Communication Technologies, Inc. (COMTek), a developer of commercial deployment of broadband over powerlines (BPL), has hired Allen P. Todd as the firm’s new vice president for BPL operations. Todd previously served as the utilities director for the city of Manassas, Va., where COMTek is currently implementing the first city-wide commercial rollout of BPL services in the United States.

COMTek President and CEO Joseph E. Fergus said: “Allen Todd is a major boost to the in-house COMTek BPL team. He brings to us an invaluable insider’s perspective as we expand our emphasis on broadband over powerline services in Manassas, as well as other towns, cities and regions across the United States. The addition of Allen to our team gives COMTek the ability to sit down at the table with utility officials across the United States as their equal and to speak with them in their own language.”

Todd said: “I am very excited to be part of the company that represents the future of BPL in the United States. What COMTek has done in Manassas is unlike any other BPL deployment in the U.S. You have to know how public utility officials think and the pressures they face in order to be able to deliver BPL solutions that they can understand and trust. I intend to make sure that we can communicate successfully with as many utility officials as possible across the U.S.”

Todd served as director of utilities for the city of Manassas from 1996 through February 2005. In 2004, Todd received the American Public Power Association (APPA) annual innovator award for his work with COMTek in deploying city-wide broadband Internet access via powerlines. Todd is a registered professional engineer in Virginia. He has served as president of both the Virginia Municipal Electric Association (VMEA) and the Municipal Electric Power Association of Virginia (MEPAV).

Prior to working for the city of Manassas, Todd was employed at Virginia Power, where he worked in a variety of capacities, including operations superintendent, director of engineering services, manager of telecommunications, and manager of transmission and distribution projects.

Todd received his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland College Park, Maryland. He also is an amateur radio operator.