UPLC PowerLine 2-19-08

House Telecommunications Committee Chairman, Edward Markey (D-Mass.), and Rep. Chip Pickering (R-Miss.) have introduced a bill entitled the Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2008, which requires the FCC to study Internet competition issues over the next year and to conduct at least eight "public broadband summits."

The preamble to the bill states that maintaining the freedom to use broadband networks for lawful purposes is the policy of the United States, but the bill itself does not require the FCC to adopt net neutrality regulations. Instead, it must file a report due 90 days after holding the last broadband summit. Some observers expressed doubts about the bills prospects in an election year. "In Washington, D.C., in 2008, everything is about 2009," said Blair Levin, managing director of Stifel, Nicolaus & Co., Inc. "If you're thinking about momentum a lot of it has to do with what happens in November."

Recently, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a report entitled, "Networked Nation Broadband in America, 2007" underlining the significant growth of broadband services in the United States. According to the report, the Administration's technology, regulatory and fiscal policies have been the impetus for US investment in the broadband market and have contributed directly to the increased accessibility of broadband services. It maintains that these policies have encouraged competition between different providers and technologies, (BPL, cable, fiber optic, satellite, fixed and mobile wireless, etc) resulting in decreasing prices and a wider range of services. The mere mention of BPL in the report drew the ire of the ARRL, which demanded a retraction by NTIA. For a copy of the report, go to www.ntia.doc.gov.

Reliant Energy announced the successful installation and testing of the first demand-response system at a Dallas/Fort Worth residence. This builds on the company’s Houston-based tests that were successful late last year. The system uses data collected from smart meters, coupled with Broadband over Power Line technology, to communicate with and control Web-programmable thermostats and high-usage appliances in the home. During times of high electricity usage across the state, the system can be used to increase thermostat settings by a few degrees or cycle off air conditioning systems for short periods of time.

"Reducing peak demand delays the need for costly new power plants, conserves resources and, ultimately, helps moderate price," said Glen Stancil, Reliant Energy's vice president of Smart Energy research and development. "This is the first of a number of new products and services we plan to launch this year that will give customers better control and more insight into how they use energy."

Reliant currently is in the process of signing up customers in Houston for the program, and it will contact customers in Dallas who have smart meters that enable the demand-response applications. Reliant's program, called the Energy Saver Partner, offers customers a free Web-controlled, programmable thermostat (a $250 value), a free 25-point air conditioning inspection (a $75 value), an enrollment bonus and monthly bill credits from May through September.

Reliant's pilot is part of a larger study sponsored by the Center for the Commercialization of Electric Technologies (CCET) to develop demand-response programs. Findings from the CCET pilot will be shared with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and retail providers to enable new market tools and demand-response programs.

The CCET is an organization of 19 Texas electric and high-tech companies joined by five universities in a collaborative effort to modernize the Texas electric system. CCET's purpose is to encourage private-sector initiatives that promote growth in high-quality employment, and to lead to scientific breakthroughs in the operation of the Texas electric system.

The state's leading electric market participants have begun a two-year study to assess the technology in Houston and in Dallas. Austin Energy is coordinating results of its own demand response program in Austin. Participants in the Dallas pilot include Oncor, Reliant Energy, TXU Energy, Direct Energy, Current Group LLC and Corporate Systems Engineering. AEP Texas is participating financially in the project. For more information, contact the UPLC Legal/Regulatory Department.

UPLC is hosting an upcoming Webinar called Numbering & VoIP Telephony over BPL on February 27, 2008 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. This Webinar will cover everything you need to know about numbering and VoIP Telephony over BPL! Starting with Numbering 101, the presentation will cover where the numbers come from, how they are administered and the portability issues associated with the numbers. The Webinar also will discuss how current VoIP and wholesale arrangement works as well as some of the common issues associated with the arrangement. Finally, the session will wrap up by reviewing new industry processes that better facilitate wholesale arrangements for VoIP, MVNO, etc. There will be time for questions and answers at the end. We hope you will join us for this informative Webinar. To register, click here. If you have any problems registering, contact meetings@utc.org.