U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday unveiled US$3.4 billion in grants to update the nation's electrical grid, but the benefits could reach to the broadband sector as well, one community broadband adviser said.
Energy providers have urged the federal government to recognise the benefits of existing fibre infrastructure in the national broadband network (NBN) roll out and to consider the 'Smart Network' opportunities.
Smart energy grids are fashionable. The US has allocated $4.5 billion to its smart energy grid programs, while closer to home, this week’s federal budget saw the government allocate $100 million to the development of smart grids.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers has launched a new project to create standards and interoperability for the so-called smart grid, an IT-driven upgrade of the electricity grid.