Broadband over Powerlines (BPL)

Let’s hope California is leading the way when it comes to providing broadband Internet access over existing power lines to consumers at low prices. According to the April 27, 2006 article “California regulators OK broadband over power line test” (which I found via TechLearning) California regulators have approved further testing of the technology called BPL: Broadband over powerlines.

This is revolutionary thinking today in 2006, but I think it is correct none-the-less: Communities should provide high speed Internet access for citizens just like they insure that clean water, sewer and trash service, and electricity services are available at reasonable costs. The real revolutionary side of me says that cities should strive to GIVE AWAY FOR FREE access to the Internet for everyone– but that would be an even greater challenge than the first idea. But who knows what is possible?

I read several months ago about Google’s plan to provide free, low-speed Internet access in the San Francisco bay area, and thought that sounded like a super plan. It just might work since Google is going to provide lower-speed wireless Internet access, still leaving a wide-open market niche for companies who want to sell faster access. This low speed wireless access would be well suited for many handheld devices like Blackberries and Treos. I wrote an article last fall (as yet unpublished in traditional print, since the TCEA TechEdge editors refused to publish it) titled “Digital Curriculum and The Last Mile: Providing Curricular Flexibility and Limitless Bandwidth.” The article includes several key ideas, but the most basic is how HIGH SPEED Internet access should be provided for schools and communities just like water and electricity. It shouldn’t be a question for students, “Do you have high-speed Internet access at home?” It should be a given. And in the not too distant future, it could be.

I’m sure I’ll be following developments related to BPL closely in the months and years to come. I’m sure we’ll have lots of complainers and lawyers get involved, including those who will seek to use legislation as well as litigation to prevent greater market competition for Internet access. Generally, a more competitive market is a good thing for consumers, since it provides more choices and usually results in downward price pressures. We’ll see if that’s the case with BPL technologies. It’s a new world, with a new highway, called the Internet. We need to help as many people not only get on the road, but also learn to drive safely as well as effectively.