"Bill Evans" wrote in message
...
Perhaps yesterday's, continuing massive power failure in the northeastern
U.S.A. and Canada will convince the power utilities that they should focus
their energies and resources on their core business, rather than entering
a
new business that is already served by telephone companies, competitive
local exchange carriers (CLEC), cable television operators, satellite
services and, in some markets, broadband wireless access (BWA) carriers.

According to the August 15th Toronto Globe and Mail, "critics have been
calling for breakers to be installed throughout North America's grids for
some time, only to be told by the grid operators (power companies) that
there is no money to fund such a massive infrastructure overhaul."

Why would regulators, politicians and the power companies' shareholders be
interested in spending billions of dollars entering a new business when
they
obviously have major challenges in their own backyard. Seems like time to
"stick to the knitting".

William E. Evans, P. Eng.
VE4UD



Probably because they are waiting for a guberment buy out to finance it.

Dan/W4NTI

"Bill Evans" wrote:

Perhaps yesterday's, continuing massive power
failure will convince the power utilities that
they should focus their energies and resources
on their core business, rather than entering a
new business (snip)

(snip) critics...told by the grid operators
(power companies) that there is no money to
fund such a massive infrastructure overhaul."

Why would regulators, politicians and the power
companies' shareholders be interested in
spending billions of dollars entering a new
business when they obviously have major
challenges in their own backyard. (snip)


It's very simply, Bill. BPL offers far more potential profit than further
investment in existing infrastructure does.

Besides, power companies aren't really bothered by the occasional power
outage, especially since angry consumers can't go elsewhere to get power.
The companies lose a little money while the power is off, but they know
consumers will crank up those heaters and air conditioners just as soon as
the power comes back on - pretty much making up any loses from the power
outage itself.

On the other hand, the potential money from BPL is enough to get those
companies, and their investors, really excited. And, unless we come up with
something really strong to fight it, something much stronger then rhetorical
evidence from the UK, it is going to be almost impossible to stop.

What we need is well done studies from the areas where BPL is now being
tested - studies showing the actual impact on radio (frequencies, noise
levels, and so on). And, to be honest with you, I'm not even sure that will
be enough.


Dwight Stewart (W5NET)

http://www.qsl.net/w5net/

"Bill Evans" wrote in message ...
Perhaps yesterday's, continuing massive power failure in the northeastern
U.S.A. and Canada will convince the power utilities that they should focus
their energies and resources on their core business, rather than entering a
new business that is already served by telephone companies, competitive
local exchange carriers (CLEC), cable television operators, satellite
services and, in some markets, broadband wireless access (BWA) carriers.

According to the August 15th Toronto Globe and Mail, "critics have been
calling for breakers to be installed throughout North America's grids for
some time, only to be told by the grid operators (power companies) that
there is no money to fund such a massive infrastructure overhaul."

Why would regulators, politicians and the power companies' shareholders be
interested in spending billions of dollars entering a new business when they
obviously have major challenges in their own backyard. Seems like time to
"stick to the knitting".

The only issue investors care about is income. They won't make any new
income by sinking capital into repairs and upgrades, they would
generate new income with BPL. Capitalism 101.


William E. Evans, P. Eng.
VE4UD

w3rv

"Brian Kelly" wrote in message
...
"Bill Evans" wrote in message
...
Perhaps yesterday's, continuing massive power failure in the
northeastern
U.S.A. and Canada will convince the power utilities that they should
focus
their energies and resources on their core business, rather than
entering a
new business that is already served by telephone companies, competitive
local exchange carriers (CLEC), cable television operators, satellite
services and, in some markets, broadband wireless access (BWA) carriers.

According to the August 15th Toronto Globe and Mail, "critics have been
calling for breakers to be installed throughout North America's grids
for
some time, only to be told by the grid operators (power companies) that
there is no money to fund such a massive infrastructure overhaul."

Why would regulators, politicians and the power companies' shareholders
be
interested in spending billions of dollars entering a new business when
they
obviously have major challenges in their own backyard. Seems like time
to
"stick to the knitting".

The only issue investors care about is income. They won't make any new
income by sinking capital into repairs and upgrades, they would
generate new income with BPL. Capitalism 101.


William E. Evans, P. Eng.
VE4UD

w3rv


No rattling chains, there... And, I think you're right...

Kim W5TIT

What *might* prove interesting is some emergency where communications can't
get through due to interference. Then the high power lawyers step up to the
plate and see if they can do to the power company involved what was done to
big tobacco. Of course, by then the damage will be done. Let someone win a
billion dollars and then see what happens with BPL. I'm not pushing amateur
radio here; I simply see radio communications (fire, police, aircraft, etc.)
as more reliable than cell phones. It is also difficult to call 20 police
cars individually when you need a rapid response to a large problem as
opposed to just pressing the button on a radio transmitter. I am very
rapidly learning to dislike the present administration a *lot*. An
interesting aside with the power companies; Wall Street doesn't like them
generating power. They simply want to buy power and resell it at a profit.
Where is this power supposed to come from? With all manufacturing jobs
going offshore and no one interested in actually building (or generating)
anything ... well, I'll bet 50 years down the road they'll be teaching
courses in business schools about what *not* to do. And these will be the
years referred to in the books.


73 from Rochester, NY
Jim AA2QA



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Jim Hampton wrote:
What *might* prove interesting is some emergency where communications can't
get through due to interference. Then the high power lawyers step up to the
plate and see if they can do to the power company involved what was done to
big tobacco. Of course, by then the damage will be done. Let someone win a
billion dollars and then see what happens with BPL. I'm not pushing amateur
radio here; I simply see radio communications (fire, police, aircraft, etc.)
as more reliable than cell phones. It is also difficult to call 20 police
cars individually when you need a rapid response to a large problem as
opposed to just pressing the button on a radio transmitter. I am very
rapidly learning to dislike the present administration a *lot*. An
interesting aside with the power companies; Wall Street doesn't like them
generating power. They simply want to buy power and resell it at a profit.
Where is this power supposed to come from?

The same place that we will get our food from after the Midwest is top
soilless, fertilized out and saline, and all the other farmland is
turned into housing developments! "someone else will do it"

With all manufacturing jobs
going offshore and no one interested in actually building (or generating)
anything ...

Uh-huh. And what happens when for some reason or another we NEED to
have a manufacturing capability again? We're doing what Great Britain
did before WW2.

- Mike KB3EIA -

"Jim Hampton" wrote in message ...
What *might* prove interesting is some emergency where communications can't
get through due to interference. Then the high power lawyers step up to the
plate and see if they can do to the power company involved what was done to
big tobacco. Of course, by then the damage will be done. Let someone win a
billion dollars and then see what happens with BPL. I'm not pushing amateur
radio here; I simply see radio communications (fire, police, aircraft, etc.)
as more reliable than cell phones.


BPL, if allowed, will put several states' statewide public service
agency radio system out of business, teo include California, which
also has a low VHF statewide radio system. So much for protection from
part 15 interference!

It is also difficult to call 20 police
cars individually when you need a rapid response to a large problem as
opposed to just pressing the button on a radio transmitter. I am very
rapidly learning to dislike the present administration a *lot*.


If they ram BPL through in the face of massive negative evidence
there'll
be a whole lot of people feeling much more than just dislike!


An
interesting aside with the power companies; Wall Street doesn't like them
generating power. They simply want to buy power and resell it at a profit.
Where is this power supposed to come from?



Do you ever get the feeling that Wall Street is more *the* problem
than the solution to our problems? The bean counters are in absolute
control and The Bottom Line rules. No matter who or what gets hurt,
nor how badly. If they have to send all our good jobs and
manufacturing offshore and rely on capitol gains to rake in all that
stock gain and profit, they'll do it in a heartbeat, regardless of
what it does to the country.



With all manufacturing jobs
going offshore and no one interested in actually building (or generating)
anything ... well, I'll bet 50 years down the road they'll be teaching
courses in business schools about what *not* to do. And these will be the
years referred to in the books.



Assuming it stays glued together another 50 years.

Dick,

50 years from now I doubt I'll care .... poor statement, perhaps ...
Seriously, I'm worried about our kids and grandkids. It does not look
pretty.

73 from Rochester, NY
Jim AA2QA


"DickCarroll" wrote in message
om...
"Jim Hampton" wrote in message
...
What *might* prove interesting is some emergency where communications
can't
get through due to interference. Then the high power lawyers step up to
the
plate and see if they can do to the power company involved what was done
to
big tobacco. Of course, by then the damage will be done. Let someone
win a
billion dollars and then see what happens with BPL. I'm not pushing
amateur
radio here; I simply see radio communications (fire, police, aircraft,
etc.)
as more reliable than cell phones.


BPL, if allowed, will put several states' statewide public service
agency radio system out of business, teo include California, which
also has a low VHF statewide radio system. So much for protection from
part 15 interference!

It is also difficult to call 20 police
cars individually when you need a rapid response to a large problem as
opposed to just pressing the button on a radio transmitter. I am very
rapidly learning to dislike the present administration a *lot*.


If they ram BPL through in the face of massive negative evidence
there'll
be a whole lot of people feeling much more than just dislike!


An
interesting aside with the power companies; Wall Street doesn't like
them
generating power. They simply want to buy power and resell it at a
profit.
Where is this power supposed to come from?



Do you ever get the feeling that Wall Street is more *the* problem
than the solution to our problems? The bean counters are in absolute
control and The Bottom Line rules. No matter who or what gets hurt,
nor how badly. If they have to send all our good jobs and
manufacturing offshore and rely on capitol gains to rake in all that
stock gain and profit, they'll do it in a heartbeat, regardless of
what it does to the country.



With all manufacturing jobs
going offshore and no one interested in actually building (or
generating)
anything ... well, I'll bet 50 years down the road they'll be teaching
courses in business schools about what *not* to do. And these will be
the
years referred to in the books.



Assuming it stays glued together another 50 years.


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"Bill Evans" wrote in message ...
Perhaps yesterday's, continuing massive power failure in the northeastern
U.S.A. and Canada will convince the power utilities that they should focus
their energies and resources on their core business, rather than entering a
new business that is already served by telephone companies, competitive
local exchange carriers (CLEC), cable television operators, satellite
services and, in some markets, broadband wireless access (BWA) carriers.

According to the August 15th Toronto Globe and Mail, "critics have been
calling for breakers to be installed throughout North America's grids for
some time, only to be told by the grid operators (power companies) that
there is no money to fund such a massive infrastructure overhaul."

Why would regulators, politicians and the power companies' shareholders be
interested in spending billions of dollars entering a new business when they
obviously have major challenges in their own backyard. Seems like time to
"stick to the knitting".

William E. Evans, P. Eng.
VE4UD


Why not post your own comments to that effect on the FCC's EFCS
website?
There is no requirement that one be a US citizen to comment, and you
certainly have a direct interest in the outcome of the proceeding.

Dick W0EX