The United Power Line Council (UPLC) is an alliance of utilities and technology partners that works to develop business, technical, and regulatory solutions for broadband powerline (BPL) deployment in the Americas. The UPLC leads various activities to promote BPL adoption, including advocating for supportive policies and coordinating technical standards efforts. Several companies have ongoing BPL trials showing speeds of 500 kbps to 8 Mbps on medium- and low-voltage power lines. The UPLC aims to help overcome obstacles to full BPL deployment.

1. 1
BroadbandBroadband PowerLinePowerLine
and the UPLCand the UPLC
A presentation by theA presentation by the
United Power Line CouncilUnited Power Line Council
to theto the
World Summit of PLCWorld Summit of PLC
AssociationsAssociations
June 10, 2003June 10, 2003
OUTLINEOUTLINE
•• Overview of the UPLCOverview of the UPLC
•• ActivitiesActivities
–– BusinessBusiness
–– RegulatoryRegulatory
–– TechnicalTechnical
•• Market StatusMarket Status
–– DeploymentsDeployments

2. 2
Overview of the UPLCOverview of the UPLC
•• The UPLC is an alliance of utilitiesThe UPLC is an alliance of utilities
and technology partners to developand technology partners to develop
business, technical and regulatorybusiness, technical and regulatory
solutions for BPL in the Americassolutions for BPL in the Americas
•• Ties with United Telecom CouncilTies with United Telecom Council
–– 50+ years of50+ years of utelcoutelco advocacyadvocacy
–– Broad based membershipBroad based membership
–– Strong reputation, resources toStrong reputation, resources to
accomplish activitiesaccomplish activities
UPLC StructureUPLC Structure
•• Equal partnership reflected inEqual partnership reflected in
structurestructure
–– Utility / Technology provider co-Utility / Technology provider co-
chairs of committees, as well as ofchairs of committees, as well as of
the UPLC itself.the UPLC itself.
–– Members drive the activities of theMembers drive the activities of the
UPLC.UPLC.
•• Frequent meetings, activeFrequent meetings, active
participation and open processparticipation and open process

3. 3
UPLC LeadershipUPLC Leadership
•• UPLC Co-chairsUPLC Co-chairs
–– LeifLeif EricsonEricson, Southern Telecom, Southern Telecom
–– JoeJoe CufariCufari, Current Technologies, Current Technologies
•• Committee Co-chairsCommittee Co-chairs
–– BusinessBusiness
•• JorgeJorge RosenblutRosenblut,, EnersisEnersis
–– RegulatoryRegulatory
•• AlAl RichenbacherRichenbacher, PPL; Steve Greene,, PPL; Steve Greene, AmperionAmperion
–– TechnicalTechnical
•• Phil Slack, Florida Power & Light; Jeff Norman,Phil Slack, Florida Power & Light; Jeff Norman,
Main.net Power LineMain.net Power Line CommComm’’ss, Inc., Inc.
ActivitiesActivities
•• Business Action CommitteeBusiness Action Committee
–– Promote market awareness throughPromote market awareness through
conferences, reports, and newslettersconferences, reports, and newsletters
•• PowerLinePowerLine 2003 UPLC Annual Conference,2003 UPLC Annual Conference,
Sept. 21-24Sept. 21-24thth
Washington, DCWashington, DC
•• Update to the Business Case OpportunityUpdate to the Business Case Opportunity
Study, August 2003Study, August 2003
•• PowerLinePowerLine newsletter, free monthly emailnewsletter, free monthly email
about industry and policy developmentsabout industry and policy developments

4. 4
ActivitiesActivities
•• Regulatory Action CommitteeRegulatory Action Committee
–– Become the premier advocate forBecome the premier advocate for
industry w/Congress, FCC & Statesindustry w/Congress, FCC & States
•• Engage w/ FCC on Notice of InquiryEngage w/ FCC on Notice of Inquiry
•• Promote legislation that encouragesPromote legislation that encourages
PLC deploymentPLC deployment
•• Advocate to state public utilityAdvocate to state public utility
commissions/legislatures, uponcommissions/legislatures, upon
requestrequest
ActivitiesActivities
•• Technical Action CommitteeTechnical Action Committee
–– Develop common solutions to technicalDevelop common solutions to technical
obstacles for deploymentobstacles for deployment
•• Best practices for power line deploymentBest practices for power line deployment
•• Coordinate w/ other organizationsCoordinate w/ other organizations
–– MOUMOU’’ss w/PLC Forum, APTELw/PLC Forum, APTEL
–– Initiating formal relations w/PUAInitiating formal relations w/PUA
–– IEC, IEEE,IEC, IEEE, HomePlugHomePlug
•• Serve as resource for information on technicalServe as resource for information on technical
operationsoperations

5. 5
Market StatusMarket Status
•• Ambient CorporationAmbient Corporation
–– Publicly traded (ABTG.OB)Publicly traded (ABTG.OB)
–– MV and LV solutionMV and LV solution
–– TrialsTrials
•• Consolidated Edison (51% stake)Consolidated Edison (51% stake)
•• Southern Telecom (holds warrants toSouthern Telecom (holds warrants to
purchase 2,684,000 shares)purchase 2,684,000 shares)
–– Tests report 6-8 Mbps on MV and 5-Tests report 6-8 Mbps on MV and 5-
7 on LV7 on LV
Market StatusMarket Status
•• AmperionAmperion
–– AEP/CISCO/AEP/CISCO/RedleafRedleaf
–– MV access solutionMV access solution
–– TrialsTrials
•• American Electric PowerAmerican Electric Power
•• PPLPPL
•• Progress EnergyProgress Energy
–– SpeedsSpeeds
20 Mbps on MV, 500-800 kbps actual20 Mbps on MV, 500-800 kbps actual

6. 6
Market StatusMarket Status
•• Current Technologies, LLCCurrent Technologies, LLC
–– U.S. privately-held companyU.S. privately-held company
•• Associated GroupAssociated Group
–– TrialsTrials
•• CinergyCinergy
•• PEPCOPEPCO
–– SpeedsSpeeds
•• 3-5 Mbps on LV3-5 Mbps on LV
Market StatusMarket Status
•• Main.net Power LineMain.net Power Line CommComm’’ss, Inc., Inc.
–– Established commercial PLC providerEstablished commercial PLC provider
–– No transformer bypass necessaryNo transformer bypass necessary
–– TrialsTrials
•• AmerenAmeren
•• PPLPPL
•• City of ManassasCity of Manassas
•• Other undisclosed utilitiesOther undisclosed utilities
–– Average speeds 500 kbpsAverage speeds 500 kbps

7. 7
Market StatusMarket Status
•• PowerCommPowerComm Systems, Inc.Systems, Inc.
–– U.S. based companyU.S. based company
–– TrialsTrials
•• Fayetteville Electric SystemFayetteville Electric System
•• Cullman Electric CooperativeCullman Electric Cooperative
–– Speeds unknownSpeeds unknown
Market StatusMarket Status
•• Number of deployments acceleratingNumber of deployments accelerating
–– More utilities, more subscribers servedMore utilities, more subscribers served
and passedand passed
•• Models varyModels vary
–– Wholesale and retailWholesale and retail
–– Residential and SMEResidential and SME
–– Primarily suburban and ruralPrimarily suburban and rural
•• Drivers: utility appDrivers: utility app’’s, high-speeds, high-speed
access,access, VoIPVoIP, home networking, home networking

8. 8
ConclusionsConclusions
•• PLC ramping-up in AmericasPLC ramping-up in Americas
–– Technical obstacles overcomeTechnical obstacles overcome
–– Business models in developmentBusiness models in development
–– Regulatory issues becomingRegulatory issues becoming
clearerclearer
•• UPLC leading the developmentUPLC leading the development
of PLCof PLC
–– Become involved!Become involved!
For More InformationFor More InformationFor More Information
•• Bill MoroneyBill Moroney
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United Power Line CouncilUnited Power Line Council
1901 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW1901 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW–– Fifth FloorFifth Floor
Washington, DC 20006Washington, DC 20006 –– USAUSA
www.www.uplcuplc.org.org