Dave Baker, V.P., Law and Public Policy, EarthLink

Dave Baker is V.P. for Law and Public Policy at EarthLink, the largest independent ISP in the U.S.

Mr. Baker spoke today with Broadband over Power Line World to discuss some comments about the viability of broadband over power line (BPL) made on behalf of EarthLink in a document recently filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

On page 1 of that document, EarthLink's outside counsel says:

"However, EarthLink pointed out that cable and DSL still account for virtually all consumer broadband connections and that none of these alternative technologies offer[s] a commercially viable alternative today or in the near future."

On page 18 of the same document, under the heading "Next generation broadband—EarthLink's assessment," this filing with the FCC states EarthLink's view that:

"Wireless and BPL technologies are not likely to be competitive in cost and performance with cable and DSL over the last mile to the home."

In his comments today on Broadband over Power Line World Mr. Baker states emphatically that these remarks need to be considered within the context of EarthLink's efforts not to allow the FCC to point to BPL and its supposed imminent arrival as "the third-wire" into the home as justification for the FCC's reducing or eliminating open access regulations that allow EarthLink and other independent ISPs to make use of existing cable or telephone company networks to offer Internet access to customers.

Far from disparaging the prospects for BPL, Mr. Baker said that "EarthLink is as bullish on BPL as anyone. We are working very hard with Ambient and other companies to make BPL a market reality."

Asked about allegations from amateur radio operators that BPL was "intrinsically harmfully interfering" with their operations, Mr. Baker said "we think that this issue was pretty well addressed in the FCC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on broadband over power line."

Asked further about allegations from amateur radio operators that the FCC was not following up on their complaints about RF interference from BPL, Mr. Baker said "BPL is a broadband technology that can potentially serve millions of customers and that ought not be held hostage by…amateur radio operators or any other special interest."

Mr. Baker agreed with the statement that EarthLink's collaboration with Ambient Corporation in a BPL trial deployment in Briarcliff Manor, New York was "strong and ongoing."

The EarthLink spokesperson concluded the interview by saying "We're very excited about BPL and are going to continue to work with Ambient and others to make it a marketplace reality and a choice for consumers."

You can listen to Mr. Baker's remarks in their entirety by clicking here.