[Kenwood] Fw: It looks like BPL is being offered in Manassas, VA

2003年10月22日 11:57:09 -0400

They are offering it. Here is the Potomac News press release:
Innovative Web access to shock Manassas
SARI KREIGER
[email protected]
Saturday, October 18, 2003
Manassas residents will soon be the first in the United States to buy
Internet access over city power lines.
The City Council voted unanimously on Thursday to grant a franchise to
Prospect Street Broadband, LLC., bringing a year-long preparation
process to fruition.
Residents can purchase the service within 120 days of the contract
signing, which is expected to occur next week, according to Energy
Services Manager Brett Massey.
In May 2002, a small pilot group of city residents and businesses began
using the service. A modem is plugged into the electrical outlet on one
end, and the computer on the other, to gain high-speed access to the
Internet.
"They were very impressed by the speed, reliability and flexibility,"
said Utilities Director Allen Todd.
Freda Wallace, an administrative assistant with Robert Loveless
Architecture in Old Town Manassas said the company has been receiving
the service since February.
"We've had good service with it," Wallace said. "The only time it has
been down is because of our equipment, or because they're testing
something on the lines because it is a pilot program."
The Connecticut-based company that received the franchise will be
responsible for the equipment, connection, monthly billing, advertising
and 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week customer support. The city will
expand the current fiber network, which is almost complete, update
optical electronics and install and maintain equipment external to the
residents' homes.
"The grantee will be providing most of the capital of this project and
assume most of the risk," said John Hewa, assistant electric director
for the City of Manassas. "There's very little financial risk to the
city."
John F. Berry, chairman and CEO of Prospect Street Broadband, said the
service is very easy to use and no special training is necessary.
Residents can purchase the service and obtain access from any city outlet.
"You sign up once and you can sign on at home, a friend's house, the ice
skating rink, where ever," Berry said.
If residents opt for this Internet service provider, they will pay
approximately half of normal high-speed access, as the tentative service
price is 29ドル.95 a month for residents, and 69ドル.95 for commercial access.
"It will be competitively priced and a quality service," said Vice Mayor
Harry J. Parrish II.
Wallace said the service was comparable in speed to any DSL program
available. "It's very fast," she said.
And as a fringe benefit, the city can also monitor power outages through
this technology. Todd said the city has been trying for years to achieve
that capability.
Two bids were received on Sept. 8, and Todd said the city spent a
considerable amount of time examining both proposals to ensure the best
outcome for residents.
"We've never had a franchise quite like this before," Todd said. "We
wanted to make sure we had measures that would protect the services we
promise the citizens."
The contract that the council voted to approve calls for a 10-year term,
with a five-year extension. A minimum payment of 24,000ドル after the first
year, and 124,000ドル after the second and third year is guaranteed to the
city. Initial figures project that Manassas could receive up to 4ドル.5
million in revenue after the 10-year period.
Councilman Ulysses X. White questioned city staff about future price
hikes, as he was reminiscent of a similar situation with cable
television in the city.
But Todd said with competition available, residents wouldn't be stuck
with high bills and no options. Rather, this new offer gives residents
exactly that -- options.
Councilman Eugene R. Rainville said residents will benefit from an extra
use of the electrical system their tax dollars already fund.
"Now they can get Internet at a low price," Rainville said. "I would
encourage all of our citizens to at least look at it as an alternative."
And according to Parrish, residents may receive an added bonus if enough
people patronize this service.
"It looks like the council might have the opportunity to look at tax
reduction," Parrish said.
-- Fred NY2V --
--------- Original Message ----------
Date: 2003年10月21日 16:11:59 -0400
To: "kenwood" <[email protected]>
From: Roy Morgan <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Kenwood] Fw: It looks like BPL is being offered in
 Manassas, VA
At 11:51 AM 10/18/03 -0400, n3drk wrote:
> >
> > > >From the article, it appears that they are ready to start selling
the
> > > service.

I suggest you or someone in that area call the company that is apparent
ready to start selling the service and explore a little bit.
My guess is that "appears" is the operative word here and that they are
simply fishing for interest and are no where near ready to sell services
at
all.
I get mailings from Verizon from time to time offering DSL. The phone
lines to my neighborhood (Maryland, near DC) were installed in the early
60's, have *very* limited bandwidth, and are NOT expected to be upgraded,
ever. DSL is simply not available where I live, and in my opinion will
never be.
Roy
- Roy Morgan, K1LKY since 1959 - Keep 'em Glowing!
7130 Panorama Drive, Derwood MD 20855
Home: 301-330-8828 Work: Voice: 301-975-3254, Fax: 301-948-6213
[email protected] --