Some of you may have seen that the European Commission is looking at the provision of broadband via power lines. With the infrastructure in place it seems like a great idea. Indeed, we posted on it earlier in the week.

However, it seems not everyone agrees that the Commission has hit on a winner this time. Appears no one has asked the techies about how it will work. And so they e-mailed and told us. Here’s one of the responses we’ve had…

“You clearly do not care or know about the terrible Electromagnetic pollution broadband over power lines creates. Please amend or delete this misleading statement.

“The European Commission is promoting broadband communications via power lines. And rightly so.”

The issues are complex and perhaps difficult for the uninformed [ed - many thanks Mike] to fully understand, but just like excessive lighting reduces our ability to see the stars, Broadband over power lines makes it impossible to use radiocommunications systems below 30MHz. It will kill reception for longwave, mediumwave and shortwave so no more Radio 4, Radio 5 or World Service.

It is a despicable idea that must never be deployed.”

Sounds pretty final to me. Mike says it won’t work! Anyone else got a view? - blog@ofcomwatch.co.uk