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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=PT link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>THE BPL FIGHT: IBEC CLOSES DOWN BPL OPERATIONS DUE TO FINANCIAL LOSSES <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>One of the very few remaining United States operators of a Broadband over Powerline Internet access system has announced that it is shutting down. A notice that appeared on the International Broadband Electric Communications web site said that due to its inability to overcome financial damage from the April 27th 2011 tornadoes that ravaged some of its service areas in Alabama, it regrets that it has no other option than to close its doors and cease operations.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>International Broadband Electric Communications better known by the acronym IBEC went on to say the customer support would cease on January 16th and urged its customer base to seek alternative Internet access as soon as possible. It also stated that it sincerely cares about the Internet needs of rural America and detests watching the national carriers ignore the communications needs of so many hard working families across the nation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>IBEC was headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama. It provided Internet service using broadband over power line technology to rural communities in several states including Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana as well as Alabama. With is departure, the ARRL says that there is no other Broadband over Powerline system in the United States that uses the amateur bands in their deployments. You can read the IBEC closure announcement on its website at www.ibec.net. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>(Various news reports)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Fonte:</span><span lang=EN-US> AR Newsline Report 1794 -- Jan 6 2012</span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>