Ak-Sar-Ben ARC Amateur Radio Broad Band Over Powerline Info

Well on the surface it sounds like a great idea. A form of power line carrier (PLC) technology, Broadband over Power Line (BPL) would use existing low and medium-voltage power lines to deliver broadband services to homes and businesses. Because it uses frequencies between 2 and 80 MHz, BPL could affect HF and low-VHF radio reception. This spectrum contains users such as maritime (commercial and emergency), aviation, shortwave broadcasters and amateur radio operators.

In late July, ARRL Lab Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI traveled some 1350 miles to visit BPL trial communities in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York to take measurements over significant parts of the HF spectrum. Driving his "BPL-mobile," specially equipped to monitor the HF spectrum for BPL interference. Hare recently returned from visiting several communities where BPL trials are under way. Below is a link to the video that he shot along the way.

Japan has banned BPL because of interference experienced there and there have been problems in places in Europe where it's been deployed.

The ARRL web site has several articles concerning BPL. Below are some links to the articles and information pages:

Utilities take pass on offering broadband	FCC Adopts Broadband over Power Line Technical Rules
Ham radio users make case against broadband system	Frequently Asked Questions About Broadband Over Powerline
BPL Advocates' Comments Lack Technical Substance, ARRL Reply Comments Say	BPL Places FCC at Regulatory Crossroad, AMRAD Suggests
Understanding the FCC's Broadband Over Power Line (BPL) Notice of Inquiry	Calculated Impact of PLC on Stations Operating in the Amateur Radio Service
Amateur Radio PLC Interference Studies	Power Line Communications (PLC) and Amateur Radio
Interference TO PLC from Amateur Radio Operation	ARRL seeks clubs' support in BPL campaign
FEMA to FCC: BPL will "Severely Impair" Mission-Essential HF Operations	Telkonet Gets Behind FCC’s Broadband Over Power Line Initiative
Power Line Broadband buzzes onward	The Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) comments to the FCC on BPL
National Academy of Sciences comments on BPL	Wireless Communications Association comments on BPL
National Association of Broadcasters comments on BPL	Power Line World
Power-line Broadband Worldwide Trials find rocky road in electrified broadband	Japan's Government Concluded It is not suitable to allow HF band for PLC
End of a pipe dream: Net access over power line not feasible for now (Singapore)	National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Comments of BPL
New Outlet for High-Speed Access	Broadband Over Power Lines Hits a Snag Interference questions plague alternative form of high-speed Internet access
FCC Proposes Rules for Broadband Over Power Lines	Broadband Over Power Lines Gets a Boost
Amperion Delivers Wi-Fi Over Power Lines In Canada	Sault Ste. Marie makes high-speed power play
Powerline: The future of broadband?	Utilities testing broadband over power lines
Broadband over power lines?	Broadband Over Power Lines? PLC -- "There's trouble a comin' down the lines..."

The proponants of this technology are wide spread and are only informed of the benefits. One organization is the United Power Line Council. A group of member power companies that is promoting the development and distribution of BPL. Checkout their web site and see how BPL is being promoted.

This is a serious threat to all radio between 2 and 80MHZ. Don't just sit there, reading this. Write your congressman, write your senator, write your state representatvies. This cannot be allowed to destroy the airwaves.