🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <4mmgvv$4ph@xensei3.xensei.com>,
Karlo Takki <ktakki@artcrime.com> delurked and wrote, in passing:
>Moral #delta: This is a very young industry.  As such, problems are
>to be expected.  Still, an ISP should never forget that its middle
>name is "service".  As an argument starter, I dare anyone who rebuts
>(or flames) me to project the nature of the ISP industry five years
>from now.  Or ten.  Or fifty, given the advent of cable modems, fiber-
>to-the-curb, or the RBOC/long-distance carrier factor.  Here's a 
>hypothetical: what if Boston Edison developed the technology to
>carry data over *electric* service lines?

 This is possibly a troll, as the power companies already have the
technology, as do electrically-powered train companies.  It undoubtably
violates the electric code, as well as squicking most consumers, but
it is very feasible to put a high (eg radio) frequency signal on top
of DC (third rail) or household AC.  The signal would have no impact
on the power use; and for signal use the low frequency can be easily
filtered out.

 There is also an audio tape in the WHRB (Harvard Radio) archives of
a remote broadcast, made from a new building which had been wired for
telephones, but not yet electric power, during which the engineers 
had the telephone operators set up two connections (imagine old 
plug boards, with genuine tips and rings) and used the second
connection to send 120 volt power to the remote site.
-- 
David Chesler (chesler@shore.net - Usual ISP  chesler@world.std.com - SOMETIMES
     david.chesler@itcambridge.com - WORK   david@absol.com - SEND MAIL HERE)
"Tell me again why they call me governor instead of branch manager"
[No longer at TIAC -- Ask why.]  Gov. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, CSM 10/25/95 p18