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Stop the assault on ham radio!
Radio amateurs are
not opposed to broadband services. On the contrary, they tend to be early
adopters of new technology. However, there are ways to deliver broadband that do
not pollute the radio spectrum as Broadband over Power Line (BPL) does. These
include fiber-to-the-home, cable, DSL, and wireless broadband. The ARRL--The
National Association for Amateur Radio-- is supportive of broadband access for
all Americans; however, it opposes BPL as a way to achieve this goal because of
its high potential for causing interference to radiocommunication.
[Full Story]
Robert Dickinson, W3HJ (SK)
(Jul 16, 2008)
-- Robert Van Cleft Dickinson, W3HJ (ex-W2CCE), of Zionsville, Pennsylvania, passed away May 28. He was 79. A Fellow of the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers and a member of the IEEE, Dickinson, a long-time ARRL Technical Advisor, wrote the chapter on cable television interference in the second edition of The ARRL RFI Book. ARRL Lab Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, remembered Dickinson, saying, "In the early 1980s, as the cable industry was developing, the relationship between the cable industry and Amateur Radio was not good. Early systems were leaky and interference problems -- especially on 2 meters -- were common. Dickinson helped change that; he agreed to serve as a liaison between the ARRL and the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA). It took years, but over time -- as improvements in the construction of cable plants and firm guidance from NCTA to cable operators who did not promptly correct interference problems -- his work helped the cable industry flourish with good coexistence with licensed radio services. This has served as a model for ARRL's relationship with other industries." ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, echoed Hare's thoughts: "We are saddened by the loss of Bob Dickinson, W3HJ, a good friend of ARRL and Amateur Radio. Bob's keen interest in League activities on behalf of our Service was evidenced by his generosity as part of the ARRL Diamond Club for five years, as well as his financial support of the Spectrum Defense Fund and the Education & Technology Fund." Dickinson is survived by his wife Jessie, four children, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.Link to this item |
ARRL, FCC, Meet in Washington to Discuss BPL Remand
(Jul 15, 2008)
-- On July 9, ARRL officials -- President Joel Harrison, W5ZN; Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, and General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD -- met with members of the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology to discuss the recent US Court of Appeals decision regarding broadband over power lines (BPL). In that case, the Court agreed with the ARRL on two major points and remanded the rules to the Commission. According to Imlay, the meeting was convened to discuss "a possible regulatory approach" to BPL with the FCC. Suggestions put forth by ARRL "would address the needs and concerns of Amateur Radio operators in avoiding harmful interference from [BPL systems] while imposing the minimum necessary regulatory obligations on BPL deployments." The ARRL understands, Imlay said, that "there are at this point rules that could be adopted which would, at once, (1) protect Amateur Radio communications from predictable harmful interference from BPL; and (2) permit broadband over power line systems to operate in the 3 to 80 MHz range without significant constraint and without substantial redesign or retroactive build outs."Link to this item |
Court of Appeals: FCC Must Reimburse Fees Stemming from BPL Challenge
(Jul 14, 2008)
-- The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has ordered that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reimburse ARRL for the docketing fee and the cost of reproducing copies of briefs and appendices in the ARRL's successful challenge of the FCC's broadband over power line (BPL) rules. The Order, issued on July 9 following review of an opposition from the FCC and a reply from the ARRL, awarded the ARRL's full claim of $6,096.18. Commenting on the Order, ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, observed: "While this is just a small fraction of the cost of our judicial appeal, the Order is significant because the Court did not buy the FCC's arguments that the ARRL had only achieved 'partial success' in its appeal and that our claim of costs was excessive. In addition, the FCC falsely claimed that the ARRL 'was unsuccessful in persuading the Court to vacate the rules it challenged.' In fact, the ARRL never sought to do so since the BPL rules adopted by the FCC, inadequate as they are, were still better than nothing. The award of these fees affirms that, contrary to the 'spin' the FCC has tried to put on the Court's remand, the ARRL substantially prevailed in its appeal."Link to this item |
Feature: It Seems To Us: We Win In Court!
(Jul 1, 2008)
-- Last year, in the wake of Federal Communications Commission decisions that did not adequately protect licensed radiocommunication services from interference from Broadband Over Power Line (BPL) systems, the ARRL went to court to challenge the FCC.Full Story |
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Newspaper Reports "BPL plan is dead in Dallas"
(May 2, 2008)
-- The Dallas Morning News has reported that "an ambitious plan for using power lines to deliver fast Internet service to 2 million Dallas-area homes collapsed Thursday." Current Group, LLC has announced plans to sell its Dallas BPL network to Oncor, a regulated electric distribution and transmission business, for $90 million. Oncor reportedly has no plans to offer Internet service but will use the network to detect distribution network issues. While Current originally touted the network as a way to offer Internet service to consumers and had entered into a marketing arrangement with DirecTV, the Houston Chronicle quotes Oncor spokesman Chris Schein as confirming that Oncor will use the network only for monitoring the power grid: "Our business is delivering electricity, not being an Internet provider or a television provider." Full Story |
Court Finds FCC Violated Administrative Procedure Act in BPL Decision
(Apr 25, 2008)
-- The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit today released its decision on the ARRL's Petition for Review of the FCC's Orders adopting rules governing broadband over power line (BPL) systems. The Court agreed with the ARRL on two major points and remanded the rules to the Commission. Writing for the three-judge panel of Circuit Judges Rogers, Tatel and Kavanaugh, Judge Rogers summarized: "The Commission failed to satisfy the notice and comment requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act ('APA') by redacting studies on which it relied in promulgating the rule and failed to provide a reasoned explanation for its choice of the extrapolation factor for measuring Access BPL emissions."Full Story |
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Feature: It Seems to Us: Imaginary Numbers
(Apr 1, 2008)
-- One of the most frustrating aspects of dealing with the issue of radio interference from broadband over power line (BPL) technology has been the irrational boosterism of the federal government. Full Story |
"Source" Disavows Inflated NTIA BPL Figure
(Feb 6, 2008)
-- The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) report Networked Nation: Broadband in America 2007 that was released on January 31, 2008 includes the following:Full Story |
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NTIA Report on Broadband in America 2007 Inflates BPL Figures
(Feb 1, 2008)
-- On January 31, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released its report Networked Nation: Broadband in America 2007. The NTIA is part of the Department of Commerce, so it is not unexpected that the report attempts to show that the Administration has largely succeeded in meeting President Bush's goal of "universal, affordable access" to broadband technology by 2007. Full Story |
FCC "Admonishes" Ambient over BPL Issues
(Nov 14, 2007)
-- The FCC, in a letter to Yehuda Cern, Chief Engineer for Ambient Corporation, concluded their investigation into whether Ambient's BPL operation caused "harmful interference" to Amateur Radio stations in Briarcliff Manor, New York. The Commission found that "Ambient's BPL operation has violated the radiated emission limits of Section 15.109" of the FCC Rules "and the terms of its experimental license, call sign WD2XEQ." The FCC's letter went on to say that "we hereby admonish Ambient." No findings were made, however, as to whether or not the system actually caused interference to Amateur Radio, and the Enforcement Bureau left open the issue of future experimental BPL operations at Briarcliff Manor.Full Story |
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FCC Releases Broadband Report
(Nov 5, 2007)
-- The FCC has released their latest report summarizing the state of broadband in the US as of December 2006. It shows that in December 2006, Internet-access BPL has increased slightly over December 2005, but also shows that it has been decreasing slightly from a peak that occurred sometime around mid-2006. According to the report, BPL ended up with a deployment total of 0.006 percent of the total broadband lines in the US, compared to 0.011 percent at the end of December 2005. Link to this item |
ARRL Faces FCC in Federal Court over BPL Issues
(Oct 25, 2007)
-- On Tuesday, October 23, the ARRL faced the Federal Communications Commission in the US Court of Appeals over the continuing debate concerning harmful interference to licensed radio services from unlicensed Broadband over Powerline (BPL) systems. BPL is the delivery of broadband Internet communications using unshielded electrical wiring to conduct high-speed digital signals to homes and businesses. BPL systems are designed to conduct RF energy through unshielded, medium voltage power lines, using some or all of the HF spectrum between 1.7-80 MHz. At those frequencies on unshielded overhead power lines, the electrical wiring not only conducts the signals, it radiates them very efficiently for very substantial distances from the power lines.Full Story |
NATO Group Releases Report on BPL
(Sep 6, 2007)
-- The Information Systems Technology group, part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Research and Technology Organization (RTO), released their report, HF Interference, Procedures and Tools (RTO-TR-IST-050), in June. This report "address[es] the concerns raised by the potential for unintentional radio interference to be caused by the widespread operation of broadband wire-line telecommunications systems."Full Story |
FCC Issues Two Citations in Longstanding Power Line Noise Case
(Aug 30, 2007)
-- The Federal Communication Commission's Dallas Field Office issued Citations on July 25 to two utilities in a longstanding power line noise case in Lubbock, Texas. Bryan Edwards, W5KFT, of Lubbock, first reported the interference concerning the two involved utilities, Lubbock Power & Light (LP&L) and Xcel Energy, as early as 1994. The record shows that the FCC Dallas Field Office clarified the FCC rules with regard to power line noise for LP&L as early as 1998, and issued three letters to LP&L in 2003 and 2004. Xcel Energy was first issued an FCC letter in 2004.Full Story |
DirecTV Announces Plan to Provide Service via BPL
(Aug 16, 2007)
-- According to the August 15 edition of The Wall Street Journal, "Satellite-television provider DirecTV announced a wholesale agreement today with Current Group to provide high-speed Internet service over electric-power lines," otherwise known as broadband over powerlines (BPL). "Broadband over power line is a new technology that allows customers to plug a modem device the size of a cell phone into an electric outlet and connect a cable from their computer for Internet access that is capable of speeds that are faster than some popular Internet plans from cable and phone companies. Current is building out broadband networks in Cincinnati and Dallas-Fort Worth and is in talks with a number of utilities around the world about a commercial rollout," the Journal said.Full Story |
BPL Industry Representative Appointed to ARRL EMC Committee
(Aug 15, 2007)
-- ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, has appointed Brent Zitting, KB4SL, of Huntsville, Alabama, to serve on ARRL's ElectroMagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Committee. Zitting, a 25-year ARRL member, is employed by IBEC, a BPL manufacturer and integrator located in Huntsville, Alabama. The EMC Committee, chaired by Roanoke Division Director Dennis Bodson, W4PWF, consists of representatives from various industries that are interested in helping ARRL effectively and appropriately work with industry on interference issues. ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, said he is pleased to see Zitting serve on the committee. "Brent has carried his ham radio experience to the BPL industry, quietly working behind the scenes to help it better understand Amateur Radio. Having his industry occupy a seat at our table is a positive step that will improve communication significantly." Zitting said he is enthusiastic about serving as a member of the committee. "I look forward to helping the ARRL on this committee. BPL technology has made great progress in its ability to mitigate interference, which is good news for hams. I want to help the ARRL more fully understand the BPL industry so that both can be 'good neighbors.' I am pleased to be part of the solution."Link to this item |
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ARRL to FCC: Shut Down "Grossly Noncompliant" Ambient BPL Pilot Project
(Jun 1, 2007)
-- The ARRL has again demanded that the FCC shut down Ambient Corporation's broadband over power line (BPL) pilot project in Briarcliff Manor, New York. On May 21 the FCC called on the BPL equipment maker and system operator to demonstrate it's complying with all terms of the Part 5 Experimental license authorizing the system, or face possible enforcement action. In a May 31 letter to FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division Chief Kathryn S. Berthot, ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, contended that it's "long past time that the Commission enforce its own rules," and again objected to the Commission's "inexplicable inaction" in the face of evidence the system is noncompliant. Imlay pointed out that the FCC's May 21 letter made no mention of Condition #1 of Ambient's Part 5 Experimental license. Full Story |
ARRL Files Federal Appeals Court Brief in Petition for Review of BPL Rules
(May 24, 2007)
-- The ARRL has filed a federal appeals court brief outlining its case and requesting oral arguments in its petition for review of the FCC's broadband over power line (BPL) rules. The League has petitioned the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit to review the FCC's October 2004 Report and Order (R&O) in ET Docket 04-37 and its 2006 Memorandum Opinion and Order. In its brief filed May 17, the ARRL contends, among other things, that the FCC's actions in adopting rules to govern unlicensed BPL systems fundamentally alter the longstanding rights of radio spectrum licensees, including Amateur Radio operators.Full Story |
FCC Demands Ambient Demonstrate Compliance with BPL License Conditions
(May 23, 2007)
-- The FCC has called on BPL equipment manufacturer Ambient Corporation to demonstrate that it's complying with all terms of its Part 5 Experimental license or face possible enforcement action. Ambient operates the Briarcliff Manor, New York, BPL pilot program under Experimental license WD2XEQ. In a May 21 letter to Ambient Chief Engineer Yehuda Cern, FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division Chief Kathryn S. Berthot noted that the FCC is investigating ARRL complaints dating back to 2006 that Ambient's Briarcliff Manor BPL system has caused and continues to cause harmful interference to Amateur Radio stations. She said Ambient's most recent six-month report failed to address one condition of its Part 5 license relating to emission measurements to prove compliance.Full Story |
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Cooperation Rules as Radio Amateurs "Down Under" Confront BPL Interference
(Mar 8, 2007)
-- It was a scenario unlikely to be played out anytime soon in the US: The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), radio amateurs and a broadband over power line (BPL) provider worked hand-in-hand to measure background noise and emissions at a BPL trial site. ACMA's late February visit was in response to a BPL interference complaint from Ian Paul, VK3LJJ. Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) Director Phil Wait, VK2DKN, was on hand for the field tests at the Mt Beauty BPL pilot in Victoria. He said BPL service provider SP-Ausnet first deactivated the system, and ACMA performed background noise measurements at various locations around the township. Agency representatives then measured BPL emissions and the effectiveness of Amateur Radio-band notching of the BPL signal after system reactivation. Full Story |
BPL Study Bill Gains Cosponsors
(Feb 13, 2007)
-- A bill in the US House of Representatives calling on the FCC to study the interference potential of broadband over power line (BPL) technology and report its findings back to Congress has gained two cosponsors, US Rep Mike Ross, WD5DVR (D-AR), reports. They are US Rep Steve Israel (D-NY) and US Rep Ron Paul (R-TX). One of two radio amateurs in the House, Ross submitted the "Emergency Amateur Radio Interference Protection Act of 2007" (HR 462) on January 12. Last year, the US House passed a telecommunications bill, HR 5252, containing language that Ross proposed requiring the FCC to study the interference potential of BPL systems. The study requirement did not make its way into the final version of the bill, however. In a letter to his House colleagues inviting additional cosponsors, Ross emphasized that his primary goal is to minimize BPL's interference potential.Full Story |
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League Criticizes FCC Chairman for Perpetuating BPL Rural Service Myth
(Feb 1, 2007)
-- The ARRL is taking FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin to task for telling the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation that broadband over power line (BPL) technology is the answer to broadband deployment in rural areas. Martin and the other four FCC commissioners testified today during a committee hearing, "Assessing the Communications Marketplace: A View from the FCC." In his prepared remarks, the chairman described BPL as a "potentially significant player due to power lines' ubiquitous reach, allowing it to more easily provide broadband to rural areas." ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, criticized Martin for repeating "specious BPL industry claims" that suggest BPL has anything to offer rural dwellers. Full Story |
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Bill Seeks BPL Interference Study, Report to Congress
(Jan 18, 2007)
-- US Rep Mike Ross, WD5DVR (D-AR), has introduced a bill in the 110th Congress calling on the FCC to study the interference potential of broadband over power line (BPL) technology and report its findings back to Congress. One of two radio amateurs in the House, Ross submitted the "Emergency Amateur Radio Interference Protection Act of 2007" (HR 462) on January 12. The bill's official text became available today. ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, says the League shares Ross's concern about interference to emergency communication networks. Full Story |
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ARRL Challenges FCC Dismissal of Virginia BPL Interference Complaints
(Dec 22, 2006)
-- The FCC on December 14 told five Manassas, Virginia, radio amateurs that its testing showed the city's BPL system complies with FCC Part 15 rules. The League is questioning the Commission's conclusions, however. Six Manassas hams earlier this year complained of BPL interference to their mobile operations. FCC engineers took measurements at several locations in Manassas on October 25 and 26. Spectrum Enforcement Division Chief Kathryn S. Berthot reported the results in a December 14 letter. Full Story |
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League Faults FCC Chairman Re Biased, Inaccurate BPL Presentation Information
(Dec 6, 2006)
-- The ARRL has called on FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin and his fellow commissioners to employ "a more even-handed approach" when promoting new broadband technologies. In a December 6 fax to Martin and the other four FCC members, ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, faulted the chairman for using broadband over power line (BPL) deployment data from the BPL industry when speaking at Georgetown University November 30. Martin's presentation included a slide of a map from the United Power Line Council (UPLC), a BPL proponent, purporting to show current BPL deployments in the US. Full Story |
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Broadcasters Intervene to Support ARRL in BPL Court Appeal
(Nov 14, 2006)
-- The Association for Maximum Service Television (MSTV) and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) have filed a joint motion for leave to intervene in support of the ARRL in its court appeal of the Federal Communications Commission's Broadband over Power Line (BPL) rules. Full Story |
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New York Public Service Commission Recognizes BPL Interference Concerns
(Oct 20, 2006)
-- The New York Public Service Commission (NYPSC) this week adopted a policy statement on deployment of BPL systems in the Empire State. While asserting that BPL technology "may provide significant benefits to New Yorkers," the commission also has acknowledged that BPL "poses a myriad of both traditional and unique technical and regulatory challenges." The policy statement, issued and effective October 18, says that while most BPL providers, equipment makers and vendors believe the FCC's Part 15 rules address interference issues, that was not the consensus opinion of those who commented to the Commission. Full Story |
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BPL Orders Exceed FCC's Jurisdiction and Authority, League Court Filing Says
(Oct 12, 2006)
-- The ARRL this week notified the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that it's appealing certain aspects of the FCC's Part 15 rules governing broadband over power line (BPL) systems. The ARRL Executive Committee ratified plans to go forward with the Petition for Review when it met October 7. The League is asking the court to review the FCC's October 2004 Report and Order (R&O) establishing Part 15 rules to govern BPL systems as well as its August 2006 Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O) that dealt with various petitions for reconsideration of the 2004 R&O, including one from the ARRL. Full Story |
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League Calls Manassas BPL Interference Report "Flawed," "Misleading"
(Aug 3, 2006)
-- The ARRL has told the FCC it has found a radio interference report filed on behalf of the Manassas, Virginia, BPL system "flawed in numerous respects." The League responded this week to a July 17 letter and BPL interference study the FCC mandated following repeated complaints from local radio amateurs. Full Story |
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Congressman, ARRL Appeal to FCC to Accommodate BPL Interference Concerns
(Aug 2, 2006)
-- US Rep Mike Ross, WD5DVR (D-AR), and the ARRL have appealed to the FCC to accommodate the interference concerns of Amateur Radio operators. Ross's letter to FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin and the League's plea to individual commissioners and a face-to-face meeting with one FCC member come in advance of the Commission's consideration of two significant Broadband Over Power Line (BPL)-related actions. Full Story |
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Manassas Radio Amateur Takes Issue with BPL Interference Testing
(Jul 21, 2006 [REVISED Aug 3, 2006 08:33 ET])
-- A Manassas, Virginia, radio amateur who has complained of BPL interference to his mobile operation has taken issue with how FCC-mandated interference testing was performed. Dwight Agnew, AI4II, told the FCC July 20 that a testing review, carried out July 14 by Columbia Telecommunications Corp (CTC), "did not represent the Manassas BPL system at peak system loading," as the FCC had required, and therefore was not representative. Full Story |
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FCC Directs Manassas BPL System to Resolve Amateurs' Interference Complaints
(Jun 16, 2006)
-- In two strongly worded letters, the FCC's Enforcement Bureau has directed the Manassas, Virginia, BPL system to take appropriate steps to eliminate harmful interference to Amateur Radio operators. Several hams in the Manassas area have complained, some repeatedly, about severe interference from the BPL system, operated by COMTek on the city-owned power grid. The FCC minced no words in detailing what it wants the city and BPL operator COMTek to do to ensure its system complies with Part 15 rules governing BPL systems and even hinted that it may shut down all or part of the system. One of the FCC letters followed up on a complaint from Dwight Agnew, AI4II, of BPL interference to his mobile operations. Full Story |
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New BPL Complaint Arrives as ARRL Nudges FCC to Answer Earlier Filings
(May 5, 2006)
-- Another Manassas, Virginia, radio amateur has joined the growing list of those filing formal complaints about disruptive interference from the city's broadband over power line (BPL) system. The May 4 letter from ARRL member Arthur R. Whittum, W1CRO, went to the FCC's Spectrum Enforcement Division just one day before the ARRL again prevailed upon the same office to act on several earlier--and similar--complaints of BPL interference. Whittum reported that BPL interference to his mobile station on April 25 and May 3 made 40-meter SSB operation impossible "during a transit of streets in Manassas" covering about two miles. Full Story |
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ARRL Documents Flaws in Manassas BPL Interference Report
(Apr 20, 2006)
-- In response to a report from BPL operator COMTek that claims its BPL system in Manassas, Virginia cannot be shown to be the cause of ongoing interference complaints by local amateurs, the ARRL has documented the report's shortcomings and again has demanded that the FCC shut down the system until the interference problems are solved. Full Story |
Manassas BPL System Still Interfering Despite Claims to the Contrary
(Apr 12, 2006)
-- Interference persists on Amateur Radio frequencies from the Manassas, Virginia, BPL system, radio amateurs there say. Their reports fly in the face of an April 7 news release from system operator COMTek that a recent engineering survey found "no interference unique to BPL" in the amateur bands. On April 6, COMTek filed a report with the FCC in response to an earlier interference complaint from Dwight Agnew, AI4II. COMTek said it does not believe the Manassas BPL system caused the interference Agnew and other Manassas ham radio operators have heard. Agnew told the ARRL this week that the BPL interference continues.Full Story |
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FCC statistics suggest minuscule market share for BPL
(Apr 4, 2006)
-- The latest FCC statistics on the status of high-speed Internet services indicate a minuscule market share for broadband over power line (BPL). The FCC Wireline Bureau report, "High-Speed Services for Internet Access: Status as of June 30, 2005," puts at 4872 the number of business and residential "Power Line and Other" connections that deliver at speeds greater than 200 kbps in at least one direction. The total number of high-speed lines for all technologies is 42,866,469--the vast majority DSL, cable and traditional wireline connections. This puts the share for "Power Line and Other" at a bit more than 0.01 percent of the total. The number of residential BPL "advanced services" lines--greater than 200 kbps in both directions--is 3916 out of 34,259,411, the FCC report indicates. Although some data have been withheld as proprietary, the FCC report indicates there are 18 "Power Line and Other" high-speed providers nationwide. Facilities-based broadband providers must report the number of high-speed connections in service to the FCC twice a year. Link to this item |
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ARRL Alleges Misrepresentation by BPL Operator, Slams Lack of FCC Action
(Apr 3, 2006)
-- The ARRL has once again called for the immediate shutdown of the BPL pilot project in Briarcliff Manor, New York. In a March 29 letter that takes both BPL operator Ambient Corporation and the FCC to task, the League documented continued interference on Amateur Radio frequencies at various points of the Westchester County system. The ARRL has filed five previous interference complaints about the system, the first dating back to October 2004. The system operates under an FCC Part 5 experimental license. Full Story |
Arizona BPL Field Trial Ends
(Mar 28, 2006)
-- A BPL field trial in Cottonwood, Arizona, that drew complaints from Amateur Radio operators from 2004 until earlier this year apparently has shut down for good. The small system, which Mountain Telecommunications Inc (MTI) operated under FCC Part 5 Experimental license WD2XMB, went silent this month. The Part 5 license, renewed last November, stipulates that the company "establish and maintain" a relationship with the Verde Valley Amateur Radio Association (VVARA), which called for the system's shutdown as recently as last December. According to VVARA BPL Committee Chair Bob Shipton, K8EQC, MTI initially took the system down for a firmware upgrade but subsequently told him that it was discontinuing the experimental operation in Cottonwood and moving it.Full Story |
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Maryland utility ends limited BPL pilot
(Mar 22, 2006)
-- The Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) has ended a limited broadband over power line (BPL) pilot project, concluding that the technology is not yet ready for prime time in its service area. "At this time, SMECO believes that BPL technology needs to advance further before it can meet the needs of our customers," the utility said in its March customer newsletter, Cooperative Review. "BPL signal speeds and bandwidth are not competitive with other technologies currently available." The ARRL is unaware of any radio frequency interference complaints related to the SMECO BPL test, which ran from April through December 2005. The pilot program used Current Technologies equipment, which has shown to be among the BPL systems having less potential to interfere with Amateur Radio than others. The utility also cited safety concerns, the impact of BPL on the co-op's current construction practices and "the lack of a proven method for delivering BPL signals via underground power lines," which make up 60 percent of SMECO's power grid. The utility further noted that currently available BPL hardware is not remotely programmable, something it would need to offer such services as pay-per-view programming, and that should the power grid get knocked out, BPL service would go down with it. A member-owned electric co-op, SMECO serves more than 130,000 customers in four Southern Maryland counties. Link to this item |
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FCC Directs Manassas BPL System to Act Following Ham's Interference Complaint
(Mar 9, 2006)
-- Responding to a radio amateur's interference complaint, the FCC has directed the City of Manassas, Virginia, and its BPL system operator COMTek to conduct measurements to ensure its system complies with FCC Part 15 rules. The Commission also instructed the city to "resolve any continuing harmful interference." FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division Chief Joseph P. Casey on March 7 called on the city and COMTek to follow up on a complaint filed January 19 by ARRL member Dwight Agnew, AI4II. Agnew, who frequently travels through Manassas and operates mobile, alleges harmful BPL interference along Virginia Business Route 234. Full Story |
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Idaho Telecommunications Company Getting Out of BPL
(Jan 27, 2006)
-- IDACOMM, a telecommunications subsidiary of Boise, Idaho-based IDACORP, has bailed out of BPL. While the company has not been providing BPL service on a commercial basis, it has been cooperating with IDACORP subsidiary Idaho Power in a Boise test, and it had partnered with IBM and electric utility CenterPoint Energy to help design, install and operate a BPL pilot project in the Houston, Texas, area. IDACORP Chief Executive Jan Packwood says the company has "fully explored the BPL opportunity" and believes that it has "significant long-term potential," but utilities have not been flocking to adopt the technology. Full Story |
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Shutdown "Imperative" in Face of Still-Unresolved BPL Interference, ARRL Says
(Jan 18, 2006)
-- After the operator of the Manassas, Virginia, BPL system failed to meet its own commitment to resolve complaints of interference to local radio amateurs, the ARRL again demanded the system's immediate shutdown. Writing on the League's behalf, ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, told the FCC January 17 that Communications Technologies (COMTek), which operates the BPL system over the municipally owned electric power grid using Main.net equipment on frequencies between 4 MHz and 30 MHz, "has been given every opportunity" over the past 18 months to resolve interference complaints. Full Story |
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ARRL Renews Interference Complaint Against Ambient Corporation BPL Installation
(Jan 6, 2006)
-- In the wake of continued FCC inaction in response to several previous complaints, on January 5 the ARRL filed a renewal of the complaint against the Ambient Corporation's Broadband over Power Line system in Briarcliff Manor, New York. The BPL system is operated by Ambient, on power lines owned and operated by Consolidated Edison, under an experimental FCC authorization. Full Story |
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Pennsylvania Utility Cites Unfavorable Economics in Ending BPL Trial
(Oct 5, 2005)
-- PPL Broadband announced this week that it's terminating its broadband over power line (BPL) experiment in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. According to media reports, the company is citing the high cost of a full-scale BPL rollout and competition from cable and DSL service in the region as the reason for the shutdown. Approximately 300 households participating in the trial were said to be paying $40 a month for the high-speed Internet service. Although interference was reported by Amateur Radio stations in some of PPL Broadband's BPL service area, PPL did not cite the interference problems as one of the reasons it dropped out of the BPL race. Full Story |
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BPL at HQ: ARRL Cooperating in BPL System Experiment
(Aug 31, 2005)
-- BPL has come to ARRL Headquarters, and preliminary indications are that the newly installed Motorola Powerline LV system will prove Amateur Radio-friendly. Motorola approached ARRL last fall seeking input on a BPL design that could avoid many or most of the interference problems that have plagued some other BPL systems. This past May, Motorola introduced its Powerline LV wireless-to-low voltage BPL solution at the United Telecom Council's "Telecom 2005." The ARRL said at the time that it was "encouraged" by Motorola's approach but reserved judgment until it had the chance to see a system up close. A Motorola Powerline LV system was put into operation at Maxim Memorial Station W1AW this week. Full Story |
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UK Regulator's Study Points Up Limitations of Amperion-Equipped BPL Trial
(May 11, 2005)
-- Ofcom, the UK's telecommunications regulatory agency, has concluded that Amperion BPL equipment deployed in a field trial in Scotland "as tested is not and cannot be FCC Part 15 compliant above 30 MHz." Ofcom today released a study, "Amperion PLT Measurements in Crieff," which summarizes measurements it took at the site in Scotland. PLT is another term for BPL. Ofcom's investigation also demonstrated the limitations of Amperion's "notching" capabilities to mitigate interference to radio reception. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, says Ofcom's study reflects what the League and others have known all along about BPL. Full Story |
This shows the strong interference levels to a mobile amateur receiver seen by ARRL technical staff in four BPL-test areas. It shows that the BPL signal completely occupies entire amateur bands and beyond. The mobile station used was driven around a large geographical area, showing that BPL interference is not just a local "hot-spot" phenomenon. It is useful to hear how BPL signals sound when the radio is tuned across the band. Test area #1 is the Current Technologies "HomePlug" system in Potomac, MD. Test area #2 is the Main.net system in Manassas, VA. Test Area #3 is another Main.net system operating in Emmaus, PA. Test area #4 is from the Ambient Corporation installation in Briarcliff Manor, NY.
o BPL and non BPL compared: Broadband (9 MB) Dialup (4.6 MB)
o Current Technologies system (Potomac, MD): Broadband (3.8 MB) Dialup (3.4 MB)
o Main.net system (Emmaus, PA): Broadband (22.2 MB) Dialup (2.6 MB)
o Ambient system (Briarcliff Manor): Broadband (4.2 MB)
Other video and audio recordings
The ARRL BPL-Audio/Video page has links to dozens of other recordings showing interference from BPL systems worldwide.
