As is usual for this mailing list, your name is in the BCC field to protect you from spammers. Please let me know if you no longer wish to receive these emails, conversely if you think someone should be added, please let me know.

2005 ended without a note from me, and I have been waiting patiently for something juicy to come along that I could share with you. It happened. What a day.

Any of you ever had run-ins with the media? I have. This morning is no different.

When working through this most recent news article from The Spokesman Review, I had the chance to communicate with Avista – both Dave as well as Brent. They felt it important to clarify a few issues, and communicate their continued desire to involve the Amateur community in their interference evaluation and BPL pilot.

They stated that the article "Avista hits snag on broadband project in North Idaho" was initiated by the reporter, Tom Sowa, not by themselves.

Speaking in my own words…He told them that he was going to publish the article and would they like to have any input…typical behavior for a reporter. Also in my own words, Tom is a slime ball, and has done this to Avista and the Amateur community twice.

Avista felt that it had to respond to the reporter based on the situation as it was currently,(No pun intended). They are still in the decision making process, have not yet made any specific decisions, yet are expected to decide on direction with the BPL pilot very soon.

Avista has been getting ready to make some major decisions, and based on Tom's choice of timing caused a lot of grief. Not only did the name of the company they chose (based on their old track record, not recent)but the location they were considering had not been etched in stone.

Suffice to say that Avista is still being true to their word, and as Dave did actually say in the article, they are changing their business model with respect to the BPL Pilot. What does that mean? Dunno. But I WILL let you know once I get the word.

Note to Tom Sowa: You've definitely made a name for yourself. Contact me, I'll call you by it.

To those of you without access to the article, the full text is here:

Avista hits snag on broadband project in North Idaho By Tom Sowa, The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

3 February 2006

The Spokesman-Review (KRTBN)

Feb. 3--Avista officials say they are deciding whether to proceed with an announced plan to test a new broadband Internet service in North Idaho.

In July, Avista officials said they planned to launch a test of broadband over power line (BPL) in Post Falls by the end of 2005.

But discussions with the company that would set up and manage the service have stalled, said Dave Heyamoto, manager of market solutions for Avista.

The company selected by Avista is Chantilly, Va.-based COMTek, Inc.

Heyamoto declined to say what's delaying the deal with COMTek.

COMTek spokesman Scott Stapf said the delay is due to unresolved contract terms.

Broadband over power line uses utility transmission lines to deliver data and voice service to homes or businesses. The service proposed in Post Falls would give some Avista customers broadband connections at a rate not yet determined by the utility.

Avista spokesman Hugh Imhof said COMTek was chosen because it has experience in deploying BPL in a number of East Coast locations.

Heyamoto said the business model for BPL has changed in the past year, raising the option of moving in a different direction with the BPL test.

The initial plan was based on the utility gaining a relatively small portion of the total benefit, with the BPL customers getting far more.

Heyamoto said studies now suggest a utility's total benefit from BPL is far higher than first thought. In particular, utilities now anticipate BPL might be one of the most effective two-way systems for tracking power grid performance across a broad service area, he said.

Heyamoto said that change in business model has him reconsidering what the next steps will be for the BPL test. At the same time, he said the discussions with COMTek are proceeding.

I’m looking forward to being able to work with Avista on this pilot, and I’m glad to say that they are currently working with two amateurs in our community (it’s a beginning) on test methodologies for the BPL Pilot.

Brent met with the K.A.R.S. group a few weeks ago, gave his presentation. I believe it was well received, please feel free to send me your input so I can give him some feedback. That makes 3 times Avista has met with Amateurs, they told me that it is not the last either.

Sorry so short of a note, hope to send another soon!

73,

Todd Cady, K7PKT