[HCRA] FCC to change focus on BPL enforcement

[Jim Mullen]

Hi, here is a reprint from the CQ news line. I can't vouch for it's accuracy
but it seems to make sense. Hopefully this will help resolve some of the BPL
interference problems out there that have gone unchanged for long periods of
time.

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FCC enforcement bureau to take over BPL responsibilities

CQ Magazine says it has learned that responsibility for acting on
interference complaints regarding Broadband over Power Lines has been
transferred from the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology to the
Commission's Enforcement Bureau. 

According to the C-Q website story, there have been repeated complaints of
interference to hams and other licensed HF radio users by certain BPL
systems but FCC response so far has been negligible. It is expected that
transferring this responsibility to the Enforcement Bureau will result in
stronger FCC action against those systems causing interference.

CQ also says that that BPL appears to be losing some of its luster among FCC
commissioners. What was once described by former Commissioner Kathleen
Abernathy as "broadband nirvana" was virtually ignored by Commissioner
Jonathan Adelstein in a speech before the National Spectrum Managers'
Association in mid-May. Adelstein told the group that the so-called third
channel for broadband access, in addition to cable internet and telephone
DSL service -- once touted to be BPL -- is likely to be wide area wireless
networks now being deployed in various communities around the country.

Meantime, a bill containing a provision requiring the FCC to conduct a study
of BPL's interference potential has been passed by the House of
Representatives and was awaiting Senate action as we go to air. The
amendment to the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act
of 2006 in House Resolution 5252 was proposed by Arkansas Representative
Mike Ross, WD5DVR, one of two hams currently in Congress. 

The ARRL is urging members living in states represented by members of the
Senate Commerce, Science and ransportation Committee to contact their
senators to urge support for a similar amendment to the Senate version of
the bill, which the ARRL Letter reports passed the House over the strong
objections of the BPL industry.


Source: Amateur Radio Newsline, CQ website

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'73...

Jim, KK1W