 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||
|
|
 Previous: FCC Affirms Hefty Fine for Midwest Amateur Accused of Intentional Interference | ![Next (later) Story](/images/sty-up.gif "A "Revised" Mid-1920s Era Receiver"){kind=small} Next: A "Revised" Mid-1920s Era Receiver |
 NTIA Administrator Nancy Victory praised the FCC's BPL initiative but cautioned the FCC to take interference concerns into consideration. |
NEWINGTON, CT, May 8, 2003--The administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Nancy J. Victory, has applauded the FCC's decision to launch its inquiry into Broadband over Power Line (BPL)--a form of power line communications (PLC). In an April 24 letter to FCC Chairman Michael Powell, the other four commissioners and to FCC Office of Engineering and Technology Chief Edmond J. Thomas, Victory said BPL "holds great promise" and urged the Commission to "move forward expeditiously with its inquiry." At the same time, she called on the FCC to make sure that BPL does not cause harmful interference to other services.
"I also urge the Commission to promptly adopt any subsequent rule changes that may be appropriate to facilitate broadband PLC deployment, while ensuring that those rules prevent harmful radio frequency (RF) interference to other communications mediums." Victory wrote.
BPL has raised the specter of substantial interference to the HF bands since it involves coupling high-frequency RF to parts of the power grid and using existing power lines as the transmission medium to deliver broadband and Internet access. The new so-called "access BPL" and "in-home BPL" devices operate on multiple carriers spread over a wide spectrum, which could be as much as from 2 MHz up to 80 MHz. Data throughput for access BPL is claimed to be comparable to DSL (digital subscriber line) or cable modem technology.
Victory offered NTIA's services in assisting the FCC with measuring and testing broadband PLC emissions.
"By moving swiftly to establish appropriate rules for broadband PLC, the Commission can provide this emerging industry with a solid foundation upon which to build new services and products that will benefit American consumers," Victory said. "At the same time, the Commission must provide all communications stakeholders with adequate protections against broadband PLC emissions that may cause harmful RF interference."
An arm of the US Department of Commerce, the NTIA regulates radio spectrum allocated to the federal government. It also serves as the Executive Branch's principal voice on domestic and international telecommunications and information technology issues.
 ARRL Lab Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, is among those who worry that overhead power lines could radiate BPL signals for some distance. |
The FCC has released a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) on the deployment of "Broadband over Power Line" (BPL) technology, ET Docket 03-104, on April 28 and now is accepting comments. The complete NOI is available on the FCC Web site.
Interested parties may submit electronically filed comments via the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). Under ECFS Main Links, click on "Submit a Filing." In the "Proceeding" field, enter "03-104" and complete the required field. Comments may be typed into a form or you may attach a file containing your comments. Comments also may be submitted via e-mail, per instructions on the ECFS page.
The deadline for comments in this proceeding will be 45 days after publication of the NOI in the Federal Register.
ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, urges League members to become informed and to comment in the proceeding.
"Once this genie is let out of the bottle, if widespread harmful interference to HF happens--and all indications are that it will--it will be very expensive to put it back in the bottle," Hare says. "The time to raise and answer interference questions is now."
The ARRL Lab has prepared a comprehensive
information page, "Power Line Communications
(PLC) and Amateur Radio," on the ARRL Web site. ARRL Lab staff also plan to
visit sites where BPL is undergoing field testing.
| Previous: FCC Affirms Hefty Fine for Midwest Amateur Accused of Intentional Interference | Next: A "Revised" Mid-1920s Era Receiver |
