BPL SEEING INCREASED INTEREST IN STAT COMMISSIONS & LEGISLATURES

摘要

Broadband over powerline is still in play as a broadband deployment option, says the head of a National Assn. of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) task force, despite recent bad publicity. A National Rural Telecom Coop (NRTC) study raising doubts about the feasibility of BPL for rural electric cooperatives isn't the 揺nd-all, definitive statement?that BPL will never be deployed in rural areas, said Mich. PSC Comr. Laura Chappelle, who heads the task force. The NRTC said it isn't making its report public but will brief state regulators. In an interview on the eve of NARUC's Winter Meeting in Washington, Chappelle said deployments are happening in rural areas. State regulators will be interested in the NRTC study, she said: 揑 suppose it would mean something that the rural association says 憌e are not looking into BPL,?but as regulators we just want to look at all available options.?Her group, she said, will present a BPL report to NARUC on Feb. 13.