I've heard it makes life unpleasant for amateur radio operators as well.

On Tue, 23 Oct 2001, Chris Midkiff wrote:

> This has been in and out of the news for some time...  Media Fusion received
> a US patent on a device (process??) that allows the IP data to pass around
> transformers in 1999 (http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1004-200-1494768.html) and
> was expected to demonstrate a fully functional system, but has yet to do so.
> (their http://www.mediafusionllc.com/ site is 'under construction')
> 
> AFAIK, nobody has successfully demonstrated high bandwidth IP data over
> power circuits without dramatically altering the transformers currently in
> place.  This is the real key to this technologies success.  Having to
> replace millions of transformers currently on the grid will make this
> technology as expensive as Fiber to the Home
> (http://www.wbsmith.com/fiber.html) without most of the benefits.
> 
> Chris Midkiff
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: DCT Jared Smith [mailto:jared@dctkc.com]
> > Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 7:26 AM
> > To: kclug@kclug.org
> > Subject: Powerline 4 Megabit/s
> >
> >
> > http://www.ascom.com/apps/WebObjects/ecore.woa/de/showNode/siteNod
> > eID_19589_
> > contentID_134952_languageID_1.html
> >
> > or if e-mail broke this link,
> > go to http://www.ascom.com and click on:
> >      25/09 Powerline Communications in Switzerland.
> >
> > This is compelling; I've seen the idea from time to
> > time on Slashdot, but no one here in the States seems to
> > be taking advantage of it. From what I can tell the electric
> > company becomes a broadband provider, and
> > though not specific, they say it is conceivable it
> > could be less expensive than other forms of
> > broadband. At 4.5 Megabits/s, it's worth looking
> > in to. Maybe we can convince Ascom to set up the
> > first North American installation right here in KC.
> >
> > I think it would perfectly address what Sunflower
> > is looking for... but it might be a ways off yet!
> >
> > -J
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> 
> 
> 
>