French Broad EMC - Residential BPL Internet

French Broad Electric Membership Corporation

BPL Internet | Pricing | Coverage Area | Support | Contact Info | Acceptable Use Policy | Installation Tips | FAQ | FBEMC Webmail Login

Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) Internet Service

French Broad EMC is using hardware provided by the company formerly known as IBEC to provide BPL services via the power lines. The BPL signal comes in over the power lines that already provide your home with electricity. You simply plug in a BPL modem into an electric outlet in your home to provide Internet access to your computer or router at data rates comparable to those of DSL and cable modems. Since there are no new wires to install, setup is simple and easy. You can connect your computer directly to the BPL modem via a network cable or you can connect a wireless router to enable wireless connectivity within your home. Our primary focus for BPL Internet is to areas within our service territory that do not currently have any other wired broadband options. Use the links at the top of this page to learn more about our residential Internet service including our current coverage area. Click here to view a detailed diagram of how a typical BPL network is setup.

It has been announced that French Broad Electric Membership Corporation will receive money as part of a federal rural broadband project to bring broadband Internet access to several WNC communities. The project is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's broadband funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. French Broad EMC was selected to receive a $621,492 loan, a $1.1 million grant and $212,615 in private investment to provide Internet access to Spring Creek, Laurel and a small area between Marshall and Mars Hill. For service level details and pricing information click here. Go to our Coverage Area page to see if BPL is available in your area and to also view the areas that we hope to cover with the grant funding.

Updates

Update 3/9/12 - An updated coverage map for Internet service in Laurel has been posted.

Update 3/7/12 - Due to an issue with our BPL hardware provider we do not plan to expand our service areas beyond what we currently cover within the next 6-12 months.

Update 3/6/12 - We have completed the Belva and Revere/Longsome Mountain network segments are are ready to begin connecting customers in those areas. We sent out letters last week to customers in these areas who can access the service.

Update 10/28/11 - We are continuing to build and test our last two network segments in the Belva, and Lonesome Mountain communities. We hope to begin sending out letters to customers in those areas within the next 30 to 60 days.

Update 10/24/11 - We are beginning to connect customers on the north and south sides of Laurel Elementary School. We have mailed letters to customers in both of those areas.

Update 9/3/11 - We have completed all four network segments in the Spring Creek area and are ready to begin connecting customers.

Update 8/3/11 - We are finalizing testing in the Spring Creek area this week. We hope to begin sending out letters to the customers in our coverage area in Spring Creek within the next two weeks.

Update 8/3/11 - We are continuing to work on the BPL backbone in the Laurel area. We hope to complete the backbone by the end of August and then begin contacting potential customers around mid-September.

Update 5/19/11 - The Coverage Area Maps have been updated.

Update 5/18/11 - We have added a Frequently Asked Questions page to help existing and potential customers learn more about our BPL service as well as an Installation Tips page.

Update 5/17/11 - We have completed the majority of our BPL backbone in the Bull Creek and Gabriels Creek areas between Marshall and Mars Hill. We have begun mailing sign up forms to customers in those areas who can access the service.

Update 5/4/11 - The fiber build to Spring Creek has now been completed. Our BPL crew is hanging the Headend units and the first BPL devices on the poles in the Spring Creek area today.

Update 4/1/11 - We are now ready to begin scheduling for installation of broadband service to customers in the Grandview Road and Ivy Hill Road areas near Marshall. Our crews are still hanging BPL repeaters to extend the service in that area but we are now able to begin connecting customers.

As of March 2011 we do not have a clear time line on when service will be available to the areas covered by the grant described above. The steps involved in the grant process combined with the weather have delayed our fiber construction which is the first step in the project. The best case scenario would be the summer of 2011 but a more realistic estimate would be near the end of 2011 or early 2012. Please check back here for future updates.

Update 2/24/11 - We are expanding our existing BPL deployment in the Marshall area to include the Grandview and Ivy Hill areas. We are in the process of installing our BPL repeaters and should have service available to customers located on and around lower Ivy Hill Road, Panhandle Road, Grandview Road, Hughey Road, Kuykendall Road, Rivercliff Road and Rose Haven Drive within the next few weeks.

Update 2/23/11 - We are currently extending our fiber backbone to the Spring Creek area. This is the first step in deploying Internet to that community. We are still several months away from connecting customers in Spring Creek and Laurel but so far the fiber installation is progressing well.