DXers! FCC deadline extended to Aug. 20 re: BPL/wipe out of frequencies

[Gloria]

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/08/08/2/?nc=1

BPL is "Spectrum Pollution," ARRL President Says

BPL would use low and medium-voltage lines like these in a typical residential area to distribute digital data using HF and low-VHF frequencies.

NEWINGTON, CT, Aug 6, 2003--ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, says Broadband over Power Line (BPL)--if widely deployed--would represent "spectrum pollution" on a level that is "difficult to imagine." Haynie reacted after seeing videotape and early data from recent ARRL field studies in four states where BPL is undergoing testing.

"BPL is the most crucial issue facing Amateur Radio and the one that has the most devastating potential," Haynie said. In terms of interference potential on HF and low-VHF frequencies, "nothing is on the same scale as BPL."

A form of power line carrier (PLC) technology, BPL would use existing low and medium-voltage power lines to deliver broadband services to homes and businesses. Because it uses frequencies between 2 and 80 MHz, BPL could affect HF and low-VHF amateur allocations wherever it's deployed. BPL proponents--primarily electric power utilities--already are testing BPL systems in several markets, and one reportedly is already offering the service. FCC rules already allow BPL, although industry proponents want the FCC to relax radiation limits. It's feared such a change could exacerbate BPL's interference potential.

(snip)

"The interference found ranged from moderate to extremely strong," Hare said. The video shows the S meter of an HF transceiver holding steady in excess of S9 as the speaker emits a crackling din, which one observer described as sounding like a Geiger counter. Only the very strongest amateur signals broke through on 20 and 15 meters. Hare noted that the field strengths of the various systems all were within FCC Part 15 limits for power line carrier (PLC) devices.

VIEW the BPL video (MPEG file) that covers highlights of a recent field tour by ARRL Lab Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI:

* CLICK HERE if you have a high-speed Internet connection.
* CLICK HERE if you have a dialup Internet connection.

(snip)

While the deadline for initial comments on the FCC's May 23 NOI has passed, the FCC has now extended the reply comment deadline to August 20. More information is available on the ARRL Web site. The ARRL filed a 120-page package of comments and technical exhibits in response to the BPL NOI on July 7. There's additional information and additional video clips on the ARRL "Power Line Communications (PLC) and Amateur Radio" page.

[Gloria]

1. This includes SHORTWAVE....if you listen to shortwave to escape the

US radio crap, then you should read this article and contact the FCC!

[Hokie]

2. Just what we need - more EMI/RFI

Just when I thoought it couldn't get any worse they come along with this. Why do we need BPL when cable and DSL technologies are are becoming available almost everywhere? Where they are still not available there are alternatives like satellite.

I have enough noise just from my PC's, router and NIC's. I don't need more from outside coming in on the AC lines.