BPL - Broadband over Power Lines

Feb 15 20:32 UTC 2004

It's just become a dark day in radio in America, with results that
might affect the whole world.  Possibly even the safety of people
all over the world.

http://www.computerworld.com/governmenttopics/government/policy/story/0,108
01,
90212,00.html?nas=PM-90212

FCC moves ahead with power-line broadband rules
 
It's seeking ways the technology can co-exist with other devices using radio
frequency 

Story by Grant Gross

FEBRUARY 13, 2004 ( IDG NEWS SERVICE ) - The U.S. Federal Communications
Commission will look into ways that an emerging broadband option -- broadband
over power lines -- can coexist with other devices using radio frequency. 
The FCC yesterday voted to move ahead with a process to measure interference
caused by broadband over power-line service. Broadband over power lines --
often called BPL -- delivers high-speed Internet access using near ubiquitous
power lines. But some licensed users of radio frequency spectrum have
complained that BPL interferes with their signals. 

The FCC notice of proposed rule making will attempt to measure radio frequency
emissions from BPL equipment. Several groups, including the American Radio
Relay League (ARRL) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), have
expressed concerns over the unlicensed BPL equipment interfering with their
licensed radio signals. However, Ahn Wride, a senior engineer at the FCC's
Office of Engineering Technology, said FCC staffers are confident the
interference problems can be resolved. 

In December, FEMA sent a letter to the FCC outlining its concerns about
interference. But in January, FEMA Undersecretary Michael Brown sent a second
letter to the FCC saying the agency believes some rules for BPL could solve
the problem. 

Commissioners touted BPL as a potential competitor to Digital Subscriber Line
and cable modem service. With power lines nearly everywhere, BPL could provide
broadband access to places not served by cable or DSL, FCC Chairman Michael
Powell said. "It really has the potential of being the great broadband hope
for most of rural America," he said. 

ARRL representatives said they were disappointed with the FCC's decision to
move forward with BPL rules. BPL isn't likely to become a choice for residents
of rural areas because of the cost of deploying it, said ARRL President Jim
Haynie. "I had hoped the FCC would have shown a greater depth of understanding
of the issue," he said in a statement. 

The ARRL argued that the FCC rules will place the burden of proof on licensed
users of the radio spectrum experiencing interference from BPL. But
commissioners downplayed interference complaints while voting to move forward
with BPL rules. "While we must be mindful of harmful interference, we cannot
let unsupported claims stand in the way of such an innovation as BPL systems,"
said Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein. "We need to push the boundaries to
accommodate new technologies." 

The notice adopted by the FCC: 
- Proposes that BPL devices use technologies that lessen the possibility of
interference. 

- Proposes developing a public database of BPL deployments that would include
location and frequencies of BPL devices. 

- Seeks comment on radio frequency measurement guidelines for BPL devices.

BPL vendors such as Amperion Inc. and Current Technologies LLC have begun
offering BPL service in limited areas. Representatives from both companies
were unavailable for comment yesterday. 

response 2 of 17:

Feb 22 01:18 UTC 2004

heh...  I like that quote.

response 4 of 17:

May 8 04:25 UTC 2004

As everyone should comment negatively on this.  I still can't help but
wonder about the mental status of whoever thought this was a good idea.

response 6 of 17:

May 10 19:29 UTC 2004

(To amplify a bit more...to people who aren't familiar with shortwave
broadcasting or transoceanic aircraft operations, it's easy to fall into
the assumption that long-haul shortwave radio communication has been
obsolete for years now, replaced by satellites, and the only people
still using it are amateur radio operators ragchewing on 80 meters.)

response 8 of 17:

May 11 16:06 UTC 2004

Perhaps more important are the aeronautical users, i.e. the airlines.

response 10 of 17:

May 11 20:52 UTC 2004

The commentary by Boeing a few responses up talks about it.  They use a
narrow (~2 MHz, if I remember right) band for air traffic control
communications with transoceanic flights.

response 12 of 17:

May 12 17:12 UTC 2004

I would expect that it would also be used similarly by marine services.

response 14 of 17:

May 15 06:23 UTC 2004

Actually, most maritime comms happen via satty now.  Except for the
small fishing fleets.  But there are still a lot of smaller operations
and countries that use it as a primary.

MARS just ain't what it used to be.  Very few ships carry a station
anymore.

All this stuff of leaving HF behind will come to bite people in the ass
sometime in the future.

response 16 of 17:

Jun 12 00:45 UTC 2005

BPL update: There's now a trial going on in Grand Ledge, near Lansing. I
haven't heard much about the status of the trial,though.