Power Line Communications III: More Than a Scientific Curiosity…But Is It (Finally) the Long-Awaited "Third Wire" to Every Home?

CITI's Third PLC Conference
Thursday March 20, 2003
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
 Room 309 Warren Hall
Columbia University, New York

Conference Agenda
Attendees


CITI has been monitoring the development of Power Line Communication (PLC)--using the copper wires that carry our electricity for data and other broadband communications-- for more than a year. The technology is improving, numerous trials have been conducted, many problems have been overcome, and many promises have been made. But the market opportunity window won't stay open forever. Is "crunch-time" approaching?

At our second PLC conference, held in July 2002, we heard about the technical, regulatory, and business concerns facing the industry and we heard forecasts about what the next six months would bring. . What has happened since? During his February 25 presentation at a recent telecommunications investor conference, AT&T's Chairman and CEO said that AT&T is looking into the use of PLC as an alternative to the incumbent telephone company's local loops to connect AT&T's customers to the AT&T network.

Now it is time for our third look at PLC. Is PLC ready to compete with the cable TV industry's broadband modem service and the telephone companies' DSL service? Are the technological problems satisfactorily resolved? Are the back-office systems ready? What do consumers have to say about the service? Can someone make money providing broadband via PLC? What lies ahead?

On March 4, 2003 a joint report was submitted by the UPLC (United PowerLine Council) and the PLCA (Power Line Communications Association) to the FCC, "regarding the present state of the power line communications industry and appropriate next steps for the Commission." You can read the filing on right
here http://www.citi.columbia.edu/UPLC-PLCA_filing.pdf.

Agenda

9:15-9:30AMWelcome
9:30-11:45 Updates On PLC Developments
 Technology:
  • Alan Shark, PLCA
  • Jeff Tolnar, Amperion
  • Oleg Logvinov, Enikia
  • Jeff Norman, Main.net
    •
    Regulatory::
  • Brett Kilbourne, UTC [ presentation ]

    • Coffee Break

    Trials and Deployments:
  • Charles Boddy, PPL
  • Joe Cufari, Current Technologies
    • 11:45-12:30 Scaling PLC from Trials to the Mass Market: Back Office, Marketing, and Customer Service

  • George Grabowich, Passport [ presentation ]
  • Antonia Townsend, Finepoint [ presentation ]
    • 12:30-1:30 Lunch
    1:30-2:45 Can PLC Compete with DSL and Cable Modems: Quality and Reliability, Customer Receptiveness, Price?

  • Alan Shark, PLCA
  • Rahul Tongia, Carnegie Mellon University [ presentation ]
  • David Shpigler, The Shpigler Group [ presentation ]
    • 2:45-3:00 Coffee Break
    3:00-4:15 What Is the Business Case for PLC?

    Roundtable Discussion moderated by
  • Robert Atkinson, CITI
  • A. Michael Noll, CITI, Annenberg School of Communications at USC
  • Alan Scrime, Chief, Policy and Rules Division, Office of Engineering and Technology, FCC
    • 4:15-4:30 Wrap Up: The Last Word

    A. Michael Noll, CITI, Annenberg School of Communication at USC
    4:30PM Refreshments will be served.


    Conference Attendees

    Last Name First Name Organization
    Alexander Jennifer Amperion
    Atkinson Robert CITI
    Baker Dave  
    Barnell Jay Barnell
    Bertellotti Robert  
    Blanchard Charles R. Supplier Management Division /AT&T
    Blumenthal George  
    Boddy Charles PPL
    Bullinger Rex NCTA
    Cohen Uriel CITI
    Compitello John P. Compitello Associates, Inc.
    Cufari Joe Current Technologies
    Edmiston Richard Strategic Internet Technology Associates
    Erik Van Den Hogen AT&T Corp.
    Etherington Emily Fine Point Technologies
    Friedman John K. BullDog TeleWorks, Inc.
    Frost Tim Consolidated Edison
    Ghaffari Behzad FCC
    Glaser Gary Bellhaven
    Gould Edmund P. CITI Affiliate
    Gowl Harry  
    Grabowich George Passport Corporation
    Gupta Rajni CITI
    Heiberger Carol Energy and Telecom
    Homonoff Howard B. Homonoff Media Group
    Howard John B New York State Assembly
    Josef Brian CRB Law
    Kilbourne Brett United Telecom Council
    Kulak Kenneth Morgan Lewis
    Lenard Tom Progress and Freedom Foundation
    Leonard Jennifer  
    Liebenau Jonathan Columbia University
    Logvinov Oleg Enikia
    Lord Dr. Jeffrey Green Mountain Power
    Melville Fran The Shpigler Group
    Mina Joseph Columbia University
    Morales Rosa CITI
    Murphy Richard UTC Associates
    Nelson David Satius
    Noam Eli CITI
    Noll A. Michael CITI, Annenberg School for Communication at USC
    Norman Jeffrey Main.net
    Quinton Henry Fine Point Technologies
    Reis Howard The Shpigler Group
    Rosen Lance Plexeon
    Rowley Mike New York State Department of Public Service
    Russell Robert CITI
    Scarpati John  
    Scrime Alan Federal Communications Commission
    Shark Alan PLCA
    Shaw Terry Cable Labs
    Shpigler David The Shpigler Group
    Sneeringer James Wave Report
    Sticker Harry Zevila
    Susanna Zwerling  
    Teger Sandy Broadband Home Central.com
    Tiamsic Victor Columbia University
    Tiboldo Louis NECA
    Tolnar Jeff Amperion
    Tongia Rahul Carnegie Mellon University
    Townsend Antonia Fine Point Technologies
    Udo, Ph.D. Victor E. Conectiv
    Waks Dave Broadband Home Central.com
    Wallace Kashma CITI
    Wargo J. David Wargo & Co.
    Weller Dennis Verizon Communications
    Wetzel Rebecca Business Communications Review
    Williams John New York State Assembly
    Wilner Ron  
    Zwillenberg Melvin PSEG
    For questions, contact the Conference Organizer, Uriel Cohen, at uec2001@columbia.edu.