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Broadband Over Power Line (BPL) and Amateur Radio

BPL Deployment and Field Trials

BPL has been deployed in a number of cities across the U.S. and elsewhere in the world. Some of these systems are being operated under experimental licenses, while others are operating under Part 15 of the FCC rules.

Descriptions of BPL in various US cities
BPL trials worldwide
FCC Experimental licenses
Other information about BPL trials

FCC Experimental Licenses

View Form

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Exhibits

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Notes

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Correspondence

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Grant

File
Number

Call
Sign

Applicant Name

Receipt Date

Status

Status
Date

Initial
Current

0093-EX-PL-2002

WC2XXK

Ameren Energy Communications, Inc.

05/07/2002

Grant Expired Due to New License

06/05/2002

Initial
Current

0218-EX-ST-2002

WB9XQT

Ambient Corporation

06/06/2002

Grant Expired Due to New License

06/21/2002

Initial
Current

0126-EX-PL-2002

WC2XZG

Southern Telecom, Inc.

06/10/2002

Grant Expired Due to New License

08/29/2002

Initial
Current

0183-EX-PL-2002

WC2XZQ

PPL Electric Utilities DBA PPL Utilities

08/05/2002

Grant Expired Due to New License

10/01/2002

Initial
Current

0046-EX-ML-2002

WC2XUV

Current Technologies, LLC

08/29/2002

Grant Expired Due to New License

09/12/2002

Initial
Current

0435-EX-ST-2002

WB9XQT

Ambient Corporation

12/09/2002

Grant Expired Due to New License

12/13/2002

Initial
Current

0011-EX-PL-2003

WD2XCA

Progress Energy Service Company

01/08/2003

Granted

02/10/2003

Initial
Current

0046-EX-PL-2003

WD2XCN

Amperion, Inc.

03/07/2003

Granted

03/11/2003

Initial
Current

0069-EX-PL-2003

WD2XCZ

City of Manassas

04/09/2003

Granted

04/10/2003

Initial
Current

0089-EX-PL-2003

WD2XDT

Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.

05/02/2003

Granted

05/22/2003

Not Available

0118-EX-PL-2003

WD2XEQ

AMBIENT CORPORATION

06/09/2003

Grant Expired Due to New License

07/28/2003

Initial
Current

0050-EX-ML-2003

WD2XEQ

AMBIENT CORPORATION

08/07/2003

Granted

09/03/2003

Not Available

0242-EX-PL-2003

WD2XGL

PowerWAN, Inc.

11/05/2003

Granted

11/06/2003

Initial
Current

0506-EX-ST-2003

WB9XVP

Electric Broadband

12/22/2003

Grant Expired Due to New License

12/24/2003

Initial
Current

0032-EX-ST-2004

WB9XVP

Electric Broadband, LLC

01/23/2004

Grant Expired Due to New License

01/26/2004

Initial
Current

0005-EX-ML-2004

WC2XUV

Current Technologies, LLC

01/29/2004

Denied/Dismissed

02/05/2004

Initial
Current

0025-EX-RR-2004

WC2XUV

Current Technologies, LLC

01/30/2004

Granted

02/23/2004

Initial
Current

0136-EX-ST-2004

WB9XVP

Electric Broadband

03/02/2004

Grant Expired Due to New License

03/10/2004

Initial
Current

0072-EX-PL-2004

WD2XIZ

AT&T CORP

04/02/2004

Granted

04/15/2004

Initial
Current

0120-EX-RR-2004

WC2XZG

Southern Telecom, Inc.

08/24/2004

Granted

09/29/2004

Initial
Current

0182-EX-PL-2004

WD2XMB

Electric Broadband LLC

09/08/2004

Grant Expired Due to New License

11/19/2004

Initial
Current

0090-EX-ML-2004

WC2XUV

Current Technologies, LLC

12/06/2004

Pending

12/06/2004

Initial
Current

0013-EX-AU-2004

WD2XMB

Electric Broadband LLC

12/09/2004

Granted

01/03/2005

Other Information about BPL Trials

United Powerline Council / Powerlines Communications Association joint report to the FCC
Internet: http://www.uplc.utc.org/file_depot/0-10000000/0-10000/7966/conman/Joint+Report+on+PLC.pdf
Summary: This UPLC/PLCA joint paper reports that "successful" field trials have taken place in the US in AL; MD; MO; NY; OH; PA and VA. Although the studies were not well publicized and did not include any direct participation by the Amateur Radio Service, this report concludes that "none of these field trials have caused any interference to home entertainment equipment, licensed wireless services and other spectrum users." ARRL believes that this conclusion is premature because none of these studies included any Amateur Radio involvment and no specific mention of measurements or tests to quantify interference levels appear to have been included.
Author: UPLC/PCLA

Megabits per Second on 50 Hz Power Lines?
Internet: http://www.ieee.org/organizations/pubs/newsletters/emcs/winter01/hansen.htm
Summary: The reason for the removal of the RegTP field trial license, based on numerous protests, is that Digital Power Line Communications (PLC) is trying to increase the speed of data rates into the Megabits per seconds range. Therefore the short wave band of up to 30 MHz will be transmitted over the low voltage distribution network. The recent history of PLC in Germany together with the standardization and measurement procedures used are given. Public opinion in Germany and technological alternatives to PLC like ADSL and wireless communications with low power are discussed and explained. The present approach of the remaining PLC consortia and their attempt to introduce the PLC technology nation wide is questionable.
Author: Diethard Hansen, EURO EMC SERVICE (EES)

Southern Electric Broadband Over Powerline Trial in Winchester, England
Internet: http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/22/30567.html
Internet: http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/22/29992.html
Summary: Over 200 homes involved in this field trial
Author: Tim Richardson, The Register

Worldwide Field Trials

Mainnet.com describes BPL availability in Linz, Austria; Mannheim, Sweden; Isle of Gottland, Sweden; Krakow, Poland; Arnhem, Netherlands; Offenbach, Germany; Creiff, Scotland; Campbelltown, Scotland.
Internet: http://www.mainnet-plc.com/plc.htm

Mainnet.com article describes field trial in Finland
Internet: http://www.mainnet-plc.com/arc_june25_01.htm

Mainnet.com article describes field trial in Spain
Internet: http://www.mainnet-plc.com/arc_april2_01.htm

Mainnet.com article describes field trial in Sweden
Internet: http://www.mainnet-plc.com/arc_feb21_01.htm

Mainnet.com article describes field trial in unspecified location
Internet: http://www.mainnet-plc.com/arc_feb22_01.htm

Field trials in Maylasia
Internet: http://neasia.nikkeibp.com/nea/200006/comy_103443.html

Field Trial in Virginia
Internet: http://www1.newswire.ca/releases/February2001/21/c5429.html

Field Trial in Wilmington, NC
Internet: http://www1.newswire.ca/releases/February2001/21/c5429.html

Several European field trials listed
Internet: http://palas.regiocom.net/reports/D1.pdf

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Page last modified: 11:27 AM, 06 Jan 2005 ET
Page author: w1rfi@arrl.org
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