SARL to raise concerns as U.S. adopts BPL

As expected by the ARRL, the FCC has approved revised rules to specifically regulate the deployment of broadband over power line (BPL) technology. At the same time, three members of the Commission, including Chairman Michael K. Powell, specifically mentioned the concerns of Amateur Radio operators at the open meeting and expressed either assurances or hope that the new BPL rules will adequately address interference to licensed services. Republican FCC Commissioner Kevin J. Martin addressed Amateur Radio's and broadcasters' interference concerns in his written statement. ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, said he was encouraged to see the Commission's shift from the early days of the BPL proceeding, when it followed the lead of the BPL industry in largely ignoring interference to amateurs as a real issue in the proceeding.

"What the League has done in the last year and a half on this issue showed in the Commission's public meeting today," Haynie said. He cited the FCC's approval of three major points that the League had been pushing for: Certification of BPL equipment instead of verification, a requirement for a public BPL database - something the BPL industry did not want - and mechanisms to deal swiftly with interference complaints.

The SARL will be submitting a discussion document to ICASA this week and seek to discuss various concerns about Power Line Communication in South Africa. Currently various companies are testing BPL on a small scale. "We seek transparency about these trials and assurances that adequate interference testing is being carried out", SARL President, Graham Hartlett, ZS6GJH, said. "The SARL is not opposed to new developments, but these should not be at the cost of Amateur Radio and other radio services. Under current regulations telecommunication companies may carry out trials for up to six months. We have however not seen any trial results published", he said.

Listen to Amateur Radio Mirror International at 10:00 today (Sunday 17 October) for a detailed review on Power Line Communication including audio clips from the FCC meeting as well as examples of what PLC can do to Amateur Radio. The programme is transmitted on 17,815, 9,750, 7,082 MHz and relayed on various repeaters. A repeat broadcast can be heard on Monday at 21:00 on 3 215 kHz

Courtesy of The South African Radio League

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