The concept of broadband over power lines has widely been thought of as a dead end idea but with IBM’s backing it is now being resurrected.

IBM will provide overall project management oversight, and training of the line crews who will be installing the BPL equipment. IBEC will provide the BPL technology and equipment and act as the Internet Service Provider to rural residents.

"This partnership leverages the deep communications and project management expertise of IBM with the market presence and position of IBEC in the rural electric cooperatives to accelerate the deployment of broadband services in these underserved areas," said Raymond Blair, Director of Advanced Networks at IBM.

"High-speed Internet service is revolutionizing the way we do business, and access to this resource will generate great opportunities for rural America."

IBEC believes it can build a network in two years that will be accessible to 340,000 homes in Alabama, Indiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. IBEC has received $70 million in low-interest loans from the Department of Agriculture to jump-start the imitative.

"This announcement represents a major step forward in bringing broadband services to the residents of rural America," said  Bill Moroney, President & CEO of the Utilities Telecom Council.

"This is a key development in the growth and availability of high-speed Broadband over Power Line Internet services and widespread availability of critical SmartGrid applications in the United States."