Powerline Networking :: Homeplug

Powerline Communications

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: 
Tonya Hawes for HomePlug Powerline Alliance
Global Inventures
thawes@inventures.com (925)275.6684

SAN RAMON, Calif. -- June 30, 2004 - Founded more than four years ago, the HomePlug® Powerline Alliance, Inc. is a non-profit industry consortium that creates and promotes specifications for high-speed powerline networking products and services. Many of the Alliance's fifty member companies were watching last week as President Bush lauded the benefits of using broadband powerline technologies to create a communications path to bring Internet access to more homes in the United States.

BPL is a part of the Bush Administration's "Innovation Agenda" - a plan to make broadband technology available in every corner of America by the year 2007.

After viewing demonstrations of powerline communication, the President commented, "It seems to make sense, doesn't it, if what you're looking for is avenues into the home. Well, electricity goes into the home. And so one great opportunity is to spread broadband throughout America via our power lines."

The HomePlug Alliance is developing powerline-based technologies supporting both in-home networking and internet access applications. Having recently announced a major standardization effort for Broadband Powerline (BPL) technology, member companies of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance were quick to echo the President's enthusiasm.

"The technology is available, it's fast, and it works well," said Oleg Logvinov, president of the Alliance, and also president and CEO of Arkados, Inc., "The next hurdle is to create a standard technological approach for BPL, much like we did with HomePlug in-home technology. A standard will quickly grow the market, and allow Utility companies to be more comfortable in making the investment in their infrastructure."

Current Technologies, a HomePlug member company that has been using HomePlug technology to deploy BPL service in the area surrounding Cincinnati for several months now, is pleased to be a part of the President's plan. "We were very pleased to see the President emphasize the importance of this technology, and in particular recognize the role broadband over powerlines will play in broadband deployment," said Thomas J. Willie III, President of Current Technologies, LLC, "We remain fully committed to working together with the Bush Administration, the Department of Commerce/NTIA, and the Federal Communications Commission to carefully design and implement a robust and compatible BPL solution that will bring the benefits of broadband over powerlines to America quickly, safely and efficiently."

Chairman of the HomePlug Alliance, Peter Griffin of HomePlug member company RadioShack commented, "A standard BPL technology to the home, working together with HomePlug-certified products in the home, presents an incredible environment for utilities, network operators, and service providers. This technology presents a whole new platform for digital services such as Internet telephony, virus protection, spam filtering, and security monitoring - just to name a few."

Oleg Logvinov and Brian Wenger of EarthLink recently addressed the IEEE and announced the HomePlug Alliance's standardization effort for BPL technology, inviting all interested to join the Alliance and to help create a Market Requirements Document (MRD) for the technology. "The response was extremely positive," commented Wenger, "There is a great deal of support for this technology from many industry sectors. It's a sign the potential for this growing industry!"

After the President's speech, Richard Russell, the White House's Senior Director for Technology held an online question-and-answer session where he emphasized the importance of powerline technology. "Personally, I am energized about Broadband over Power Lines," he commented, "We hope that Broadband over Power lines can be rolled out responsibly and create another broadband channel into the home."

Recently, Michael D. Gallagher, the Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, previewed the administration's outlook on BPL: "We are pleased that the FCC is moving forward on broadband over power lines," he said in a statement. "Broadband over power lines holds promise to be the "Third Wire" into American homes - a competitive, facilities-based, cost-effective new way to deliver high-speed Internet services to American citizens."

As an open organization, the HomePlug Alliance invites all interested parties to join the HomePlug Powerline Alliance at the Participant level, and contribute to the development of the BPL MRD and technology specification. Companies interested in receiving information regarding the HomePlug Powerline Alliance are invited to contact the Executive Director, Rob Ranck (rranck@inventures.com).

About HomePlug Powerline Alliance
HThe HomePlug Powerline Alliance, Inc. is an industry-led initiative established to create specifications for powerline networking products and services and to accelerate the demand for these products and services through the sponsorship of market and user education programs. Currently, the Alliance is comprised of about 50 industry-leading companies. HomePlug Sponsor companies include Arkados, Cogency Semiconductor, Comcast, Conexant, DS2, Earthlink, Intellon, Panasonic, RadioShack, and Sharp. Additional information about the Alliance including a complete listing of certified products is available at http://www.homeplug.org

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