WIA raises BPL concerns with ACA

The WIA has been carefully monitoring Australian BPL developments and gauges that, with recent developments, the time is right to formally raise its concerns with the Australian Communications Authority.

Accordingly, the WIA has written to the ACA on behalf of Australian amateurs, here is the text of the letter:-

Dear Sir,

Australian Broadband over Power Lines trials

1. The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) represents the interests of licensed radio amateurs in Australia.

2. The WIA is aware that Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) has been trialled recently in Australia, and that an ongoing trial was demonstrated by Country Energy on 18 November 2004 in Queanbeyan, NSW.

3. It is clear from overseas reports that BPL implementations have the potential to radiate radio frequency energy at frequencies, and of such intensity as to be highly likely to interfere with radiocommunications in and near the BPL implementation.

4. Further, the observations of interference from the Queanbeyan trial that have been published by two radio users indicate that the emissions are much higher than the background noise levels that would be expected in those precincts. Indeed on the amateur bands observed, the
interference was stronger than the strongest signals usually received from amateur stations on those band, substantially disrupting radiocommunications on those bands in and adjacent to the trial precincts.

5. Whilst the WIA understands the need to obtain real life measurements of the radiation of BPL systems and assessment of impact on external systems, the WIA is concerned that the nature and duration of such trials suggests that they may be performed principally for investigation into the internal performance of BPL systems, aware of the risk to radiocommunications, and regardless of the consequences to radiocommunications users.

6. The WIA asks the ACA as spectrum manager to:
make quality measurements of the field strength of radiation and background noise levels in and near the Queanbeyan trial BPL area;
publish (publicly) the results of its measurements;
assess the risk to radiocommunications users, and to terminate the trial or impose such conditions as necessary to mitigate any risk of substantial interference with radiocommunications; or substantial disruption or disturbance of radiocommunications as a result of operation of the BPL system;
and develop a policy for such trials where they be controlled by an experimental licence with appropriate conditions, and to disclose publicly the grant of such licences, location and other conditions.

7. The WIA believes that there is a need for the ACA to consult with all radiocommunications users on the impact of deployment of BPL technologies and to determine appropriate standards that adequately protect the important social and economic values of radiocommunications
services in Australia.

8. The WIA, as always, welcomes the opportunity to work with the ACA in a positive and cooperative manner to achieve quality outcomes.

Yours sincerely
Michael J. Owen
President
The Wireless Institute of Australia

Source: Wireless Institute of Australia

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