[ARC5] Broadband over Power Lines

Todd Bigelow - PS [email protected]
Thu, 14 Aug 2003 16:13:48 -0400


David Stinson wrote:

>Frankly- I think BPL is going to get limited adoption,
>especially in areas too far removed for DSL lines.
>There's simply more money in the BPL lobby than in the
>hobby radio lobby.  
>
Precisely why I have complained for years to those who insist on viewing 
and referring to Amateur Radio as a 'hobby' primarily. Regardless of the 
fact that we're permitted to use it as such most of the time and there 
is less demand for emergency comms, it was (and last I knew, still is) 
referred to as the 'Amateur Radio SERVICE'. I've been involved with the 
service end of it for many years through ARES (briefly), MARS, and 
RACES. I've been the State RACES Director for nearly ten years and have 
had great success in shedding good light on and gaining support for ham 
radio as a result. I enjoy this aspect of radio, and it would be nice if 
more users out there would see it as such. We wouldn't have anywhere 
near the issues of trying to convince the gov't and business that we 
really do provide a service and, therefore, wouldn't be seen as so 
'disposable'. Approach it as a selfish, self-serving hobbyist and you'll 
be quickly dismissed in such matters as BPL. Prove that you provide a 
service during times of emergency that is *extremely* cost effective to 
governent (and therefore, the taxpayers) and you'll see how differently 
they respond. Works really well with tower issues and other matters 
along these lines. Of course, you really need to be doing it, not just 
claiming to.

> Money talks, public good walks.
>"Gorrilla" action, denying reliablity to BPL service
>or submission and an end to our hobby will be the only 
>alternatives.  Not that I advocate lawbreaking, mind you...
>(ahem...)...
>
I rather doubt that outside users will have much impact on BPL. However, 
if it somehow gets put through and accepted, the very *least* we should 
do is flood the FCC and gov't in general with complaints. Again, if 
presented as someone's business or livelihood interfering with your 
'hobby', chances aren't good of action. If presented as a denial of 
service and compromise of emergency communications used locally and for 
Homeland Security purposes, I suspect it would be handled better.

It's not at all a case of 'money' over 'public good'. More accurately 
it's a case of perceived 'need' over 'convenience'. The real approach 
here shouldn't be one of trying to defeat a business from interfering 
with your hobby, it should be one of keeping a consumer service already 
provided elsewhere in different venues from interfering with a public 
service 'need'. The power compaines will represent this as a need to 
provide service to those in need and cast it as more important than 
protecting an obsolete hobby. If we represent ourselves merely as 
consumers wanting to enjoy our "right" to a hobby, don't we actually 
reinforce their argument?

Or perhaps it's too late already and we've cut off our collective nose 
to spite our face - by representing the amateur radio *service* as 
nothing more than a *hobby*, with the resulting arguments based on 
cellphones, satellites, etc. etc....

Just a differening view with the same goal in mind -

de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ