  We report on a strategy for achieving negative phase velocity (NPV) in a
homogenized composite medium (HCM) conceptualized using the Bruggeman
formalism. The constituent material phases of the HCM do not support NPV
propagation. The HCM and its constituent phases are isotropic
dielectric-magnetic mediums; the real parts of their
permittivities/permeabilities are negative-valued whereas the real parts of
their permeabilities/permittivities are positive-valued.
