[ILHam] BPL Investigation Bill going to House of Representatives

[Jerry Martin]

This is easy for all of us to get behind. Drop your congressman an email to
let them know how you feel.

Jerry Martin - KC9BDA
Public Information Officer
Lake County RACES/ARES
Libertyville, IL 


				NEWS RELEASE


Support Requested for US House Resolution to Evaluate BPL Interference


NEWINGTON, CT, Apr 28, 2005--Rep Michael Ross, WD5DVR, of Arkansas, has
introduced a resolution in the US House of Representatives calling on the
FCC to "conduct a full and complete analysis" of the radio interference from
broadband over power line (BPL)operations.  ARRL President Jim Haynie,
W5JBP, has urged ARRL members to contact their US representatives to support
the resolution when it reaches the floor of the House. A sample letter
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/filings/hres230/HRes230-SampleLtr
.doc>  is available on the ARRL Web site, although members are encouraged to
express their support in their own words. If you're not sure who represents
your congressional district, visit the United States House of
Representatives <http://www.house.gov/>  Web site.


The resolution, H.Res 230
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/filings/hres230/HRes230.pdf>,
says the Commission should comprehensively evaluate BPL's interference
potential incorporating "extensive public review and comment," and--in light
of that analysis--to "reconsider and review" its new BPL rules
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-245A1.doc> . If
approved by the full House, the non-binding resolution, introduced April 21,
would express the requests as "the sense of the House of Representatives."

While the resolution's prime focus is on BPL's potential to disrupt critical
public safety radio communication, it reinforces what the Amateur Radio
operators have been warning. When high frequency signals are put into
unshielded wires, such as electrical lines, it creates radio static and can
make communications impossible.  It cites National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA <http://www.ntia.doc.gov/> ) studies that
"have determined that broadband over power line creates a 'high risk' of
radio wave interference, and that harmful interference to public safety
mobile radio receivers can be expected at distances of 75 meters from a
power line where broadband over power line is in operation, and at distances
of up to 460 meters from fixed stations, such as police or fire dispatch
communications facilities." 

Many public safety agencies and support services, including emergency
medical services, fire, and law enforcement, utilize radios which can be
affected, the resolution points out. Thirteen states--California,
Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wyoming--use
radios threatened by BPL for their state police operations, and they are the
primary public safety radios in nine states.

See the full story on www.arrl.org

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