[Park] BPL --- SOURCE: http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/AnchorDesk/

[Dave Haney]

Since last we visited the issue of transmitting the Internet over power
lines (the big electric company kind, not the wires in your walls), the
Federal Communications Commission, lapdog to the monied interests, has
issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the second step in making
broadband over power lines (BPL) a reality.

In a rare moment of governmental clarity, an NPRM is precisely what it seems
to be: Advance notice of how the FCC is going to give zillionaires what they
want at the expense of us ordinary folks. The NPRM follows a Notice of
Inquiry that was issued last April and generated more than 5,000 comments,
many from angry ham radio operators.

HERE'S THE DEAL: BPL is a technology that uses radio waves, transmitted over
power lines, to provide broadband Internet or other data connectivity. The
problem with BPL is simple physics: Radio waves like to fly off into space.
When they do, interference results. In order to get broadband speeds, BPL
uses a large number of frequencies, some of which are capable of traveling
literally around the world even on the small transmitter power that BPL
systems use.

BPL would operate as an unlicensed radio service under Part 15 of the FCC's
rules. This is the same section that allows most of the unlicensed devices
used in home and business. All of these devices are supposed to operate in
such a way that they don't interfere with licensed radio services.

Among the leaders in the fight against BPL is the amateur radio community.
Ham radio operators, including myself, see BPL as a potentially huge source
of communications-disrupting interference. The hams have found an ally in
the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the
Commerce Department agency charged with coordinating the federal
government's own radio systems.

The NTIA has warned the FCC that, unless it's carefully regulated, BPL could
cause significant interference to government users of shortwave radio
frequencies. The NTIA is conducting its own BPL study, though it has not yet
been released. Another study, by ARRL, the national organization for amateur
radio, is also due to be released in the next few weeks to months.

WHY SHOULD YOU CARE about all this? Because BPL could have a negative impact
on the entire world of radio communication. Remember what I said earlier
about the radio waves flying off into space? Even the low-power signals BPL
would employ can, under the right conditions, travel around the globe. That
means BPL systems in the United States could cause interference in places
far removed from whatever benefit BPL is supposed to provide.
Interference is pollution and, once it starts, can prove impossible to stop.
If not properly managed, BPL has the potential to ruin large portions of the
shortwave radio spectrum. Like old-growth forests, radio spectrum is
precious and for much the same reason: They just aren't making any more of
it. What we have needs to be wisely managed for the greatest public benefit.

BPL needs to be watched carefully to make sure a technology we don't really
need--isn't there enough broadband out there already?--doesn't cause
problems we'll never be able to resolve.