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 Previous: ARRL Southwestern Division Convention to Feature Goldwater Theme |  Next: More ARES Volunteers Urgently Needed at Hurricane Charley Ground Zero |
 The Cottonwood BPL field trial uses Mitsubishi Electric PLCLINK equipment. [Ernie Cummings, K6XF, Photo] |
NEWINGTON, CT, Aug 17, 2004--The ARRL has asked the FCC to immediately shut down a broadband over power line (BPL) field trial in the Cottonwood, Arizona, area because it's causing "severe interference" to Amateur Radio communication. Electric Broadband LLC and utility APS have been operating the BPL experiment at two Yavapai County sites since June under a Special Temporary Authorization (STA) the FCC granted to Electric Broadband in March. Michael Kinney, KU7W, filed the first Amateur Radio complaint in June. It cited testing by the Verde Valley Amateur Radio Association (VVARA) in the 1.8-30 MHz range showing that BPL interference makes attempts at ham radio communication useless.
"The interference on typical Amateur Radio equipment shows
received undesired signal levels in excess of 60 dB over S9 on the receiver's
signal strength meter," ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, told FCC
officials on the League's behalf. "The utility and Electric Broadband were
contacted, and no response was received." The ARRL asserted that both companies
are aware that the BPL field trial has been causing harmful interference and
"neither has taken any steps to either resolve it or terminate the test."
 ARRL Lab Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, in Arizona to take measurements on the Cottonwood BPL field trial system. [Bob Shipton, K8EQC, Photo] |
The League said VVARA and ARRL testing indicates levels of radiated RF energy on amateur HF allocations is "extremely high," well in excess of the FCC Part 15 levels with which Electric Broadband told the FCC it would comply. VVARA testing revealed "actual harmful interference" from the BPL system to mobile stations in the vicinity and to the fixed station of David Kiggins, KB7KMR. Distances ranged from between 30 and 70 feet from BPL equipment to 0.56 mile and 0.71 mile from Kiggins station antenna, the League said.
The League's shutdown request went out August 16 via e-mail and courier to FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief David Solomon and Deputy Office of Engineering and Technology Chief Bruce Franca.
ARRL called on the FCC to instruct Electric Broadband and
APS to shut down the BPL trial immediately and not resume
operation until it can demonstrate that all interference issues have been
resolved. It also insisted that the FCC immediately revoke any STAs granted for
the Cottonwood or nearby operations, and that it institute forfeiture proceedings
against the two companies for knowingly causing harmful interference.
 Bob Shipton, K8EQC, chairs the VVARA BPL Committee and is the club's vice president. [Ernie Cummings, K6XF, Photo] |
VVARA submitted a lengthy and comprehensive report to the two companies and to the Commission in late July detailing the interference issues arising from the Cottonwood BPL field trial. There's been no response, the ARRL said.
The VVARA took baseline measurements in January, before the BPL trial began, and it's continued taking measurements since the system's startup to determine the extent of interference. ARRL Lab Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, conducted independent tests of the Cottonwood BPL system in July, and the League attached a summary of his findings to its letter.
"Mr Hare found strong BPL noise levels across a wide geographical area surrounding the BPL site and made measurements that show that the system is operating at levels several orders of magnitude higher than the FCC Part 15 limits," the League said. One measurement cited was more than 32 dB higher than Part 15 allows.
"The measurements taken were consistent with the levels
seen on the Amateur Radio station receiver signal-strength meter by the Verde
Valley group," the League added.
The VVARA and ARRL measurements, ARRL said, indicate widespread interference to Amateur Radio communication in an area within a mile of the BPL field trial and radiated emissions from BPL modems well in excess of what FCC regulations permit. The League further accused Electric Broadband of misrepresenting facts to the Commission by saying it would comply with §15.109 of the FCC's rules.
The ARRL said continued operation of the system while violating the conditions under which the STA was granted constitutes "willful and repeated interference," and both the utility and the BPL provider should be subject to fines as a result.
"ARRL requests that this test station be shut down
immediately and that the appropriate monetary forfeitures be imposed against
both Electric Broadband and APS," the League concluded.
| Previous: ARRL Southwestern Division Convention to Feature Goldwater Theme | Next: More ARES Volunteers Urgently Needed at Hurricane Charley Ground Zero |
