A rather depressing email from HFPACK - 73 Trevor M5AKA

FCC Allocates New Power Line
Transmitting Bands on HF and VHF

The new FCC Rules (just issued) list the bands of frequencies BPL systems are not authorized to transmit on, due to potential interference to Aeronautical radio systems.

From this "inverted" listing, I have put together a list of the new FCC authorized BPL transmitting bands of operation:

FCC AUTHORIZED BPL (Broadband over Power Lines)
TRANSMITTING BANDS for USA:

1.705 MHz to 2.850 MHz (160m Amateur Radio Service)
3.025 MHz to 3.400 kHz
3.500 MHz to 4.650 MHz (80m Amateur Radio Service)
4.700 MHz to 5.450 MHz (60m Amateur Radio Service)
5.680 MHz to 6.525 MHz
6.685 MHz to 8.815 MHz (40m Amateur Radio Service)
8.965 MHz to 10.005 MHz
10.100 MHz to 11.275 MHz (30m Amateur Radio Service)
11.400 MHz to 13.260 MHz
13.360 MHz to 17.900 MHz (20m Amateur Radio Service)
17.970 MHz to 21.924 MHz (17m,15m Amateur Radio Service)
22.000 MHz to 74.800 MHz (12m,10m,6m Amateur Radio Service)
75.200 to 80.000 MHz

The entire ruling takes a long time to read and understand... but I found it quite interesting.

In FCC's report and order, it is obvious that the Amateur Radio Service has been relegated to insignificant status by the FCC Commissioners. It is well known that the "White House" made the actual decision that BPL would be implemented, regardless of the technical merit. FCC followed by recognizing, yet ignoring and overruling the technical studies and documented radio interference caused by BPL.

73 - Bonnie KQ6XA

PS. Here is a link to the FCC order and an excerpt from new rules.

REPORT AND ORDER
Adopted: October 14, 2004
Released: October 28, 2004
By the Commission: Chairman Powell, Commissioner Abernathy issuing a joint statement; Commissioners Martin and Adelstein issuing separate statements; Commissioner Copps approving in part, dissenting in part and issuing a statement.

"By this action, the Commission amends Part 15 of the rules for radio frequency (RF) devices regarding Access Broadband over Power Line (Access BPL), a new type of carrier current system that operates on an unlicensed basis under Part 15. Access BPL systems use existing electrical power lines as a transmission medium to provide high-speed communications capabilities by coupling RF energy onto the power line..."

"APPENDIX B FINAL RULE Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 15, is amended as follows: (...)
Section 15.615 General administrative requirements
(f)(1) Excluded Bands. To protect Aeronautical (land) stations and aircraft receivers, Access BPL operations using overhead medium voltage power lines are prohibited in the frequency bands listed in Table 1. Specifically, such BPL systems shall not place carrier frequencies in these bands.

Table 1. Excluded Frequency Bands
FREQUENCY BAND
2,850 - 3,025 kHz
3,400 - 3,500 kHz
4,650 - 4,700 kHz
5,450 - 5,680 kHz
6,525 - 6,685 kHz
8,815 - 8,965 kHz
10,005 - 10,100 kHz
11,275 - 11,400 kHz
13,260 - 13,360 kHz
17,900 - 17,970 kHz
21,924 - 22,000 kHz
74.8 - 75.2 MHz"

Submitted by Trevor M5AKA

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