[BCVHFA] Fwd: ARLB005 FCC okays BPL proposal

[K8CM]

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>SB QST @ ARL $ARLB005
>ARLB005 FCC okays BPL proposal
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>ZCZC AG05
>QST de W1AW
>ARRL Bulletin 5  ARLB005
> From ARRL Headquarters
>Newington CT  February 12, 2004
>To all radio amateurs
>
>SB QST ARL ARLB005
>ARLB005 FCC okays BPL proposal
>
>The FCC has unanimously approved a Notice of Proposed Rule Making
>(NPRM) to deploy Broadband over Power Line (BPL). The NPRM is the
>next step in the BPL proceeding, which began last April with a
>Notice of Inquiry that attracted more than 5100 comments--many from
>the amateur community. The FCC did not propose any changes in Part
>15 rules governing unlicensed devices, but said it would require BPL
>providers to apply ''adaptive'' interference mitigation techniques
>to their systems. An ARRL delegation that included President Jim
>Haynie, W5JBP, attended the FCC open meeting in Washington, and
>later expressed disappointment in the FCC action.
>
>''The Commission clearly recognized that the existing Part 15
>emission limits are inadequate to stop interference, but it's
>placing the burden of interference mitigation on the licensed user
>that's supposed to be protected,'' said ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ.
>
>Sumner said that if the FCC really believed current Part 15 emission
>limits were sufficient, it would not have had to require that BPL
>providers institute interference mitigation systems. The FCC has not
>yet released the actual NPRM, and a presentation by the FCC's Office
>of Engineering and Technology (OET) revealed only its broad
>outlines. Sumner said the League would not take a formal position
>until it reviews the full NPRM.
>
>Anh Wride of the OET staff spelled out the scope of the NPRM, which
>only addresses so-called ''access BPL''--the type that would apply
>radio frequency energy to exterior overhead and underground low and
>medium-voltage power lines to distribute broadband and Internet
>service. She said the OET staff believes that interference concerns
>''can be adequately addressed.'' Wride said the FCC's BPL NPRM:
>
>* Applies existing Part 15 emission limits for unlicensed
>carrier-current systems to BPL systems. Part 15 rules now require
>that BPL systems eliminate any harmful interference that may occur
>''and must cease operation if they cannot,'' she noted.
>
>* Requires BPL systems to employ ''adaptive interference-mitigation
>techniques, including the capabilities to shut down a specific
>device, to reduce power levels on a dynamic or remote-control basis
>and to include or exclude specific operating frequencies or bands.''
>
>* Subjects BPL providers to notification requirements that would
>establish a public database to include such information as the
>location of BPL devices, modulation type and operating frequencies.
>
>* Proposes guidelines to provide for consistent and repeatable
>measurement of the RF emissions from BPL and other carrier-current
>systems.
>
>Mirroring his colleagues' enthusiasm, FCC Chairman Michael Powell
>called BPL ''tremendously exciting.'' While conceding that BPL has
>''a long way to go,'' the chairman said it could be ''the great
>broadband hope for a good part of rural America.'' Powell also said
>the FCC's OET has worked very hard to try to ''get their hands
>around'' the issue of interference and that the FCC would continue
>its vigilance in that area.
>
>The FCC is expected to issue the complete Notice of Proposed Rule
>Making within a few days and will invite comments on it sometime
>after its publication.
>
>Additional information about BPL and Amateur Radio is on the ARRL
>Web site, www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/.
>NNNN
>/EX