An independent study of radio-frequency emissions from Central Maine Power Co.’s new smart meters has found maximum exposure levels that are far below what the Federal Communications Commission considers safe. The study, reviewed Monday by the Portland Press Herald, concluded that the highest exposure level averaged over time is 4.6 percent of the FCC limit. Continue reading →
A new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposal would give utilities free access the underutilized 4.9 GHz radio spectrum, a frequency range currently dedicated exclusively to public safety organizations. The 50 MHz of space, located on the 4.9 GHz band, was given to public safety organizations back in 2002. But the FCC estimates fewer than 3 Continue reading →
With Wi-Fi set to turn up in almost every household appliance, Qualcomm Atheros has thrown its hat in the ring with a low power chip that introduces IPv6 to the ‘internet of things’. The AR4100P is a “highly integrated 802.11n single-stream Wi-Fi system-in-package with integrated networking stack”, targeted at controls and appliances in the ‘smart Continue reading →
The National Broadband Plan, recently published by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), would lay the groundwork for the federal government to establish a nationwide “smart” electrical grid that would change how Americans use and pay for electricity, affecting such things as homes and transportation with battery-powered cars. via CNSNews.com – FCC’s Broadband Plan Sets Groundwork Continue reading →
Commenting on the FCC’s (News – Alert) National Broadband Plan, GE officials said the company applauds the commission’s willingness to investigate all alternatives, including a dedicated communications spectrum for smart grid applications. In the National Broadband Plan, FCC has recognized the need for improving the communications infrastructure to modernize the electric grid. via FCC Plan Highlights Continue reading →
Commenting on the FCC’s (News – Alert) National Broadband Plan, GE officials said the company applauds the commission’s willingness to investigate all alternatives, including a dedicated communications spectrum for smart grid applications. In the National Broadband Plan, FCC has recognized the need for improving the communications infrastructure to modernize the electric grid. via FCC Plan Highlights Continue reading →
For all you broadband junkies, it’s here: the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unveiled the first U.S. National Broadband Plan on Tuesday morning. And — what we’re particularly interested in — there’s an entire chapter on Energy and the Environment (Chapter 12, Page 245). The National Broadband Plan looks at how broadband can be used to Continue reading →
A federal plan to wire the entire United States with high-speed Internet access will be key to creating a nationwide “smart” power grid for reducing wasted electricity, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski recently provided a preview of the National Purposes Update, a document that identifies opportunities for broadband deployment Continue reading →
A Federal Communications Commission director suggested the agency is exploring new ways to use a swath of spectrum to serve multiple users including utilities building smart electric grids as part of a national broadband plan the FCC will release March 17. “Just looking at data growth for iPhones and other devices, you can see broadband Continue reading →
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plans to make recommendations for how the National Broadband Plan — due to the U.S. Congress on March 17 — should help shape the fledgling smart grid industry. Interested parties have been submitting their comments over the past few weeks, and this week network infrastructure giant Cisco submitted its comments Continue reading →
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken an active and financial role in plans for both the smart grid and broadband development, and it’s now encouraging the two industries to use one another. Speaking Thursday to attendees of the Cleantech Investor Summit, FCC energy and environmental director Nick Sinai said that the FCC will make Continue reading →
Nick Sinai, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) director of the newly created energy and environment division, outlined how his organization will work with and manage the smart grid industry. Sinai made his remarks at the Cleantech Investor Summit held on January 21 in Palm Springs, California. via FCC outlines how it will manage smart grid Continue reading →
As the FCC gets ready to finally turn in its broadband plan to Congress in March, the agency has asked service providers and the utility industry to find a way to collaborate on how they can leverage their expertise to create the smart electrical grid. via FCC hones its broadband, smart grid vision – FierceTelecom.
On March 17, the United States’ Federal Communications Commission will present recommendations to Congress on how to bring broadband to the smart grid through the National Broadband Plan. The recommendations will include suggestions on promoting open standards and commercial networks, how to use policies to encourage utilities to provide their customers with real-time open access Continue reading →
We just got the first glimpse into how the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will work with and oversee the smart grid industry. On Thursday afternoon at the Cleantech Investor Summit, Nick Sinai, the FCC’s new Energy and Environmental Director, said that the FCC will make specific recommendations for how to bring broadband to the smart Continue reading →
The FCC is exploring how broadband technologies can help the nation become more energy independent and efficient and be a key factor in the evolution to a smart electrical grid. During a field hearing Monday at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass., FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and others discussed Continue reading →
After health care reform, the next big fight in Washington will be about energy. Spending on health care is now about 18 percent of gross domestic product, while energy spending is about 10 percent — both in the trillions of dollars, which used to be a lot of money. There are several driving factors contributing Continue reading →
Summary: At hearings relating to its broadband initiative, the Federal Communications Commission heard power executives say that utilities need a dedicated chunk of bandwidth to use for the Smart Grid. Among those arguing for Smart-Grid specific bandwidth were Jason Griffith of American Electric Power, a leading power producer; Eric Miller of Trilliant, a Smart Grid Continue reading →
On Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission joined the alphabet soup of federal agencies that’s contemplating what its role might be in bringing our electric grid a bit of intelligence. It’s not unreasonable—smart grid devices are all about starting a two-way conversation between utilities and their distribution equipment and end-user devices. But the FCC held the Continue reading →
American Electric Power (AEP), one of the largest generators of electricity in the U.S., told the Federal Communications Commission today during a workshop on smart grid technology that “dedicated licensed spectrum is sorely needed by utilities.” In other words AEP supports the idea of having the government allocate wireless spectrum specifically for utilities to use Continue reading →
