[EIDXA] FCC prepares to move technology forward

[Jim Spencer]

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/55507

Power Line Broadband
FCC prepares to move technology forward

Written by Karl Bode

Powerline Broadband (BPL) offers an alluring dream: broadband 
available via every outlet, cheaper DSL and cable thanks to 
competition, and an easy way to get America wired. The FCC's dream is 
troubled by reality however, namely interference concerns, iffy trial 
results, and a growing number of engineers who say the technology 
will never work. This week the FCC will move BPL forward all the 
same. 

Michael Powell has been anything but friendly to the CLECs. His 
belief that the telcos shouldn't have to share their networks with 
competitors is clearly reflected in his policies. While those 
policies may eventually reduce competition in the broadband sector, 
he believes that balance can be restored to the "competitive force" 
via a third broadband delivery avenue to the home: BPL. 

While FCC leaders should be reasonable and cautious in regards to 
unproven technology, Powell has been BPL's greatest champion, dubbing 
the technology the "great broadband hope" before even seeing 
viability studies. After witnessing a preliminary AT&T and Pacific 
Gas and Electric trial this summer, Powell stated that "Power-line 
technology holds the great promise to bring high-speed Internet 
access to every power outlet in America." 

Powell isn't alone. FCC commissioner Kathleen Abernathy has also 
referred to BPL technology as an important step on the path 
to "Broadband Nirvana." Unfortunately this rampant optimism isn't 
shared by many engineers, or those who actually work with the 
technology. 

As explored in a recent Broadband Reports editorial by an industry 
engineer, BPL has some serious problems to overcome. BPL's primary 
medium, namely the power-lines running near your house, is unsuited 
for broadband data, and unlike copper twisted pair, coaxial cable, 
and fiber (which are all inherently non-radiating self-shielded 
mediums), power-lines leak signal into the air causing serious 
communications problems across the HF radio bands. 

With plenty of money to be made, these interference concerns have 
been largely dismissed by the power industry as inconsequential. 
While some trials have made efforts to remedy the problem, a cost-
effective solution has yet to be found. In fact, many companies have 
recently cancelled trials with no expansion plans, finding the steps 
needed to curb interference could be counter-intuitive to the concept 
of profit. 

Not only are there interference concerns, but some have found 
geographical limitations make BPL more of a niche technology than the 
sweeping cure-all envisioned by the FCC. Alliant Energy's BPL Project 
Leader Dan Hinz - someone who should know - says he considers BPL to 
be a "strategic deployment technology," not one that could 
successfully be deployed anywhere in America with the hopes of 
competing against DSL or Cable. 

That hasn't stopped the FCC from cheerleading. Neither has warnings 
from emergency professionals and government agencies concerned about 
a disruption to emergency communications. Nor has a growing list of 
global failures in places like Finland (interference), Austria 
(interference), and Japan (interference). Nor have almost weekly 
warnings and evidence (see this 24MB film) from radio hobbyists. 

The long road for power-line technology comes to its zenith this 
week, as the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) will 
present its BPL Report and Order to the FCC on Thursday, and the FCC 
will announce new rules governing the deployment of said technology. 
The FCC spent yesterday touring trials in Manassas, Virginia in 
preparation for the upcoming vote. 

With so much money at stake for the power companies, and Powell 
desperately in need of a new avenue of competition for those he's 
helped eliminate, expect an optimism packed announcement from the FCC 
tomorrow on the future of BPL technology with FCC brewed data to 
support it.