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Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2003 07:03:53 -0700
From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Dewayne-Net] Broadband from the electric company? No thanks
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To: Dewayne-Net Technology List <dewayne-net@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[Note: This item comes from reader Bob Weber. DLH]
Broadband from the electric company? No thanks
By David Coursey: Executive Editor, AnchorDesk
Friday, October 10, 2003
<http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/AnchorDesk/4520-7297_16-5089730.html?tag=adts>
Electric power companies, wanting to become the nation's newest broadband
Internet providers, are asking the Federal Communications Commission for
permission to send high-speed data over their power grids.
THAT MIGHT SEEM like a good thing for businesses and consumers, because it
could offer them another affordable option for Internet service. It could
also intensify competition, potentially lowering or at least stabilizing
the cost of broadband service.
But the effort is controversial, particularly among other users of the
radio spectrum. The problem is that the technology--called broadband power
line, or BPL--could create radio interference well beyond current FCC
limits. Public safety agencies, the military, operators of long-range
aircraft, television and shortwave broadcasters, and amateur radio
operators are all concerned that BPL could interfere with their communications.
But aren't we already using power lines to transmit data? Well, yes, we
are. I'm doing so right now, using power-line networking in my home to
extend my office network without having to string Ethernet cable. The
technology I'm using is called HomePlug and it works pretty well, without
any discernible interference problems. HomePlug is currently limited to
speeds in the 802.11b range, but proponents already have plans for speeds
comparable to 802.11a or g and beyond.
The power companies want to use a different technology, called Access BPL,
to serve whole communities with Internet service. Moving data over the
power network means transmitting radio signals over the power grid,
alongside the electrical current.
So long as those radio waves stay on the electrical grid, everything is
happy. But radio waves have minds of their own and, given a chance, will
use the power lines as long antennas and launch off into the ether.
THAT'S WHERE things get messy.
BPL uses frequencies between 2MHz and 80MHz to carry the broadband data.
Those are the same frequencies used by the public safety agencies,
military, aircraft operators, and broadcasters I mentioned above. Groups
representing these various constituencies are weighing in against Access BPL.
The HomePlug system I'm using is non-controversial, thanks to engineering
decisions that limit interference and because of the small size and scale
of such systems. Access BPL, however, would be much larger and more
powerful, and the wiring is much more likely to become a de facto
transmitting antenna.
Japan has already decided, based on interference studies done there, that
the time is not yet right for Access BPL, pending improvements in the
technology. The BBC, in a test in the UK, found BPL to cause significant
interference.
The ARRL, the U.S. organization of amateur radio operators, is opposed to
BPL, saying it will negatively impact virtually all of the nation's
600,000 licensed ham radio operators. The group (of which I'm a life
member) says Access BPL would seriously hamper the ability of hams to
provide emergency communications--an important component of homeland security.
The FCC is now considering whether the time is right for Access BPL and
what technical standards should be imposed. It's not yet clear what
compromises, if any, are possible.
AS A PC USER , I stand to benefit from Access BPL, the way I'm already
benefiting from HomePlug. But, as much as I'd like more connectivity
options, I don't think we should pay the price of interfering with all
these other forms of communication.
For that reason, I'm asking the FCC to let power lines remain just that
and leave broadband Internet to the cable television and telephone
companies whose technologies best support it.
If you wish to join me, you can file your comments with the FCC using its
Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). As explained on the ARRL Web site
, you go to the ECFS main page , click on Submit a Filing, enter "03-104"
in the Proceeding field, then complete the form as indicated. You can also
submit comments via e-mail; instructions are on the ECFS page.
The ARRL has also created a complete tutorial, which contains links to BPL
interference studies, a discussion of BPL technology, as well as links to
comments filed with the FCC and other official information.
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