IBM broadband service to reach rural areas
IBM's $9.6 million deal with International Broadband Electric Communications will deploy IBEC's Broadband over Power Lines equipment to customers of electrical cooperatives, InformationWeek reported.
"Americans in rural areas of the country trail their urban and suburban counterparts in broadband availability," IBEC Chief Executive Officer Scott Lee said in a statement.
"This capability will play a crucial role in rural health, education and economic development, while closing the digital divide that exists between well served and under served America," Lee said.
IBM said there were more than 900 electrical cooperatives in the country that make up 45 percent of the nation's power grid.
Customers need only to plug in their computers to any electrical outlet with Broadband over Power Line service to receive a high-speed broad band service.
But the system has drawbacks with some complaining it interferes with short wave radio signals, InformationWeek reported.
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Power grab: 5 arrested after Hydro-Québec busts electricity theft ring
MONTREAL - Five people have been arrested in connection with an electricity theft ring alleged to have operated for five years.
The thefts were allegedly committed by the owners of rental properties who used stolen personal information to create accounts with Hydro-Québec.
The utility alleges that between 2014 and 2019, Mario Brousseau, Simon Brousseau-Ouellette and their accomplices defrauded Hydro-Québec of up to $300,000 worth of electricity. It was impossible for Hydro-Québec’s customer service section to detect the fraud because the information on the accounts, while stolen, was also genuine.
The suspects are expected to face 25 counts of fraud, conspiracy and identity theft.
Hydro-Québec…
