The Basics of BPL

摘要

Ever since former Federal Communication Commission (FCC) chair Michael Powell said broadband over power line technology (BPL) was "the great broadband hope," interest in the technology has grown. Powell's comments came on the heels of the FCC's ruling on Oct. 14, 2004, that BPL could, from a regulatory standpoint, move forward. Defined by the FCC as a "fundamental component of the communications revolution," the BPL market is expected to reach $2.5 billion by 2010, according to the United Power Line Council. BPL brings broadband to wall outlets, the most basic electrical system components. Using a modem that plugs into electrical outlets, connectivity speed runs at around 1 to 3 megabits a second.