FCC OKAYS BPL PROPOSAL
 

The FCC has unanimously approved a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM)
to deploy Broadband over Power Line (BPL). The NPRM is the next step in
the BPL proceeding, which began last April with a Notice of Inquiry that
attracted nearly 5200 comments--many from the amateur community. The FCC
did not propose any changes in emission limits for unlicensed Part 15
devices, but said it would require BPL providers to apply "adaptive"
interference mitigation techniques to their systems. An ARRL delegation
that attended the February 12 FCC open meeting in Washington later
expressed disappointment in the FCC action.

"The Commission clearly recognized that the existing Part 15 emission
limits are inadequate to stop interference," Sumner said," but it's
placing the burden of interference mitigation on the licensed user that's
supposed to be protected," said ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ.

Sumner said that if the FCC really believed current Part 15 emission
limits were sufficient, it would not have had to require that BPL
providers institute interference mitigation systems. The FCC has not yet
released the actual NPRM, and a presentation by the FCC's Office of
Engineering and Technology (OET) revealed only its broad outlines. Sumner
said the League would not take a formal position until it reviews the full
NPRM.

Anh Wride of the OET staff spelled out the scope of the NPRM, which only
addresses so-called "access BPL"--the type that would apply radio
frequency energy to exterior overhead and underground low and
medium-voltage power lines to distribute broadband and Internet service.
She said the OET staff believes that interference concerns "can be
adequately addressed." Wride said the FCC's BPL NPRM:

* Applies existing Part 15 emission limits for unlicensed carrier-current
systems to BPL systems. Part 15 rules now require that BPL systems
eliminate any harmful interference that may occur "and must cease
operation if they cannot," she noted.

* Requires BPL systems to employ "adaptive interference-mitigation
techniques, including the capabilities to shut down a specific device, to
reduce power levels on a dynamic or remote-control basis and to include or
exclude specific operating frequencies or bands."

* Subjects BPL providers to notification requirements that would establish
a public database that would include the location of BPL devices,
modulation type and operating frequencies.

* Proposes guidelines to provide for consistent and repeatable measurement
of the RF emissions from BPL and other carrier-current systems.

Mirroring his colleagues' enthusiasm, FCC Chairman Michael Powell called
BPL "tremendously exciting," although he conceded that BPL has "a long way
to go." Powell also said the FCC's OET has worked very hard to try to "get
their hands around" the issue of interference and that the FCC would
continue its vigilance in that area.

The FCC has posted additional information, including a public notice
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-243879A1.doc> on
its Web site. The Commission is expected to issue the complete Notice of
Proposed Rule Making within a few days and will invite comments on it
sometime after publication.

Additional information about BPL and Amateur Radio is on the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/>. To support the League's efforts
in this area, visit the ARRL's secure BPL Web site
<https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/bpl/>.
 

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