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August 26, 2003
Marsha P. Ryan, Senior Vice
President
American Electric Power Company
1 Riverside Plaza
Columbus, OH 43215-2373
Dear Ms. Ryan:
This is in response to your February 10, 2003 letter to Mr. Jack Forsythe of the Consumer Information and Governmental Affairs Bureau concerning four radio frequency interference cases that have been reported to the Commission.
Based upon follow-up reports from the complainants in this matter, there appear to be several discrepancies between what they report and what was stated in your February 10 letter. Responses of the complainants were as follows:
· Jerry W
Daugherty, W9FS
1921 Catalpa Ave
South Bend, IN 46613-1904
Mr. Daugherty reports that he has heard nothing from AEP, nor was he aware that AEP believed his case to be closed. As of June 20, 2003, the noise was present at VHF and coming from several different locations. Based on your letter, AEP appears to be under the erroneous impression that his case has been resolved.
· James M
Kiskis, W8PA
258 Magnolia Dr
Gallipolis, OH 45631-1427
Mr. Kiskis reports he has one complaint, rather than three as indicated in your letter. Mr. Kiskis also reports that although the interference has been repaired on two poles, it has returned on one of the poles. He does not know if there are only three noise sources since the sources have not yet been identified.
Mr. Kiskis also reports that Dave Klinect, an AEP interference investigator, was at his residence on June 23, 2003. Klinect stated that he had found more interference points and was reporting them to the line crew for repair. While he was there he connected a spectrum analyzer to Mr. Kiskis' antenna and found strong noise present at 14 and 28 MHz.
· William H
Hannon, N8PW
319 21st St NW
Canton, OH 44709-3911
Mr. Hannon confirms that AEP repaired several poles, including one very significant noise source. Mr. Hannon continues to experience strong noise in dry weather conditions when his antenna is pointed east. He also indicates that he has maintained a noise log.
Regarding shutting off power, Mr. Hannon reports that no residential power was shut off; and that AEP erroneously believed that street lights were the source of interference.
· Howard D.
McCloud, KC5RGC
6014 East 57th Place
Tulsa, OK 74135
Mr. McCloud reports that he is unaware that an AEP technician located a radio tower as a source of noise. The noise source he reported on April 26 was not a radio tower. It was from power lines about one mile from his station, at 51st and Braden in Tulsa. He also reported that source in a letter to Gary Baergen of AEP. Mr. McCloud is not aware that AEP has attempted to correct it.
AEP now apparently maintains that the source of the noise is McCloud's antenna, even when it is disconnected and on the ground. That conclusion is patently defective. The noise continues 24 hours each day. It is relatively strong and can be heard on HF.
While we certainly appreciate the considerable effort that AEP afforded this matter, we are puzzled by the lack of results. In most cases, a noise source can be located easily by trained personnel using the proper equipment. As you can see from the above information, not one of these cases appears to have been successfully resolved. In some cases, the noise being reported is strong enough to disrupt neighborhood broadcast radio and television services in addition to the Amateur service. In addition, each case has been ongoing for a considerable period of time -- in some cases for years. Moreover, the noise source identified in the Howard McCloud case is obviously in error.
We would appreciate an effort to revisit each of these cases. Please update the Commission within 45 days of receiving this letter as to what progress is being made in each case.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter. If you have any questions, please contact me at 717-338-2502. Technical help is also available by calling Michael Gruber at the ARRL. His number is (860) 594-0392.
CC:
Mr. E. Linn Draper, Chairman
American Electric Power Company
1 Riverside Plaza
Columbus, OH 43215
FCC Northeast Regional Director
