent network, remotely monitored, managed and secured in real time. CURRENT Smart Grid Services enable utilities to:
- Monitor operations at literally every transformer throughout the system on a real-time basis.
- Detect problems and schedule repair/replacement before any outage or service interruption occurs. Similarly, the utility can detect warning signs of faults and enable a repair before a serious problem arises.
- Control their equipment remotely, creating a self-correcting, interactive power distribution network that can handle changes in load and minimize power outages.
- Manage electricity supply and demand more effectively, maximizing efficiency and moderating the use of natural resources.
- Protect electric distribution networks against threats to the security and continuous operation of the network.
HomePlug® is a registered trademark of HomePlug Powerline Alliance, Inc.
source:http://www.currenttechnologies.com
I forgot to mention that this type of technology would make it inexpensive to place HotSpot transmitters upon transmission poles in key areas where HotSpots are warranted (ie Downtown).
It’s a really neat technology, but we have to take into account the competitive landscape. There are kinda three tiers to access. You’ve got Consumer, Midrange, and Carrier (my words). BPL competes with Consumer-level broadband services, and the lower-Midrange depending on the deployment. At the consumer level, you have residential and SMB with non-intense technology use (like machine shops, retail outlets, etc).
Consumer-wise, in Harrisonburg, there are
-Ntelos
-DSL $50-100 /m,
-The Navini system (“portable wireless”), $50-100
-ISDN (dual channel is still considered broadband), $50 [if avail]
-Verizon
-DSL
-Comcast
-IP-over-Cable $70 – $100 /m
-HSL
-Wireless $40-$100 /m
On the low-end of the medium range you have the same players, same cost range, but with additional features. I’ve only found one location (out of probably more than 50 scattered throughout the city) that couldn’t get a wired connection without excessive build-out costs.
So if the city wanted to get into providing that (the political argument of a city getting into internet services aside), BPL would have to compete with an already well-tracked landscape. They can’t compete on price, so if they wanted to do it, they’d have to get massive inbound bandwidth and sell it like FTTH services do. I mean…obnoxiously overpowered bandwidth, like 30-50Mbit. OR do it like they were supposed to do the wireless originally..function as a common carrier and make 3rd-party ISPs provide bandwidth & support, and pay a connection fee to the city per customer.
Two years down the road, couple it with Real Wireless (802.16) and then you might be in business.
I am personally for implementing Google TiSP
I agree that IPv6 is overkill for Harrisonburg.
However, I heard some city offical on tv bemoaning that they were behind schedule but there was nothing they could do because that company had been granted a franchise. If they have truly been granted an exclusive franchise, then others won’t be able to come in and compete.
Im with Mr. Troyer…the Google TiSP is the FUTURE of wireless. None of the same old crap this time around. Who would have thought that the good life was just a flush away!
Thank Dave !
eso, World Airwaves has a non-exclusive franchise agreement with the city.
Basically, all I’ve been writing about over the past few months is to say that Harrisonburg will more than likely not be the first to have city-wide IPv6 wireless coverage, despite all the press reports to the contrary. At best, there will be access downtown, JMU campus, and the technology park.
I don’t know what the big deal with v6 was anyway, since most people are not using it yet. Let the federal money set up the infrastructure (like they did with ARPANET). People will use it once there is something worth using.
See Wes’s comment above (salvaged from the spam filter).
Hey guys, I caught this on Yahoo News and I am curious if our city council or another entity that represents this city can contact this company and maybe talk them into doing this in town. Sounds like the people of San Fran don’t really want to help get something for free. I believe a town should help a company especially if you are getting the equipment for FREE.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080104/ap_on_hi_te/wi_fi_san_francisco
Let me know if I can contact someone else to maybe get the ball rolling. Thanks
Does anyone know what this really means and does it fit in here?
http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206101213
Frank,
The auction isn’t for any new technology, but rather for the rights to transmit signals over specific wavelengths.
So tt really is a completely separate issue from IPv6. The 700 Mhz spectrum is so valuable because waves at that frequency travel a LOT farther than other frequencies such as 2400 Mhz (which most current wireless network technologies are based on), or 1900 Mhz (Most GSM cell phones operate here). What that means is the cost of implementing technologies at this spectrum are much cheaper because it requires something like 1 700 Mhz tower to cover the area it would take 9 2400 Mhz towers to cover.
There are a bunch of different slices from 595 – 805 mhz available, (minus a few for public safety), each with hopefully a hefty enough price tag that no one company will come along and buy all of them.
Aaaahhhhh….thanks David.
So, what are the options for high speed internet in this town besides Com-not so fantastic? This new line up and now the removal of NFL network from our higher costing line-up has all but pissed me off totally.