The Power In the Lines

Thirty years ago very few people outside of the Arpanet project would have thought the world would be communicating via computers around the globe as we are. The dial-up modem connected some of the first generation residential users of the World Wide Web. It ferried information along the phone lines.
We are at a place now where a broadband connection is king. As I have stated in the past, broadband is becoming the standard. Dial-up connects are suitable for someone who does not frequent the Internet. If you do use the Internet quite regularly, then broadband may be the way to go. The faster downloads will save your sanity in the long run.
The two top dogs in the residential market are cable and DSL. They both have their strong points and their shortcomings. One area that they concede to dial-up connections is in price. Broadband connections are generally $30 to $40 more than dial-up connections. You get your money’s worth, for the most part. You get a superior download speeds compared to dial-up connections and you also gain a dedicated connection. A dedicated connection means that you computer is always connected to the internet, and that you do not have to listen the dial-up modem serenade that sounds like the mating call of a lonely fax machine. For those of you that are fearful of being constantly connected to the Internet, rest your fears. A personal firewall program, which you can download for free, or computer security software should be adequate defenders of your turf. If that does not belay your fears, then you can always unplug the modem.
Believe it or not the first portion of this column served as a preamble to let you know that the residential broadband market is no longer a two horse race. Before I start receiving emails reminding me that that there are other broadband options besides Cable and DSL, I’d like to recognize them. Some other broadband connections are satellite, ISDN, and T1 to name a few. They all cater towards specific demographics. Satellite for instance is more desirable in situations where cable and DSL are not offered. T1 is geared more for business, government, and educational institutions. The new kid on the block is BPL.
BPL or broadband power line is the next new thing. It offers a broadband connection through of all places, your power line. This means that you will be able to plug a cord that serves as the modem, into your computer and any wall outlet in your home. There is even talk of building new homes that have an outlet/modem hybrid already installed. This means that you would only need to plug your computer into the wall. The price and speed are comparable to cable and DSL. This new broadband has been tested in cities around the country. This is one of the new things that I would expect to seep into Tucson within the next few years, preferably next year.