Central Virginia Electric Cooperative has teamed up with International Broadband Electric Communications (IBEC), a technology company from Huntsville, Alabama that will provide a turnkey service. That’s great news but it gets even better. IBEC will provide an “always on” 256 kbs broadband connection that is priced at $29.95 / month.

Broadband over Powerline (BPL for short) offers the greatest promise for closing the digital divide in rural Virginia where high speed Internet service is not available at reasonable rates. That disparity is similar to the very conditions that gave rise to the creation of electric cooperatives in the 1930’s.

IBEC Update

Beginning in July 2004, CVEC hosted a pilot program for members served by the Colleen substation. IBEC took what they learned from that original field deployment and redesigned their BPL equipment to ensure that it could be remotely managed and meet the expectations of CVEC members that subscribe to BPL in the future. IBEC is has completed the pilot phase of the BPL program and is preparing for additional deployment of BPL service.

An installation schedule will be announced as soon as it is available. Until then, know that IBEC is working to move this project forward as quickly as possible. Are you familiar with the CVEC Distribution System?

The Co-op is excited about this project and will be notifying those members when BPL is ready in your area. You can pre-enroll for BPL if you receive your electric service from CVEC.

A Few Words about the Project Schedule: While CVEC is hosting the first rural BPL system in the U.S., BPL is "late" in the minds of the many CVEC members who want broadband service. IBEC has been working to get BPL out to you and your neighbors as quidkly as possible but have experienced many of the impediments that groundbreaking projects often encounter. They have taken the time to get it right so that you will be pleased with the outcome of their efforts.

IBEC Update