FEMA Opposes Broadband Over Powerlines

Curmudgeon Rick writes "According to eHam.net, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has put a submission to the FCC strongly opposing the use of powerlines for broadband distribution. The report can be found here [PDF link]. IMO, vendors should let powerline broadband die. They keep defibrillating it only because of the dollars they poured in; but it is and always was a dead duck." The submission concludes: "FEMA has concluded that introduction of unwanted interference from the implementation of BPL technology into the high frequency radio spectrum will result in significant detriment to the operation of FEMA [emergency] radio systems such as FNARS."

Comments

Well, I'm bummed

[IamGarageGuy 2]

Without looking into this too deeply, I believed that this was a great idea that only needed the proper amount of time to develop. Once again, it looks like I'm wrong. **** Look of astonishment on faces of all readers ****

of course

[Anonymous Coward]

Why use powerlines when you can use pigeons?

The day they take my powerline broadband

[jlowery]

will be the day they pull the power cable from my hot frying dead hands.

But this is FEMA

[cyril3]

the secret government of the USA. So what is the 'real' reason they oppose this. And what is the hidden link with the internation space-borne mind control laser system that even now seeks out independent thought and snuffs it out like

ohh look at the pretty daisys. mummy where are you, i cant see you any more.

mummy ... sniff

FNARS?

[Spudley]

Fnars?

Oh dear. Viz magazine has infected Slashdot! :-o

(uh... appologies if you didn't get the joke - it's only going to be understood by the Brits...)

FEMA

[frovingslosh]

I'm a ham and have been very concerned about the reports of spectrum polution from Broadband over Powerlines. But if FEMA doesn't like it, maybe it's not so bad after all.

Re:FEMA is an unconstitutional entity

[TedCheshireAcad]

Broadband over power cables interferes with FEMA's mind control satellite.

You're now entering aluminum foil hat territory.

Re:FEMA

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm a ham and have been very concerned about the reports of spectrum polution from Broadband over Powerlines

If I were you I'd be more concerned about the upcoming holiday season. Watch out you don't get baked and served with a delicious pineapple garnish

That's fine

[Anonymous Coward]

Then I say no power distribution over wireless networks! Hmpf! Take THAT!

Dilbert

[Adam_Trask]

Reminded me of my favorite Dilbert strip. It goes:

The Boss (to Wally):
Our competitors found a way to send broadband internet traffic over the power grid.

The Boss (to Wally):
I want to you find a way to send data over the sewer system.

Wally (thinking):
I thought i was already doing it.

----------
Btw, i am curious. If only the text is reproduced (like i just did), is it a violation of the copyright? What if i told this to somebody?

Re:Emergency != Power outage.

[shaitand]

"Suppose the phones go down."

You use your high speed BPL connection to instantly initiate a realtime video conference with your friends and loved ones who also have these affordable readily available high speed connections now.

FNARs?

[NeuroManson]

Hmmm, from my MU* and IRC experience, that stands for "For No Apparent Reason". Sneaky!

They could have gone for a Pinky and the Brain angle though, and just called it "NARF".

Nice acronyms

[ruiner13]

IMHO, someone better EOL this BPL idea PDQ before FEMA gets PO'ed. OTOH, if this could somehow work in GNU or dare I say BSD as well as MS PCs, despite the dangers to FNARS, lets give it a try. Sure beats DSL to speed those TCP/IP connections.