Current Communications, the beneficiary of the power trio’s largesse, will abide by last year’s FCC stipulation that its services operate a safe distance from Coast Guard and other radio frequencies that Broadband over Power Lines may impede.
As it lacks the shielding required to keep it from interfering with commercial radio, BPL providers also must agree to give right of way to licensed radio stations. Ham radio operators, being unlicensed will need to coexist with BPL.
"These investments provide us with both capital and operating assistance as we continue to roll out [BPL] services to provide voice, video and data services," Current Communications Chairman William Berkman said.
Additional funding was provided by EnerTech Capital and Current’s principal stakeholder, Liberty Associated Partners, an investment partnership between Liberty Media Corporation and Chairman Berkman’s family.
The FCC announced yesterday that broadband use had jumped significantly in the last year, following the institution’s push to make America’s broadband service more competitive by loosening restrictions on the use of Baby Bells’ infrastructure.
Current hopes to give incentives to cash-strapped local power companies by offering its “Smart Grid” technology, which the company says optimizes and expands existing power service.