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January 5, 2004
Hometown Connections And Main.net to Market Broadband Internet Over Powerlines
| For More Information |
Dennis Melton
Hometown Connections
970-871-1075
dmelton@hometownconnections.com
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Jeffery A. Norman
Main.net
703-476-4700
jnorman@powerline-plc.com
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New Partnership Helps APPA Members Offer Internet Services
EVERGREEN, Colo.—-Hometown Connections and Main.net Powerline Communications Inc. today announced a strategic partnership that will help members of the American Public Power Association (APPA) deliver high-speed, broadband Internet services over electric power lines. APPA members will be able to purchase equipment, software and services from Main.net at national group pricing arranged by Hometown Connections.
Hometown Connections is the utility services subsidiary of APPA. Main.net is a recognized leader in the delivery of power line communications solutions for the energy industry.
The power line communications system from Main.net uses the utility’s existing electric power lines connected to homes and businesses to deliver high-speed data through an ordinary wall socket. No special wiring is required. Customers will be able to plug a modem into any electric outlet and have access to broadband Internet service for their computers at competitive rates. The utilities will also be able to use the Main.net solution for outage detection and electric system management support. Main.net’s technology is easy to install, scaleable and reliable.
Tim Blodgett, President & CEO of Hometown Connections, said, “APPA members of all sizes, from smaller rural systems to those serving major metropolitan areas, are eager to ensure their communities have access to reliable broadband Internet service at a reasonable rate. By partnering with Main.net, an innovative leader in the emerging power line communications market, Hometown Connections will help APPA members deploy this promising technology at group pricing secured for every public power community in the U.S.”
The City of Manassas, Virginia, an APPA member, recently announced a full-scale deployment of broadband over power lines that will use equipment provided by Main.net. Allen Todd, Director of Utilities, said, “Manassas residents and businesses will soon be the first in the United States to buy broadband Internet access over city power lines. The customers from our pilot project were impressed by the speed, reliability and flexibility of the service. Therefore, the City Council voted in favor of city-wide deployment of the Main.net solution.”
Joseph Marsilii, President and CEO of Main.net, said, “APPA members have continually demonstrated a desire for innovation and leadership in bringing new technologies to their customers. This strategic alliance between Main.net and Hometown Connections means that APPA members’ electric customers soon will enjoy the benefits of high-speed data connection to any electric socket. This alliance further demonstrates Main.net’s commitment to the public power community.”
”APPA’s Demonstration of Energy-Efficient Developments (DEED) program provided funding for the innovative pilot project in the City of Manassas that demonstrated the success of broadband over power lines using the Main.net platform,” said APPA President & CEO Alan H. Richardson. “We’re pleased the pilot was successful and other public power systems can take advantage of new opportunities to serve their customers by working with Hometown Connections and Main.net.”
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Hometown Connections is a utility services subsidiary of the American Public Power Association (APPA). APPA is the national service organization representing the nation’s more than 2,000 community- and state-owned electric utilities. It owns 65% of Hometown Connections through its Public Power Inc. subsidiary. Alabama Municipal Electric Authority owns the other 35% of Hometown Connections. Hometown Connections supports APPA members by securing national group pricing and service arrangements from leading industry suppliers. For more information, please visit www.hometownconnections.com or call Dennis Melton at 970-871-1075.
Main.net Communications, Ltd. Is the market leader in power line communications (PLC) access network solutions worldwide. Utilizing the state-of-the-art PLUS™ technology, Main.net provides high-speed Internet access to every ordinary electric wall socket. Main.net’s worldwide customer base included over 40 power utilities in more than 20 countries. For the U.S. market, Main.net Power Line Communications, Inc., a wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary, located in Reston, VA, is responsible for all marketing and sales activities. For more information, please visit the company Website, www.powerline-plc.com, or call Jeff Norman at 703-476-4700.
See Hometown Connections and Main.net web sites for details
• Hometown Connections
• Main.net
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