This time its IBM, of all companies, who plucks it from the so called ashes. IBM's has logged year's of continuous commitment to the technology at utilities around the world, both as an Internet Broadband delivery service AND as "critical" utility Smart Grid backbone. Curious how a "small firm" landed a $70 million contract and is now "paying IBM" (big firm) $9.6 million to help install BPL.

So, maybe BPL can chew gum and walk at the same time after all. Now, here is an SOS alert to all smart grid geek guru's... please check with IBM once in a while before any more wishfully killing off any more transformational technology.

Following is the ArsTechnica BPL apologia in part, written only a couple of weeks after they administered the last rites for it.....

BPL gets new lease on life as rural broadband solution

By Glenn Fleishman | Published: November 13, 2008 - 06:15AM CT

Remember how we said that broadband over powerline (BPL) technology was pushing up the daisies? A small firm, International Broadband Electric Communications, has started plans to spend $70 million to prove otherwise.

IBEC said today it would pay IBM $9.6 million to handle installing BPL gear at electric cooperatives in the eastern US; the company expects to spend $70 million overall.

The Associated Press reported that IBM is fairly excited about the potential of becoming an expert in how to manage and install these networks, even though they are a contractor here, not investing in IBEC. While IBEC will act as the Internet service provider, IBM's global reach for building out services might allow the company to become the best firm to turn to for these deployments, even if it's still a niche market. In the developing world, there may turn out to be much more potential for BPL, for instance, where an electrical infrastructure is the only wire that reaches far enough.