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 Some clients of CCAonline in Logan County were affected because
their installed internet equipment is in the same frequency as new
equipment installed by Ameren. While CCAonline’s equipment works in
fixed frequencies, Ameren’s new equipment hops across all the
frequencies, hogging all the airwaves.
Every household and business in Logan County is now equipped with
Ameren’s Smart Meter technology, which keeps in constant touch with
your electrical consumption. This eliminates the need for people to
read meters, and is designed to keep Ameren apprised of what their
power needs are on a minute-by-minute basis.
 Both CCAonline and Ameren chose 900 MHz equipment because this
frequency is able to penetrate trees and leaves, enabling service
where other frequency will not work. CCAonline has had equipment
installed in the 900 MHz spectrum for more than 15 years now. Ameren
is a new player to this field.
CCAonline reports that they appealed to Ameren Tuesday to turn off
this smart grid technology and only use it at night until such time
that CCAonline can transition their customers to different internet
equipment.
CCAonline has yet to hear Ameren’s response.
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CCAonline also has reached out to the FCC for support. The FCC Telcom Act of
1996 requires that users of the airwaves cooperate with each other to mitigate
interference in the public bands such as 900MHz.
Representatives from CCAonline report that they also contacted Governor Bruce
Rauner, Congressman Darin LaHood, Senator Bill Brady, and State Representative
Tim Butler in order to get help in motivating Ameren to respect their request
and work with other companies using radio frequency equipment.
In the mean time, CCAonline has begun an emergency program to transition their
affected customers to other radio equipment not affected by Ameren’s Smart
Meters, and thanks their customers for remaining patient through this service
disruption.
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