BPL Specter Lends Additional Significance to Spectrum Protection Act:

ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, says the specter of interference to Amateur Radio bands from Broadband over Power Line (BPL) systems--if and when they are widely deployed--serves as a reminder of the importance of the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003. While the legislation would not grant added protection from BPL beyond what present and proposed FCC regulations would provide, Haynie said the challenge of BPL underscores the value of Amateur Radio's spectrum allocations and the degree to which amateur access deserves protection. Identical House and Senate versions of the measure, an ARRL initiative, are on their third try in Congress. The cosponsor count on the House bill, HR 713, this week rose to 94--more than double the number six months ago. The Senate version, S 537, has eight cosponsors.

"With BPL on the horizon, it becomes even more important that we all get behind these bills and get them enacted," Haynie said this week. He reiterated his call for more League members to take the effort to write, call or e-mail their representatives and senators to explain the bills' importance and encourage them to consider cosponsoring the measures. "They cover all of our spectrum, not just a little," he added.

The Spectrum Protection Act bills would require the FCC to provide "equivalent replacement spectrum" to Amateur Radio if the Commission were to reallocate primary amateur frequencies, reduce any secondary amateur allocations, or make additional allocations within such bands that would substantially reduce their utility to amateurs.

The two bills do not directly address BPL interference. FCC rules already provide regulatory mechanisms in Part 15 and in proposed amendments to Part 15 that are specifically aimed at BPL "interference mitigation."

Among the latest House cosponsors to sign aboard HR 713 are Representatives John Conyers (D-MI), Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Susan Davis (R-CA), Charlie Norwood (R-GA), Norm Dicks (D-WA), Gene Taylor (D-MS), Tim Holden (D-PA), Danny Davis (D-IL), Gene Green (D-TX) and Jeff Miller (R-FL).

Haynie says letters from constituents are a crucial factor in getting the spectrum bills through Congress. "We can't get them into law without membership support," he said.

He urged members to contact their senators and representatives through their Washington or district offices. A sample letter on ARRL's The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003 Web page http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/arspa.html cites Amateur Radio's role in public service activities, but Haynie invites members to personalize their own correspondence as they see fit.

The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003 Web page also contains information on how to identify and contact individual members of Congress as well as links to the Thomas Web site http://thomas.loc.gov/. Among other things, the Thomas Web site includes links to the bills' text and a list of cosponsors. Those writing their lawmakers on behalf of the Spectrum Protection Act are asked to copy their correspondence to the League via e-mail specbill03@arrl.org.

Florida Republican Michael Bilirakis filed HR 713 in February 2003, and it has been referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. Introduced by Idaho Republican Michael Crapo, S 537 has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

Source:

The ARRL Letter Vol. 23, No. 14 April 2, 2004

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