Re: [Swprograms] DirecTV to offer BPL Internet services, beginning in DFW

[John Figliozzi <jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Just some idle observations from a skeptic:

There's a lot of money being made available by local and state  
governments to just about anyone who puts together an even half-as*ed  
proposal that *promises* to provide broadband to the masses.  (This  
despite the fact that upwards of 90% of the masses have it available  
to them in one or more forms already.)  This has served to bring  
*investment* money into the picture which further encourages doomed  
ventures like these.  On top of that, we have power companies  
claiming to clueless regulators that they *need* BPL so they can  
implement remote metering (failing to mention that technologies  
already in place can accomplish this at far lower expense).  Then we  
have another aspect of the regulatory community that never met a  
potential competitor it didn't like.  (i.e.:  Got to be seen doing  
everything they can to promote competition... Not supporting even  
bogus proposals may look to the ideologues like unfriendliness to the  
marketplace.)

Too bad the technology has proven to be an out and out failure in  
every place it's been tried thus far; not to mention all the business  
plans.

What's that Murphy's Law corrolary?  Ah yes!  "Every man has a plan  
that will not work."

Oh... and didn't Ben Franklin say, "A fool and his money are soon  
parted."  (Trouble is, a lot of that money is yours and mine.)

John Figliozzi

On Sep 20, 2007, at 7:52 AM, Richard Cuff wrote:

> Link available to Wall Street Journal subscribers:
> http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118714676340798244.html?mod=sphere_ts
>
> The outfit developing the BPL networks - Current Group LLC - is also
> building out a BPL network in Cincinnati.
>
> DirecTV says the service will be "competitive" with other providers,
> but I wonder if that will be good enough.
>
> Here's the press release itself:
> http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=127160&p=irol- 
> newsArticle&ID=1040569&highlight=
> or http://snipurl.com/1qy4e.
>
> (odd note...this PR was issued August 15th...wonder why the WSJ waited
> so long to publish it?)
>
> Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA  USA
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