[NCham] FCC Chmn Powell Sees Progress Energy BPL Phase II Trial

[Gary Pearce KN4AQ]

FCC Chairman Powell Sees Progress Energy BPL Phase II Trial

FCC Chairman Michael Powell got a demonstration of Progress Energy's Phase 
II BPL trial BPL system on Friday.  Several area hams also attended and had 
a chance to talk to Powell and other FCC and industry officials at the event.

The demonstration was hosted by Progress Energy, and led by Matt Oja, their 
top BPL manager, at a customer's home in one of the trial areas near 
Fuquay-Varina.  Also present were Phillip Hunt, CEO of BPL equipment maker 
Amperion, and two FCC officials, Robert Pepper (Chief, Policy Development) 
and Chris Libertelli (Senior Legal Advisor).  The demonstration followed a 
noon press conference in Raleigh, and both events received some press coverage.

Oja showed Powell maps and charts of the installation, and Hunt showed the 
hardware in one of the outdoor pedestals (the demonstration was in an area 
of underground wiring).  Then everyone went indoors and looked at a 
computer and wi-fi enabled Palm showing BPL-delivered Internet (Progress 
Energy's Amperion system uses 802.11b wi-fi to bring the Internet into the 
home, so wireless devices can connect anywhere in the coverage area without 
plugging in).  The homeowner said that he was getting download speeds of 
more than 2 mpbs, and upload speeds of almost 2 mpbs - an impressive speed, 
but perhaps somewhat unrealistic considering that there are few subscribers 
on the system at the time.

Six area hams were present:
Frank Lynch W4FAL, NC Technical Specialist
Bob Lukaszewski K4HA NC Traffic Manager
Bob Conder K4RLC AEC Wake County
David Crawford AEC Wake County
Tom Brown N4TAB EC Wake County
and myself.

While the other hams waited respectfully at the edge of the property, and 
while the PE and Amperion people were waiting for Powell to arrive, I 
introduced myself to Matt Oja and Phillip Hunt, and we had a short 
discussion about the problems hams have with BPL.  Hunt in particular 
showed considerable interest in our interference complaints, but believes 
that their frequency-agile technology can solve any problems we have.

When Powell and his staff arrived, I had the chance to introduce myself to 
him and talk for about 30 seconds while the demonstration was being set 
up.  I told him that we thought the interference problems were worse than 
what was being described by the FCC and the industry - to the point that we 
didn't think they could be solved.

I talked at some greater length to Robert Pepper.  I invited him (and 
Powell) for a quick ride to listen to BPL from the ham's perspective, but 
they didn't have time.  Pepper suggested that we could set up a 
demonstration in Washington.

While I observed the PE presentation, Chris Libertelli stayed outside to 
talk to the rest of the assembled hams.  He said that he understood that 
one of our main concerns was enforcement should BPL cause harmful 
interference.  He also suggested a visit to Washington to demonstrate the 
problem hams are having (there is a BPL system in operation in Manassas, 
VA, a Washington suburb).  Prior to the demonstration, the ARRL's 
Washington council, Chris Imlay, contacted the FCC staff and asked them to 
talk with the hams.

In addition to our private conversations, a Raleigh News & Observer 
reporter at the noon press conference asked Chairman Powell a question 
about ham radio interference (the paper had solicited questions from the 
public the day before, and several hams posed questions about interference):

Q. "Amateur radio operators worry that electric companies will interfere 
with their signals if allowed to deploy high-speed Internet services over 
power lines. What do you say to them?"

A. "We've never said we would let it go on and interfere with critical 
services. The question is whether it does, and to what extent, and what 
limits can be placed to make sure it doesn't. We've been fully committed to 
only allowing things within the range of what we're convinced won't create 
impermissible interference. ...

"Let's say this works, broadband over power lines. Then every person in 
every building has broadband because of the electrification of this 
country. There is a plug everywhere. ... We're not going to be easily 
dissuaded from doing something that has that much potential."

We consider the day successful in the context that we were able to speak 
directly with several high-level FCC officials, key Progress Energy 
officials and the CEO of Amperion.  Long-term success will be measured by 
how much of a problem BPL poses to Amateur Radio, or how much of a problem 
is avoided.  We know they heard us and that we made a good impression.  We 
hope it was a deep one as well.

73,
Gary KN4AQ



__________________________________________________________________________
        Gary Pearce KN4AQ        editor, SERA Repeater Journal
        Cary, NC                 www.sera.org
        919-380-9944             kn4aq@sera.org
        kn4aq@arrl.net
         AOL/Yahoo Instant Messanger: KN4AQ
         (send e-mail to be put on my "buddy list")