American Radio Relay League

April 22, 2023

American Radio Relay League

The National Association for Amateur Radio

When All Else Fails . . . Amateur Radio

April 22, 2023 Ed Bruette, N7NVPWWA Section Manager, ARRL

Broadband Over Power Line (BPL) and Radio Services

Ed Bruette, N7NVPARRL Section Manager - Western WA

WA State RACES Officer

P.O. Box 73Silverdale, WA 98383-0073

[email protected]


BPL


PLC?


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.


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.


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.'


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


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!


Potential Spectrum Loss


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


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


Worldwide Problem

• BPL was extensively studied in Japan and rejected

• Trials continue in Europe • Multiple interference complaints have been

documented


Organizations Voicing Concern About BPL Interference

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


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

April 22, 2023

NTIA Comment

“Notwithstanding BPL’S Potential Benefits, The Commission Must Ensure That Other Communications Services, Especially Federal Government Operations, Are Adequately Protected From Unacceptable Interference.”


NTIA’s 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!


What’s Happening in WA

• Olympia• Chelan/Douglas• Spokane

• Walla Walla – Columbia Energy• New Satty – 32 spot beams


Canadian Magazine TCA


Video


FCC Action

• 6100+ Comments

• 14 Oct. – Report and Order from OET

• About 2 weeks later the R&O is expected on the street


How YOU Can Help

• Join the ARRL if you are not currently a member

• Contribute to the Spectrum Defense Fund


More Information

Ed Hare, W1RFIARRL Laboratory Manager225 Main StNewington, CT [email protected]

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

American Radio Relay League

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