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[Ripclawe]

So.. what kind of speeds can they deliver right now?


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000672418

FCC switches on broadband delivery


By Brooks Boliek
WASHINGTON -- Watch out, cable. Reddy Kilowatt can now invade your turf as the FCC on Thursday approved regulations that allow power companies to provide broadband services.

In a 5-0 vote, the commission agreed to new regulations that allow power companies to provide such broadband services as television programming, Internet access and telephone service over their electrical transmission lines.

Power companies have a leg up on many other cable wannabes as they don't have to build new lines to customers' homes.

"Years from now when we look back, it is going to be a historically significant day for communication in the United States," FCC chairman Michael Powell said. "We talk so often about competition; well, here it is."

 

[Phoenix]

Finally! And in terms of the speeds they can deliver now, it depends entirely on your power company. Some are capable of giving you 5-10Mbps up and down simultaneously.

 

[Drozmight]

Nice, everything on one bill.

 

[luxsol]

Too fucking awesome. Hopefully, this will drive down prices... though, I'm already paying 30 a month for cable (5mb down/768kb up)

 

[Zaptruder]

.... I'm paying 60$ aussie for .5mb connection... that has a 24GB limit

I need this so much more than you! ; ;

 

[mrklaw]

yeah, what Zaptruder said. £25 for 512/256

Fucking $30 5mb grrrr..

 

[Vgamer]

Everyone always is hating on michael powell well here is something really good he did! So give credit where it is do. Adding more competition is sure to lower prices and let more people get High Speed internet!

 

[DarienA]

There is a company here in southern MD that has a small test location in one town... can't remember where or the speeds, the missus clued me in on it because she had to attend a broadband conference a few weeks ago. I'll try and pick her brain later about it.

Everyone always is hating on michael powell well here is something really good he did! So give credit where it is do. Adding more competition is sure to lower prices and let more people get High Speed internet!

Yeah because that hate before was so unjustified....

EDIT:

Ah here they are:

http://www.current.net/ServiceAndPricing/Residential/PricingAndBenefits/

1MB - $29.95
2MB - $34.95
3MB - $39.99
3MB/Fixed IP - $49.95

Cheaper than cable and comparable speeds, but still slower than Verizon FIOS(which i believe is a fiber optic to phone line high speed service).

5MB/2 - $39.95
15MB/2 - $49.95
30MB/5 - $199.95

Be curious to see which one gets a wider rollout first...

 

[Panajev2001a]

Very important decision: power arrives to everyone's home: at least anybody can have, even in remote locations a decent internet (56k at least).

Still, I do not know if they will be able to push very high quality and reliable connections: in most of the U.S. power is not delivered underground, well-shielded, but on nice ol' wooden/concreete poles even in towns/cities (at least in states like New Hampshire and Massachussets, and Vermont, etc...).