[South Florida DX Association] ARLB005 FCC okays BPL proposal

[Bill Marx]

 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
>