[K3PZN-List] Fwd: ARLB005 FCC okays BPL proposal

[Steve Beckman]

FYI -- BPL interference inches it way closer to our receivers. The FCC 
decided to continue forward with BPL at yesterday's meeting in DC.

The Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) will be out in a couple days. 
Comments will be invited at that time. I'll let everyone know when it 
occurs, and how to file your comments.

73; Steve, N3SB


>X-From_: list-bounce@mailer.remote.arrl.org  Fri Feb 13 06:01:26 2004
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>Subject: ARLB005 FCC okays BPL proposal
>Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2004 18:20:58 -0500
>To: n3sb@qis.net
>Cc: Subscribed ARRL Members: ;
>From: "ARRL Web site" <memberlist@www.arrl.org>
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>SB QST @ ARL $ARLB005
>ARLB005 FCC okays BPL proposal
>
>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