fyi read and read http://broadbandoverpowerlines.blogspot....

Ambient EDC Eases Migration to Smart Grid
Ambient, Itron Collaboration will Provide Automatic Near-Real Time Legacy Meter Reads and Outage Detection

Boston, MA, October 12, 2009 - Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTG) and Itron Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI) today announced development of the Ambient® EDC module. The EDC module provides utilities a true, efficient path from legacy automatic meter reading (encoder receiver transmitter commonly known as “ERT”) systems to more advanced smart metering.
“The possibility of leaving assets stranded without a clear road map or without a viable option for incorporating such assets into a smart grid platform has prevented many utilities from deploying smart grid technology. The new EDC module, developed with cooperation from Itron, gives utilities a critical migration path linking their legacy meters to newer advanced communications systems without stranding recently deployed assets,” said John J. Joyce, President and CEO of Ambient Corporation. “With greater than 60 million ERT meters in the U.S. alone, the market potential is very significant.”