[Lowfer] Broadband over Power Line (BPL); Filing Comments to FCC

[John Davis]

Tim,

BPL clearly should be a concern for hams on HF, SWLs, and even VHF TV
viewers, but it is not a threat to LF.  The quoted item--
"Also, the FCC recently rejected a petition for an amateur allocation at 136
kHz on the basis that operation would risk interference to the electric
utility companies relying on Power Line Communications (PLCs) for power
grid-control signaling. Proceding with BPL totally contradicts this recent
ruling."
--appears to represent a serious misunderstanding of the FCC's position
regarding the difference between BPL and PLCs.

One should read the 5 MHz decision for an explanation of their view.  The
Commission DISMISSED the broadbanders' argument against ham activity at 5
MHz, saying that a "new" technology like broadband can and should be
designed to make allowances for licensed users of the spectrum, and get out
of their way.  They say that's something the ancient PLCs are not able to
do.  Thus, there is no internal contradiction in the FCC's views.

Unfortunately, there's still not a lot of sense to the LF decision, either.

But BPL is not well suited for low frequencies, and the utilities are not
going to let BPL down where it would interfere with their tinker-toy PLC
systems either.  We only have the one big foe to contend with at LF,
thankfully, not two.  I think BPL ought to be opposed vigorously on its own
(de-) merits.  I suspect it would muddy the case to bring largely unrelated
topics such as LF into it.

73
John