[NvHam] Re: Broadband over Power Line

[Dick Flanagan]

OK, what can we do about it?  The FCC is accepting comments on this 
proceeding until August 20th.  They have a web page which makes it 
convenient to tell them your views on BPL.  If this gets your attention 
PLEASE, PLEASE let the FCC know how you feel about it.

Here's how to file a comment on BPL:

* Go to the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System page at
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/

* In the "ECFS MAIN LINKS" box in the upper right hand corner click on 
"SUBMIT A FILING"

* In Box #1 type in "03-104", the number assigned to the BPL Proceeding

* (No need to check box #11)

* In Box #12, "DOCUMENT TYPE" is be "COMMENT", which should be the default.

Comments may be typed into a form or you may attach a file containing your 
comments.  Do not include links to information not contained in your 
document as the server will reject your comment.

This is one of the worst threats to amateur radio we have ever faced and we 
only have another twelve days to let the FCC know how we feel!  The 
following are the comments I have submitted.  Feel free to use them as a 
guide, but please try to put them in your own words so it doesn't look like 
a rubber-stamp campaign.

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Power Companies have an extremely poor record of addressing or correcting 
interference complaints with regards to the Amateur Radio Community. They 
basically DO NOT CARE! Just ask your own Riley Hollingsworth.

BPL was soundly rejected in Japan, the Electronics Capital of the world!

Amateur Radio provides backup and in some cases, primary communications 
during disasters. Amateur Radio is now part of Homeland Security and BPL 
would basically make our job impossible.

The US Government (i.e. military, Coast Guard, etc.) uses the HF spectrum 
as well as amateurs and BPL would surely interfere with their 
communications, too!

Interference from BPL to consumer devices such as AM/FM radios, "atomic" 
clocks and the like would definitely have a large financial impact upon 
companies that would need to take back their products from consumers who 
believe that the product is defective. Needless to say, this could ruin 
many small companies!

Finally, the field measurement video from W1RFI, the ARRL's interference 
focal point, gives undisputable visual and auditory evidence that BPL would 
be disastrous to all forms of communication in all areas of the spectrum. 
Please don't allow the uncaring, money-hungry power companies another tool 
to destroy HF/VHF communications which are all too vital to national security.

Thank you for your time.

Respectfully Submitted,

Dick Flanagan W6OLD
ARRL Nevada Section Manager

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73, Dick
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Dick Flanagan W6OLD NV SM
E-mail: w6old@arrl.org