American Radio Relay League

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American Radio Relay League

• The National Association for Amateur Radio
• When All Else Fails . . . Amateur Radio

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Broadband Over Power Line (BPL) and Radio
Services Ed Bruette, N7NVPARRL Section Manager
- Western WAWA State RACES Officer P.O. Box
73Silverdale, WA 98383-0073n7nvp_at_arrl.org360-69
8-0917
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BPL
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PLC?
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FCC Notice of Inquiry

• On April 28, 2003, the FCC released an NOI
  requesting comments and reply comments on
  primarily technical issues regarding BPL. The FCC
  sought information and data on the relevant
  technology.
• In addition, the FCC sought comment on whether it
  should change the part 15 rules, 47 CFR 15, to
  allow for the legal and feasible deployment of
  BPL.

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American Public Power Assoc.

• 'Given the tremendous potential of BPL to provide
  an advanced technology that utilizes additional
  facilities based mechanisms for providing
  services the burden should be imposed on
  challengers to BPL to demonstrate interference in
  a fact based, empirical proof.

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APPA (cont.)

• Further, to the extent that interference is
  demonstrated, there should be an attempt to
  accommodate BPL, even if it means that existing
  communications providers may have to share or
  transfer bandwidth.'

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BPL Is Regulated by FCC Part 15

• Carrier-current must meet limits for intentional
  emitters
• Non-interference stipulated in part 15
• Manufacturer responsible for FCC authorization
  and maximum limits
• Operator responsible for harmful interference
• Both are important to mitigate possible harmful
  interference

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Harmful Interference

• Defined as the repeated disruption of radio
  communications or any disruption of certain
  emergency communications services
• From broadband device (BPL) will interfere with
  entire band(s)!
• Will occur for entire length of line in areas
  where access BPL is deployed!

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Potential Spectrum Loss
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BPL Could Interfere With

• Emergency management
• National Guard
• US Coast Guard
• U.S. Military
• Fire Departments
• Law Enforcement

• CAP
• FAA
• FEMA
• NASA
• Voice of America
• TV stations
• Low Power FM Broadcast Stations

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BPL Could Also Interfere With

• Radio astronomy
• Amateur Radio services
• Disaster communication networks
• Land, fixed, mobile services
• Military Affiliate Radio Systems (Army, Navy,
  Marine Corps, Air Force)
• Citizens band

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A Power Line

• Is unshielded
• Is an antenna!
• Transmit
• And receive!

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An Amateur Radio Station

• Is licensed by the FCC
• Has access to various portions of the RF spectrum
  from 1.8 MHz thru 250 GHz
• Transmits as much as 1500 W
• Receives weak signals

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Worldwide Problem

• BPL was extensively studied in Japan and rejected
• Trials continue in Europe
• Multiple interference complaints have been
  documented

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Organizations Voicing Concern About BPL
Interference

• FEMA
• NTIA
• National short-wave listener associations
• Short-wave broadcasters
• Electronic-equipment manufacturers
• GE Medical
• Aeronautical

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The Consumer

• Consumers probably will not be aware of the
  documented interference potential
• Early subscribers may be subjected to needless
  system problems due to the deployment of
  technology that has yet to be properly tested
• Hams at risk

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FEMA Comments

• BPL could "severely impair FEMA's
  mission-essential HF radio operations in areas
  serviced by BPL technology."
• BPL also could render such "essential
  communications services" as the Radio Amateur
  Civil Emergency Service (RACES), the Military
  Affiliate Radio System (MARS) and the Civil Air
  Patrol (CAP) useless.

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FEMA (cont.)

• FEMA said there's no current alternative to HF in
  terms of meeting national security and emergency
  preparedness requirements at the national, state
  and local levels.

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NTIA Comment

• Notwithstanding BPLS Potential Benefits, The
  Commission Must Ensure That Other Communications
  Services, Especially Federal Government
  Operations, Are Adequately Protected From
  Unacceptable Interference.

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NTIAs Latest Filings

• Rejects the idea of BPL ID
• Excludes some freqs for aeronautics
• Coastal station exclusion zones
• Coordination areas around National Radio Quiet
  Zones
• No other protections are mentioned!

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Whats Happening in WA

• Olympia
• Chelan/Douglas
• Spokane
• Walla Walla Columbia Energy
• New Satty 32 spot beams

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Canadian Magazine TCA
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Video
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FCC Action

• 6100 Comments
• 14 Oct. Report and Order from OET
• About 2 weeks later the RO is expected on the
  street

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How YOU Can Help

• Join the ARRL if you are not currently a member
• Contribute to the Spectrum Defense Fund

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More InformationEd Hare, W1RFIARRL Laboratory
Manager225 Main StNewington, CT
06111w1rfi_at_arrl.org860-594-0318

• http//www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc
• http//www.arrl.org/ehare/bpl/hyperlinks.html
• http//www.arrl.org/tis/info/part15.html