[FLARES] BPL Comments

[Ron Wetjen]

Have you sent in your comments to the FCC about "Broadband Over Power 
Lines", or BPL?

Unless you've been hanging out in a cave with Osama or on the run with 
Saddam, I'm sure you've heard about BPL and the harmful effects it can 
have on ALL HF and low VHF users.

Here are a few articles about BPL

http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2003/07/08/1/
http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2003/06/19/2/
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/08/08/2/?nc=1

(be sure to check out the video proof in the last one to see what kind 
of interference BPL is generating in the "real world", and not in some 
power company's computer model)


To read other comments already filed, go to 
http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/comsrch_v2.cgi

In Box 1 "Proceeding", type in 03-104 and click on "Retrieve Document 
List".  This will show all the submitted comments.  Read a few to get an 
idea of what to say (other than "don't kill my hobby"!)


Once you know what you want to say, go to 
http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi

Fill in the following fields on the submission form:

1 Type in 03-104
2 Click on "Name" (default)
3 Type in your name
6 Type in your e-mail address
7 Type in your mailing address
8 Type in your city
9 Select state from the drop down list
10 Type in your zip code
12 Should read "Comment".  If not, select it from the drop down list.

Once the "Cover Sheet" is completed, scroll down to the bottom of the 
page to the "Send a Brief Comment to FCC (typed-in)" box.

Simply type in your comments into the box (be sure to hit carriage 
return after 70 characters).  Or you can type out your comments in a 
word processing program and simply "cut and paste" them into the comment 
box.  (There's also an option to upload them as a file, but just 
entering comments in the box is the easiest way.)  Be sure to check for 
spelling and grammatical errors!

Once you are done, click on the "Send Brief Comment to FCC" button.

There will be one more "confirmation" page (sorry, I don't remember what 
it says or what to "click").  Once that page is OK'd, your comments will 
be submitted and added as part of the record.

Describing the process is actually more difficult than the process itself!

The deadline has been extended until August 20th, so there's still time 
to make your feelings known.

73, Ron