CINCINNATI -- High-speed Internet service may be just around the corner for many Tri-State Internet users.

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Plug-In Broadband Access Being Tested Locally

New technology is testing the feasibility of plug-in broadband in Cincinnati, WLWT Eyewitness News 5's Brian Hamrick reported Tuesday.

Currently, high-speed access is only accessible from your phone company or cable provider, but now, the power company might get in the game, Hamrick reported. Cincinnati is one of the first test markets in the country looking at the technology.

Fern Hofstetter lives in Hyde Park, but touring through cyberspace has taken on a new twist for her lately. She's among the first residents in the country to test broadband Internet access via ordinary power lines, Hamrick reported.

"It's real fast," Hofstetter said. "It's like, Boom, Click, You're in."

Alex Pardo, a spokesman for Cinergy Ventures, told Hamrick that getting connected is a simple process.

"The modem plugs into the wall, and you plug (a cord) plugs into the USB port, and you're connected," Pardo said. "Ultimately, it turns every electric outlet into a broadband Internet connection."

Pardo's division has has set up a pilot program for Cinergy, and he said that access over power lines is up to four times faster than DSL or cable hookups. Also, there are other applications, even for those who aren't Internet customers, Hamrick reported.

"You can actually read your meter off of this," Pardo said. "That's right. We potentially could do utility reading over the line, as well as power outage management."

It could take about a year before Cinergy knows if you'll be able to buy Internet access over power lines, Hamrick reported. But at least one customer sounds sold.

"We would be very interested," Hofstetter said. "We've been very happy, and haven't had any problems."

For now, about 100 Hyde Park residents are cyberspace pioneers.