BPL
I don’t want to sound like too much of a geek here, but I feel compelled to point out just how short-sighted Gizmodo comes off in their commentary on the rollout of broadband via powerlines:
At the end of the day, ubiquitous broadband trumps ham radio from a utilitarian standpoint. Maybe they can all take up stamp collecting instead.
On a day to day basis, ubiquitous broadband might be nice but amateur radio operations that have proven crucial in emergency situations (as well as fostering communication and interaction between operators) doesn’t strike me as something lacking in social utility. Further, basing opinions of amateur radio operators, the technology, and the utility provided by them, on a Simpsons episode is ignorant and appalling. It’s a shame that Gizmodo, a tech-literate site, should be so blind to these issues based on an overpowering desire for ubiquitous broadband.