BackJuly 14, 2004
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 14, 2004--Central Texas-based Broadband Horizons has successfully launched broadband over power lines (BPL) in three Texas communities, making the company the first in the state to offer the exciting new technology that promises to leverage existing infrastructure to bring broadband into homes and businesses by simply plugging a computer into an electrical outlet. Texas is now one of a handful of states, including Virginia, Indiana and Kentucky that have implemented BPL.
The successful pilot projects were launched in mid-June in Blanco, Burnet and Weimar, Texas. According to Mike Steele, Burnet's city manager, the city has had great success with the initial pilot project and is expanding it to additional parts of the community.
"Our partnership with Broadband Horizons is helping us leverage existing infrastructure to offer new services to residents and to provide high-speed Internet access to areas where such services were previously unavailable," Steele said.
With significant funding from banks and investors, a highly experienced core management team, and established partnerships with utilities, manufacturers and other complementary businesses, Broadband Horizons is poised to roll out BPL in 50-plus communities in Texas and beyond over the next several years.
BPL delivers Internet connections just like cable and DSL but over existing power lines. By plugging a small modem into any outlet and a computer into the modem, there is a connection to the Internet with no other installation needed. Pricing for Broadband Horizons' BPL service will be competitive or lower priced than other broadband offerings, with the goal to lower barriers to entry for new broadband users.
Broadband Horizons is currently working with a number of communities, municipalities, utilities, governments and schools, providing new sources of revenue and unique benefits to these entities. Benefits to the communities include next-generation utility services, enhanced public safety communications and cost-saving measures such as automated meter reading and network monitoring over new broadband data networks.
Senator Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay), chairman of the Texas Senate Committee on Business and Commerce, is one of many public officials expressing interest in the promise of BPL.
"Providing affordable, reliable wireless broadband service over power lines is a promising new technology," Fraser said. "It is especially important to the underserved areas of rural Texas, where high-speed Internet service is not readily available."
Broadband Horizons is led by Bob McClung, managing director; and Michael Bates, vice president of sales and marketing. McClung was president and CEO of Momentum Online, an Internet service provider that he built into one of the nation's top 20 largest providers of fixed wireless broadband. Bates led the creation of more than 25 wireless high-speed Internet networks in Texas as founder and president of Summa Associates.
For more information about Broadband Horizons, go to www.broadbandhorizons.com or call 866-473-6436.