Competition: Power Play

Electric grids may become the next providers of broadband Internet access

Once Lynn Huffman lifted his new modem out of the box, it took less than a minute to get online at the computer he keeps in the den. And it took just a few minutes more for Huffman, a retired great-grandpa who recently discovered e-mail, to decide that his new high-speed Internet service was fast, simple to set up and, best of all, cheap. At $26.95 a month, it beats the $42.95 a month he would have had to pay to get broadband from his cable company.

But here's the real shocker: Huffman taps into his new fast pipe through a...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!