Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
Frank Drake (KL7IPV)
on
April 29, 2004
View comments about this article!
I have written to the FCC regarding the BPL proposal. Have you? I am not a writer as such, but feel that WE need to let the FCC know we care and will respond accordingly. Have YOU done it yet? Time runs out on the 3rd of May, less than a week away. Here is what I wrote to them.
I am concerned that BPL broadband internet service will impact my amateur radio station location in that I am already limited to indoor antennas due to CC&Rs. Where the BPL signal strength is stronger than the signal of stations I am conversing with, I will lose contact with those stations. If I am operating mobile, I may cause allowable interference under Part 15 rules to users of BPL and I will be the one who will be visible and thought to blame. Rather than complain to the service providers, I will be the one they will look to cease the interference, which is contrary to the rules. Once the BPL service is initiated, the offending signal will also be within the walls of my own home whether or not I use the service. In any case as I operate fixed or mobile, the BPL signal becomes intrusive and may make my radio operation unusable. I believe that the use of fiber optics or other means that does not radiate a field that could cause interference to primary radio users is more practical and would result in a more useable service for future subscribers. Based on the foregoing, I am opposed to the allowance of BPL for broadband Internet service.
editor's note: Interested individuals and organizations may file comments via the Internet using the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System
(ECFS). The FCC asks that anyone filing comments on this NPRM do so "only in the newly established ET Docket No 04-37," the FCC said March 22 in a public notice, not in the NOI proceeding, Docket No 03-104.
Commenters should include their full name, US Postal Service mailing address and ET Docket No 04-37 when completing the transmittal screen. The FCC also is accepting brief comments on this proceeding via its
ECFS Express system. The BPL proceeding is the top item on the list.
Parties may also submit electronic comments via e-mail. To learn how, e-mail the ECFS ecfs@fcc.gov and include the words "get form your e-mail address" in the body of the message.
When submitting a comment or viewing filed comments, ECFS users should type "04-37" (without quotation marks but including the hyphen) in the "Proceeding" field of the ECFS on-line form. Do not use the NPRM's FCC document number when filing or searching for comments. The ECFS permits attaching a file containing detailed comments prepared off-line.
For additional information on filing comments on this NPRM, see the
FCC public notice.
This article has expired. No more comments may be added.
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Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by KT0DD on April 29, 2004
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Please remember to comment wisely. BPL is legal now under Part 15 rules, so commenting to try to stop it altogether, is a moot point to the FCC at present. It's more important to comment for NO CHANGES to existing Part 15 rules governing BPL currently, and for a GO SLOW approach, rather than the current "Damn the torpedos, full steam ahead" attitude. We can't stop it at present, but we can slow it down until better systems such as 802.11, I-Burst, and Cell phone access gain popularity and make BPL obsolete.
Also, everyone needs to write ALL their congressmen, and there is a link to the President at the White House that can be found on the ARRL website, so you can write him too. IF we get enough numbers in conjunction with the recently released NTIA study, we may open some eyes and ears. 73.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by KA4KOE on April 29, 2004
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Yes, and the President, my two senators, and my representative.
Don't know what else I can do except paint "NO BPL" on my naked chest and do a dance in Gettysburg, PA.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by W0ANT on April 29, 2004
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The Fcc is here to protect our airwaves..from harmful interference... Make bpl providers fall under the rules everyone has to adhere to............ if you dont do it we have no future and ham radio is dead along with Americas communicators hobbyists and emergency communicators... on high frquencies... Regards
Joe Leto
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Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by WIRELESS on April 29, 2004
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Its time for all the cheerleading and self delusion to stop. Hams have failed, yes FAILED, to stop the implementation of BPL technology. The ARRL has failed. Its time to admit the obvious. Now, enforcement of interferance rules and preparation to go to the Federal courts to force the FCC to deal with it directly is the next strategy.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by K0BG on April 29, 2004
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I don't know that we have failed, because if we had amateur radio as we know it would be on the way to oblivion!
You (wireless) maybe correct with respect with the courts, but I hope not. It is my belief that all of the anti-BPL static has at least partially got through to the engineers not only at the FCC, but the companies who're going to be using the technology.
If we do have to sue someone, it is going to be costly as the companies who will use the technology (power companies) have very deep pockets. Remember, all they have to do is raise our rates and they have even more!
Alan, KØBG
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Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by KA3RFE on April 29, 2004
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I lack the technical knowledge to write about BPL in any meaningful way. I'd only be able to parrot what other sources are saying about it. I'll bet there are plenty of people in the same boat as I.
So, no, I haven't written to the FCC and will not do so. I lack the foundation to write anything chherent.
73, Pete KA3RFE
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by KB9CRY on April 29, 2004
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But Pete you do have the knowledge to write intelligantly about BPL. As radio operators we all should know & understand that here on the planet earth we enjoy a unique phenomena, that radio signals of certain frequencys will bounce off of the ionosphere and be able to be received at far distances from line of sight. These certain frequencies are in the HF region. BPL will use HF signals to transmit the data over the power lines. We also should know that if one were to transmit HF signals into wires or aluminum radiators, even of low power strength, called QRP to us, these signals will leave the wire and travel magically up and bounce off the ionosphere. These phenoma are real; electromagnetic theory and equations are well understood. One can actually predict that this will occur and then measure for it. IF you carefully read the FCC's NPRM and all the BPL Providers' statements, they all postulate or theorize that there will be no interference but if you took any advanced high school or college physics classes, you would have learned about electromagnetism. Therein lies the basic problem with BPL; BPL's HF signals will leave the wires and radiate all over, even to long distances. If you look at an article published here on eHam, there are a couple of companies in Australia, I believe, that are attempting to do BPL but with UHF signals. This to me has much merit. UHF signals do not bounce off the ionosphere. So if BPL must be implemented, then just ask the FCC to abandon the use of HF and go to UHF. Also, ask the FCC to require the BPL providers to measure their signals themselves in the HF frequencies and determine if there is interference and correct that on their own. Why do we, as licensed ops, need to tell them if they are causing interference. The BPL providers can purchase HF receivers or use a spectrum analyzer to determine this for themselves. Use my comments as you wish but please do file with the FCC. If you don't vote then you are not counted and don't contribute in a democratic way. The above will form the basis of my comments.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by K5UJ on April 29, 2004
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<<<I lack the technical knowledge to write about BPL in any meaningful way. I'd only be able to parrot what other sources are saying about it. I'll bet there are plenty of people in the same boat as I.
So, no, I haven't written to the FCC and will not do so. I lack the foundation to write anything chherent.>>>
I've heard variations on this before and I suspect it's a copout. I think in some cases what's going on is the speaker has other things he'd rather do, doesn't want to deal with the hassle of filing a statement and thinks, "I'll let someone else handle this." This is probably why out of hundreds of thousands of licensed hams, only a few thousand have filed comments with FCC.
Parroting someone else is fine. It's allowed. If someone else's comments echo what you would like to say, go ahead and use them. This isn't a situation where you have to worry about plagerism. No one is going to enforce a copyright. In fact, it is quite common for organizations to distribute boilerplate letters on some issue for members to sign and send in to elected officials. The letters all may say the same thing, but it's the numbers that count. If FCC got 50,000 filings all saying the same thing, it would still be 50,000 "votes" from 50,000 unique individuals taking a stand. That counts. A petition is N number of people signing it all saying the same thing.
I assure you, if the only thing preventing you (and this is being directed at all people who tell themselves, "I'm not qualified.") is a desire to be original, get over it. Look at other filings. Find things you agree with, do some cutting and pasting and go with it. It's OK.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by KT0DD on April 29, 2004
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Hi Alan, As you stated:> If we do have to sue someone, it is going to be costly as the companies who will use the technology (power companies) have very deep pockets. Remember, all they have to do is raise our rates and they have even more!
The raised rates do scare me. ( what happened to the teeth in the anti-trust statutes from the 1920 trust buster days? HI HI.)Our country has an overpopulation of lawyers foaming at the mouth to make their next million. However, what do you think the chances are of getting together a team of hams who are good competent attorneys, to take a class action suit on BPL on contingency? I'm sure we have some in our ranks, and just as we aren't allowed to charge for our on-air assistance, Maybe our team would do the same in the courtroom?
I hope I gave everyone a good belly laugh with this post, HI HI. 73. (Well, it's oK to dream isn't it?)
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by N0RF on April 29, 2004
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Right click on the link provided in the article to the Express filing.
The link is in blue, and says "via its ECFS Express system"
When you right click it, select "open in new window."
You will then get the Express filing page in a second window so you can still see the eHam page if you need it.
The BPL filing is the first one on the list, select it by clicking on the button at the beginning of the line that says "Broadband Over Power Line (BPL) - Docket 04-37.
Then scroll to the bottom of the page and click continue.
You can figure this out on your own. It is VERY easy to file your comments. Just follow the instructions!!
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by AA6E on April 29, 2004
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You don't have to be an engineer to comment.
Numbers count. Be sure to make your voice heard, even if it's just to say something like this:
"I am a licensed Amateur Radio Operator, <callsign>. The Amateur Radio Service needs to use sensitive receivers and antennas, and BPL service will probably cause harmful interference to Amateur Radio.
The FCC needs to guarantee that I can get relief when BPL causes interference to my station."
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Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by N4KIT on April 29, 2004
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If you have not already commented, or wish to suppliment your comments, read the NTIA study first.
NTIA's study was posted day before yesterday. This represents Phase 1 of a 2 phase study. Phase 1 included field measurements and quantification of where the maximum power densities occur in the near field. Phase 2 reportedly will deal with VOACAP predictions of skywave probagation at observed power levels. Most notably, NTIA discovered that the maximum field strength occurs at an elevation ABOVE the power lines. In one of the elevation patterns I saw, the angle was between 10 and 20 degrees! (sound familiar?) I am quite sure that Ed Hare W1RFI will be doing further work on the propagation potentials.
From my review of this report and the NPRM, several things are clear:
1. BPL rollouts will continue
2. NTIA has made several recommendations about how and where BPL "unintentional" radiation from BPL systems should be measured.
At this point, we MUST support the NTIA recommendations. They represent the best methods of ensuring that maximum field strengths are measured to be sure that BPL systems are compliant with existing Part 15 rules. This will help to minimize harmful interference. We MUST continue to ask (politely and in a technically sound fashion) for notching or other avoidance of AR service bands. Advocating for the most stringent possible measurement and compliance rules possible at this point, in my opinion, is our best hope. I believe that current systems are over-powered because of faulty field measurements, and if the power companies are forced to comply with existing emmission rules, and measure at the field maximums, this will force a reduction in injected power, possibly resulting in needing more hardware to maintain reliable service, thus raising the costs to the point that it is no longer economically viable to continue. This is my hope, anyway.
The link to the NTIA report is: www.ntia.doc.gov there is a link to the report on the main page.
73,
Chris N4KIT
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Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by N3NL on April 29, 2004
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Here is an interesting bottom line observation from the new NTIA report that was just released.
(page 6-16):
"NEC interference calculations for an assumed fixed service or mobile base station receiving antenna found substantial (I+N)/N values at greater distances from the line than those found for land mobile receivers. This was especially true at 15 and 25 MHz.
The near field results are depicted in Figure 6.6. As can be seen, at 15 MHz the potential for a 3dB (I+N)/N level exists beyond 500 meters away, and at 25 MHz some locations more than 700 meters away could see this level of interference. Additionally, locations past 300 and 400 meters from the BPL-energized line on 15 MHz and 25 MHz, respectively, could experience (I+N)/N levels in excess of 10 dB.
The differences in potential interference found with different frequencies are partly due to the ambient noise floor decreases as the frequency is increased. However, the increased gain of the modeled antenna with frequency also plays a part, which means that higher gain antennas and lower-noise areas could face greater risks of interference at lower frequencies. Likewise, receivers with lower-gain antennas and high-noise environments would likely experience less degradation in the noise floor, but would likely also see a reduced S/N. This is true for all of the services modeled."
73, Nickolaus E. Leggett, N3NL
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by KC8VWM on April 29, 2004
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Yup wrote them. I was even nice about the whole thing...
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by W7DJM on April 29, 2004
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I wrote on the earlier filing, and just now filed one, too on this one.
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by N2MG on April 29, 2004
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Wrote the FCC, my Congressman, and the president.
Sent some extra $$ to the ARRL.
Mike N2MG
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Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by GOV_EMPLOYEE on April 29, 2004
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Oh brother! Here we go again. Thank God we outsource our constituent’s mail reading and replying.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by WB2TQC on April 29, 2004
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At first I didn't feel qualified to comment, thinking I might do more harm then good, but Reading everyone else's posts here decided the issue for me. I just submitted my comments to the FCC. Now I guess it's on to those damned Politicians :)
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by WB2TQC on April 29, 2004
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THERE!!!! Both Senators taken care of. Now where is that pesky President.................
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by W2DUG on April 29, 2004
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What do you think writing to the President will do? Congressmen, maybe, because they theoretically represent us (or at least the ones who voted for them).
Can you imagine how many e-mails are sent to the President each day, especially now? How many of those messages do you think HE actually reads? Probably zero...you'd be lucky if they are even exposed to human eyes. I once wrote to him to (politely) inform him of the correct pronunciation of the word "nuclear"...I was disappointed that he didn't take my advice. It probably just got me put on some FBI list somewhere and now they're monitoring all my e-mails.
If you're going to engage in the futile resistance against BPL, at least use your energy constructively and write to the correct people.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by WB5HZE on April 29, 2004
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Just a note for those who might not be aware & who have developed comprehensive comments- if your comments exceed 10 pages in length then due to the FCC's procedural rules a SUMMARY SECTION is required at the beginning of your comments.
Also, be sure to leverage the heck out of the recently released NTIA study, a very thorough analysis which in effect supports our own interference concerns.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by VE9XY on April 29, 2004
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I wanted to file, as a Canadian who is concerned about:
1)American BPL causing interference in Canada via ionospheric bounce, and
2)Americans having my signals interfered with, making communications with them difficult.
Unfortunately, the FCC website form won't accept filings from outside the U.S.
I was also very disapointed in the NTIA report, because it seemed to miss entirely the whole issue of HF noise bouncing off the ionosphere. I'm very upset that another country would even consider allowing international airwaves to be subjected to spurious emissions in this manner.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by WA5MKA on April 29, 2004
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I commented just a little while ago on this matter of "BPL",thanks to all of the good info provided by KL7IPV & N0RF. I copied & pasted from several others' comments with some minor editing ! Thanks to all you guys ! I certainly hope "BPL" is OBSOLETE VERY SOON !
George---WA5MKA( soon to be W7KCU )
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Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by WB4OFT on April 29, 2004
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Where was the announcement made? I looked through the Duke Energy and Duke Power web sites but could not find anything about BPL. I'm a Duke Power customer. Not Charlotte but not far away. We're in a prime spot for a trial area, no cable access, just dial up and DSL.
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Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by W8KQE on April 29, 2004
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Thanks for the info and the ECFS Express link. For whatever it's worth, I took about 5 minutes to craft a 2 paragraph message to the FCC regarding why i'm opposed to BPL. Sometimes, sheer numbers can sway or influence decisions.
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Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by VE7AZC on April 29, 2004
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Hi there,
Having worked for an electric utitlity for almost my whole career, and having sat in on meetings where telecom and BPL has been discussed, in Canada Amateur Radio operators are viewed by the telecom industry and proponents of BPL as stone age trivial hobbyists with no voice, no use and very little influence (ie:money). Public and private utilities go through public consultation processes (like the BPL consultation) only as a matter of process, the outcome having no real effect on decisions for implementation that were made beforehand. In other words, IMHO all the lobbying inn the world by radio amateurs will not make a smidge of difference where corporate money is involved. I think that BPL will be fully implemented if for no other reason than the short term financial grab by it's proponents.
I am dismayed at this of course. But watching large public and private interests with no vested interest other than short term profit successfully running roughshod over the little guy for decades has eroded any confidence I might have once had in the public consultation process.
I am not a political animal, and my perspective is very narrow ... but anyways, this is my perspective.
H
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Set up a petition booth at Dayton ! :)
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by G3SEA on April 29, 2004
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I did looooong ago even though I am not active on HF :)
SUGGESTION !
Set up a LARGE Petition booth at the Dayton Hamvention ! Nobody get's in the gate without signing the petition ! :)
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by WB4OFT on April 29, 2004
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Sorry, wrong forum. Should have been "Duke Power (Charlotte) to Offer BPL" under news.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by W5ONV on April 29, 2004
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I wrote to the FCC once. I think that I would have had better luck writing to my neighbors pet dog or something of the sort. I feel that it was a total waste of time writing to thoes clowns. Do you really think that they will actually change BPL just for us ?
Lets wake up and get real,nothing is going to change.
There is to much money involved for them to turn back now. Seems like money talks,not us.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by KJ7XJ on April 29, 2004
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- KOE - Please...Not Naked...lol...
I wrote the FCC during the comment time back when we had the chance to do that. It has not stopped anything, however I have put in my .02 worth....
I feel that I have spoken up and done what I can do as a part of the HAM community. If we are given another chance for open comment, then I will be right back in there again...
Eric
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Send this form if you don't know what to say
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by AB0TA on April 29, 2004
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Even if you dont know what to say , click on the following links and copy the letter and either email it or snail mail it to both your Senators and your Rep in the House. We need to be heard. I have sent a copy to all three as well as emailed it, and tommorrow plan on calling each directly. If we don't use our right to petition, we will be ignored.
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/cta/representative-letter.html
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/cta/senator-letter.html
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Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by KF4GNO on April 30, 2004
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I do not consider myself to be as technically competent as many on this forum are. I did file a comment with the FCC. I hit the high points about adherence to the Part 15 rules and not changing them. I also voiced concern for the interference that BPL can cause especially when working community service applications as emergency communications. Anyone can comment. I read where somebody was down on themselves because they did not feel that they were capable (words to that effect). You do not need to be a great or even mediocre writer. You just need to speak some simple points and your concerns about BPL and what it has shown it can do to HF communications. Just speak what concerns you most in simple words.
73,
Gary Spires
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by SABERSAW on April 30, 2004
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No, and you have motivated me to do so. I would also like to bring up the point that BPL may not only affect HAM radio communication but other HF users also. Need to do some research into what bands are effect. But If QRM from BPL effects my SWL listening this service will effect my right to listen to public airways. Not to mention my WWV clock, Weather Fax and so on.. There is more to this then just HAM bands, and we as HAMS should point this out, but be accurate in our claims.
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by WA2JJH on April 30, 2004
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I will write,but I do not expect much. Do not be suprised if you get a form letter post card.
It goes ike dear voter, thank you for you interest in the work of -----------fill in the blank(your representitive.
W2DUG is right.Writing to the president will get you a form letter post card. However according to my friend at one of the agencies, you could get placed on the secret service cookoo list! A list one does not want to be on!
73 and curse BPL MIKE
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by KE2IV on April 30, 2004
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Actually, I've regularly donated $ (you know, that item which hams are least likely to part with) to the ARRL Spectrum Defense fund.
Have you done the same?
I am sure that Mike Powell sits down at the dinner table each evening and reads all those cards and letters we send in. After all, it must make for a good laugh while sitting with his dining partners from the power industry.
As we say in NY, fugghedaboutit. The fix is in. BPL is coming and there ain't nothing gonna' stop it.
As JJH says - with this crowd in charge, writing the govinimint is like asking for your name to be put on THE LIST!
I'll stick with the collective approach of supporting the League's lobbying effort (oh, and please don't bother replying by giving me the anti-ARRL diatribe crap - I do not give a rat's anus about what you think on that issue!).
George
KE2IV
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by KT0DD on April 30, 2004
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WOW! I just checked the FCC site on Docket # 04-37.
641 comments filed and the deadline for primary comments is MAY 3RD! WE'VE LOST THIS ONE.
Anyone got the number of a good export sales company? Maybe I can get a decent price for my gear in Indonesia or Argentina or someplace. 73.
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by KA4KOE on April 30, 2004
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A lot of people and BIG organizations file at the last minute to give the competition the least amount of time to rebut their statements.
Expect this list to grow as the time gets short.
P
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by K5PU on April 30, 2004
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As others have pointed out, getting comments from ham operators (even in vast numbers) will not likely have the clout needed to make a difference. In fact, it might even work *against* us.
I submit keeping the comments related to the basic, technical & economic feasibility (or more precisely, lack thereof) might serve us better.
That is, keep it objective & 'detached' and not sounding like there is a personal self-serving 'Ham Radio' interest. Most comments fall into this category but I've literally read comments consisting of (and I quote in their entirety) 'Don't do it. It will intefere with my Ham radio!' and 'Please don't go with BPL. It will interfer (sic) with our HAM/HF operations. Thank you.'
First and foremost, be IN support of providing broadband Internet access to all Americans, just not via BPL.
Focus on how BPL will likely impact more critical communications (aircraft, police, rescue, etc.), how it's simply not economically feasible to expect power companies to string distribution amps miles into to the boonies 'for cheap rural access', how European countries have investigated this technology and abandoned it due to the problems it would have caused. And most importantly, despite what power companies claim, that Federal (and private) studies have clearly shown BPL does indeed generate massive interference over broad reaches of our radio spectrum. Ask how in light of those studies Power companies can make statements of (again I quote from a filed comment by the president of Power Line Communications Association) "experimental licenses has shown that instances of harmful inteference are rare".
Some have suggested emailing/writing the President (as well as his Office of Science & Technology) would be akin to sending an email into a black hole. I disagree. That's like saying 'I'm not going to vote since my one vote won't make a difference anyway'. Just do it. It cannot hurt.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by W2DUG on April 30, 2004
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K5PU wrote:
> Some have suggested emailing/writing the President
> (as well as his Office of Science & Technology)
> would be akin to sending an email into a black
> hole. I disagree.
>
> That's like saying 'I'm not going to vote since my
> one vote won't make a difference anyway'.
It's not like that at all. Voting is the proper venue for registering your opinion as a citizen...that system is set up to count your vote and apply the results of everybody's votes. In this case, writing to the President is not the proper venue--writing to the regulating bodies who have requested your feedback is. Writing to the President on this issue is like giving your opinion to someone who didn't ask for it. That is usually annoying at worst and ineffective at best.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by GOV_EMPLOYEE on April 30, 2004
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WA2JJH wrote:
>>It goes ike dear voter, thank you for you interest in the work of -----------fill in the blank(your representitive.<<
Watch it fella! You are giving away government secrets HI HI
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by N4LI on April 30, 2004
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To answer the question... yes, I have filed a Comment.
I have read many of the posted Comments, though, and am a bit disappointed with some of them. Many are just statements "voting" against BPL, are asking the FCC not to allow roll-out of BPL. These are not helpful.
We should remember that even under the old rules, BPL is legal. And, we should not look obstructionist. The key is to be part of the process. I hope my Comment strikes the right note.
It's a bit long -- 11 pages -- but if you're bored, can't sleep, or have nothing else to do, here's a link:
http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6516182384
If the rules in the NPRM are enforced, we'll be OK. That's why we need to seem helpful, not merely angry or alarmist.
Peter, N4LI
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Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by K9NYO on April 30, 2004
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I wrote to the President...in fact, I have my form letter reply right here next to me. I wrote to both my Senators, and my Rep in Congress.
The important thing is to write the letter--they've got to get a BUNCH of letters in a short period of time so they know that there is a sizeable group of people out there that is concerned about this.
Write the letter! It's like voting...even if your guy/gal doesn't win, at least you tried to have a say in it.
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Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by W6EZ on April 30, 2004
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I have written both of my senators, my US rep and the President. I followed up these letters with FAXes of the same letters to all four.
I am working on my FCC letter.
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Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by CWTITAN on April 30, 2004
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641 comments to the FCC thus far>>>? well, there are a couple hundred thousand TECHnicians in ham radio, and I would bet most are not concerned their future operating conditions are gonna change to zeelch. They have time to fight the CW, and get handed tickets without much work, but no time to protect Ham radio as a whole. It's all part of our "new" society of lazy, dont't really care, want something without work mentality. The ARRL is the main reason this is all happening. They have all you "sheep" fooled, but you will see soon. Money talks, ham radio walks...Simple.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by NN6EE on April 30, 2004
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I will be filing a comment shortly to the FCC v. ECFS and have read the NTIA's filed comments with the FCC and it is a very interesting/comprehensive read.
Here's the URL for the NTIA's comments which is a MUST read before intelligently making a comment of your own in our estimation.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/fccfilings/2004/bpl/index.html.
Regards to ALL!!!
Jim/nn6ee
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by NJ0E on April 30, 2004
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here is my note to president bush via his web site.
it ain't rocket science, but i believe in squeeking
when irritated:
To: President George W. Bush
From: Mr. Scott A. McMullen <scottamcmullen@yahoo.com>
Subject: Write a Differing Opinion on Science and Technology (Science and Technology)
Dear President Bush:
I would like to express my opposition to the
encouragement of Broadband over Power Line
technology that you expressed in the April 26
speech in Minneapolis.
I am a federally licensed amateur radio operator,
and a member of the American Radio Relay League,
the National Association for Amateur Radio.
There are several technologies available that can
provide access to the internet, and BPL is the
only one that causes severe interference to radio
communication.
This radio frequency interference is not merely
alleged; it is documented. It is the primary
reason why Japan, Finland, and Austria have
halted BPL deployments.
In Austria, the matter that brought the issue to
a head was a Red Cross report that emergency
services radio traffic during a disaster response
drill last May was the victim of massive BPL
interference.
We can provide much better, and cleaner, broadband
access to homes in rural areas in the United States,
using the many other broadband technologies
available, and that won't compromise Homeland
Security, as Broadband over Powerline technology
will.
Thank You for the opportunity to comment.
Sincerely,
<my signature>
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Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by AC0X on April 30, 2004
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To the person who said that "writing to the President is like giving your opinion to someone who doesn't want it" ---> What a stupid thing to say. Since when are the people WE ELECT not supposed to get comments from us? Maybe they'll listen to us, maybe they won't. But the day when we're not allowed to tell them our opinions is a day when I either leave this country or fight to revolt against the fascist goverment that would be running it.
To the people who keep saying that 700 comments out of 750,000 hams is "so little"----> Again, what a stupid thing to say. If the government made a law that said we all had to light our hair on fire, you wouldn't get 1/10 of 1% of the voting populus (about 50,000 people) to write. Yet you're saying the the same percentage of hams writing is too little? Obviously, it's not. So why do you say it is? Are you that pesimistic, or do you WANT ham radio to fall apart? Sometimes I think you do. Pathetic.
And finally, to those who say "we've lost". Well, obviously, we haven't. I don't see BPL all over the place quite yet. And since I don't, we still can fight. So why are you giving up? Again, are you that paranoid and pesimistic, or do you want to destroy ham radio. I really think people like you are a 100 times more dangerous than BPL. Again, you are truly pathetic.
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Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by W0FMS on April 30, 2004
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I spent a lot of time today coming up with the best technical descriptions I could to encourage the FCC to be careful with the measurements and enforcment issues dealing with BPL in my commentary. It's very easy to use the NTIA study to disprove about all of the power industries assumptions and a good 10%-15% of the FCC's.
Polite is important too, but you can be polite without acknoledging anything to compromise your position. I even mentioned the poor job the FCC did in mitigating my powerline complaint with Alliant Energy (who got off the FCC's hook by promising that they were "working on it" for every year for three years and then doing nothing).. I fixed the situation. I moved away to the country and to a REC that has wonderful service.
But honestly, if we could get 1 and 10 hams to only say "it sucks" (politely) we would be better off than nothing. Time is running out. Please comment on this. When things do go wrong, we will have more ammo being able to say "we told you so". If you've never commented on anything else, comment on this.
73, W0FMS
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by NN6EE on April 30, 2004
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W0FMS,
Sounds like "Reliant" ain't very reliable like our own "Pacific Graft & Extortion" (PG&E) here in No.Calif where I've had an on-going line-noise complaint for the past 2yrs. and they've done practically NOTHING to allieviate our problem even now!!!
So all of us are expecting our local utility companys to adhere to NOISE SUPPRESSION v. BPL???
Gimme a break!!! Won't frigg'n happen!!!
Jim/nn6ee
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by NN6EE on April 30, 2004
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W0FMS,
Sounds like "Reliant" ain't very reliable like our own "Pacific Graft & Extortion" (PG&E) here in No.Calif where I've had an on-going line-noise complaint for the past 2yrs. and they've done practically NOTHING to allieviate our problem even now!!!
So all of us are expecting our local utility companys to adhere to NOISE SUPPRESSION v. BPL???
Gimme a break!!! Won't frigg'n happen!!!
Jim/nn6ee
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by WV2N on April 30, 2004
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We really need to turn the political tables on the politicians. What stories dominate the world today?
The Iraq war and terrorism. Domestically, one of the top stories is identity theft. Use these hot subjects with the local press in BPL areas to stress the blatant insecurity of the transmission medium, and how unintentional interference from every source from Broadcast stations to personal 2-way communicators can make BPL unreliable. Ask experts in the Hi-tech field to comment on it. That way, the power companies won't be able to dismiss us as easily. Remind the press about the power industries past follies such as Nuclear power, which many of us are still paying for.
Tell them about Japan and Europe , how they tested and rejected the technology.
Stress the more reliable and readily available alternatives to BPL now and in the future.
As many have said, BPL is legal, we are not going to change that, and if even if there is interference, unless it is massive and the Aircraft industry gets involved, we have little chance of killing it on those grounds. The power industry will outlast us in the legal arena because of much deeper pockets.
The way to fight BPL is discredit it as viable at every corner. The power industry will not stay in a market that is not profitable.
We also have unintentional allies... the cable, phone and satellite industry.. Do you really think they will stand by and let BPL outperform and undercut them? Remember, they have the technology and frankly the marketing machine to blow BPL into the weeds.
I personally think BPL is just another bad investment by the power industry in its present form. Advances in the broadband industry, not complaints from Hams, will force them accelerate their UHF BPL system, or get out of broadband all together. Just remember how most of us connected to the internet just 5 years ago.
I have been in the IT industry for 20 years I seen us go from 256K Lan bandwidth to 1GB and beyond, we have now have more RAM in our PC's than we had HARD DISK space 7 or 8 years ago!
I really do believe BPL will fall apart, but it may take time. We need to be guerilla warriors. Choose our battles, hit and run, and take advantage of what comes to us, from any source.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by W2DUG on April 30, 2004
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AC0X wrote:
> To the person who said that "writing to the President is like giving
> your opinion to someone who doesn't want it" --->
> What a stupid thing to say. Since when are the people WE ELECT
> not supposed to get comments from us?
Check again...the PEOPLE didn't elect this president. A system that is flawed enough to ignore the voice of the people and put a president into power that the people decidely DID NOT choose is gonna do whatever the hell it wants to...and if that's to move forward with BPL, that's what it'll be. The President isn't counting votes on this matter. And even if he were, recent history shows us that the count wouldn't matter anyway.
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HOW TO FIGHT BPL
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by L1D on April 30, 2004
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1. Invest in companies that are doing wireless broadband.
2. Don't invest in cisco they have their dirty hands in the BPL pie.
3. Flood Yahoo stock message boards off ANY company investing in BPL describing the problems with BPL. This will get the message to the people who matter, the investors.
4. If you own stock in a utility that is invested in, implementing or contemplating BPL, make your opinion know n to the broad of directors.
5. <a href="http://www.alwayson-network.com/comments.php?id=2717_0_3_0_C">Some People get it</a> support them.
6. Vote out Bush (IMO YMMV).
7. Mobile HF kilowatt
8. Wisper campigan that those new boxes on the poles are to spy on you. (Make sure you wear your tin foil hat).
9. Operate Operate Operate HF!
10. With a Kilowatt.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by KC8VWM on April 30, 2004
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Yup sent my comments.
You can too:
Cut & paste -
http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi
Refer to proceeding # 03-104
73
Charles - KC8VWM
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by KC8VWM on April 30, 2004
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Correction on proceeding # :
Cut & paste -
http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi
Refer to proceeding >>> 04-37 <<<
73
Charles - KC8VWM
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by KF7CG on May 1, 2004
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when you write be sure to include a piece about the need to enhance the Part 15 warning notices as a separate issue from the technical issues of interference mitigation and acceptance.
The new mandatory Part 15 disclosure should force the BPL provider to acknowledge the possibility of interference to their service from Police, Fire, Amateur, Citizens' Band, and other existing source and that this interference is their fault because of the frequencies that they chose to use. They must also explicitly state that if they cause too much interference with their BPL deployment they will be forced to shut down.
Another place that explicit rules need to be laid out is in plain and direct statement of FCC pre-emption of all enforcement attempts for interference to BPL services. This pre-emption should also be binding on HOA's and supercede CC&R provisions.
One of the biggest enemies in this war is the power companies villification of Amateurs as selfish old men that need to get a life.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by KA4KOE on May 1, 2004
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I posted comments last night and they still have not appeared on the FCC website. Whats up with that?
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Thanks NJ0E - Just filed with the FCC
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by AB0TA on May 1, 2004
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Thank you NJ0E for posting your comments. I thought I would have trouble being coherent as usual with these technical subjects. But by using your letter as a draft, the whole thing just started to flow. My comments are now posted at the FCC .
Hope it helps, if not, we can say we tried.
For you nay sayers out there. If not the ARRL, whom may I ask will further our cause ? Please join.
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Thanks NJ0E - Just filed with the FCC
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by AB0TA on May 1, 2004
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Thank you NJ0E for posting your comments. I thought I would have trouble being coherent as usual with these technical subjects. But by using your letter as a draft, the whole thing just started to flow. My comments are now posted at the FCC .
Hope it helps, if not, we can say we tried.
For you nay sayers out there. If not the ARRL, whom may I ask will further our cause ? Please join.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by AB0TA on May 1, 2004
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Thank you NJ0E for posting your comments. I thought I would have trouble being coherent as usual with these technical subjects. But by using your letter as a draft, the whole thing just started to flow. My comments are now posted at the FCC .
Hope it helps, if not, we can say we tried.
For you nay sayers out there. If not the ARRL, whom may I ask will further our cause ? Please join.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by AB0TA on May 1, 2004
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This sites has some serious bugs in it. I only hit the button once !
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by KG6AMW on May 1, 2004
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I believe that when you post comments with the FCC starting late Friday afternoon and through the weekend they will show up starting on Monday morning. The FCC is a government office closed on the weekend.
KG6AMW
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by K9JDK on May 1, 2004
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Just like to add that I wrote to:
FCC
Senators
President
on the BPL subject.
The ARRL web site was helpful wrt contact info, email address.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by KD5DFM on May 1, 2004
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The FCC is a government office closed on the weekend.
kinda like congress during a vote . why should i complain i lve in lousyana where the legislature voted themselves a 30 percent raise during a time when they cant balance the books . Lets vote all the lifelong congressmen out this nov .
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by KD5DFM on May 1, 2004
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"Some have suggested emailing/writing the President (as well as his Office of Science & Technology)"
remember the president is a little slow so talk in simple words and use finger paintings so he can understand you ;-P
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by KD5DFM on May 1, 2004
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To the person who said that "writing to the President is like giving
> your opinion to someone who doesn't want it" --->
> What a stupid thing to say. Since when are the people WE ELECT
> not supposed to get comments from us?
>heck again...the PEOPLE didn't elect this president. >A system that is flawed enough to ignore the voice of >the people and put a president into power that the >people decidely DID NOT choose
also as a republican on the clinton witch hunt said , "its not you the people but its us the congress and we'll deside ".
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Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by KC4EOE on May 2, 2004
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Great Letter to the Prez, NJOE!! Only thing you left out is a plea for the White House to reconsider accepting campaign contributions from the power companies and all other parties involved in the profit from BPL. I dont think the ARRL can match those funds. You see, it all boils down to the DOLLAR and pure politics. It doesnt matter who sits in the Oval Office, power corrupts and they all follow the money.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by KA4KOE on May 2, 2004
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TA:
Perhaps your mouse contacts have "bounce". Try posting another comment with a different mouse. I've never had this problem.
Philip
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Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by N9IVO on May 2, 2004
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I wrote the FCC and White House.
I'm of the opinion that the Lobyists, money,
and our elected officials have already made
the deals and there's nothing left but for
us to file comments to let the bean counters
know how the public feels about the subject.
But the sad fact is, it's a done deal already.
I'll go on to say that I believe that BPL will
prove to be an unpopular choice for broadband
and will lose big money for anyone foolish
enough to invest into it. Think BetaMax,
Motorola's worldwide satellite phone system,
(can't remember the name) the Sedgeway, (hope
you didn't sell the farm for that one.) and
many, many more unpractical schemes.
Well, you get the point. I think it's gonna
fail anyway. Keeping my fingers crossed.
But I did send off to the bean counters anyway.
Mike Pender N9IVO
http://home.comcast.net/~n9ivo_1/
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by KF7CG on May 3, 2004
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Interesting the failures you point out. One of them in that group was a marketing failure.
The Betamax format was technically and mechanically beter than VHS. Marketing though was not nearly as strong; bye, bye Betamax.
I hope that good marketing doesn't keep the BPL turkey alive. This piece of junk science has just enough appeal to the technically uninclined to be appealing. No wires just plug it in. Next step built-in plug modems and universal service for just $$$$ a month. If you can plug it in its networked. (Won't ever work, but that is the swampland being sold).
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Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by GOV_EMPLOYEE on May 3, 2004
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I have worked for the same representative for eighteen years. We have a service staffed by about thirty people that reads and replies to our mail and emails. About two dozen representatives that I know personally use this same company. They scan through each letter in less than ten seconds, search for keywords and see if any need to be forwarded to our offices.
This is a huge improvement from when I had first started here. We used to have to take letters home to read at night and on the weekends with the same type of ten second scan or to just ignore totally. After all, we have an office to run during the day silly boys. Do you think that's all we do? Read letters and answer constituents phone calls? I'm scheduling fund raisers and charity events eighty percent of the time. My boss never reads a letter unless we approve it and if somebody gets through on a phone line we have several male staffers that have pretended to be him occasionally.
I think I'll call the center today and see how many rants they've gotten so far.
HI
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by AG4RQ on May 3, 2004
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I submitted my comment on ECFS to NPRM 04-37 this afternoon. What's the good as long as our President is hell-bent on BPL with no genuine regard for anything else that it might interfere with? I did all I could do regarding this NPRM. No matter what, we will get BPL shoved down our throats and up our -----. Now, all that's left is to express my displeasure with Bush and his actions as President on November 2. Once 802.11 broadband Internet becomes widely available, BPL will be in the trash where it belongs, and we will have our bands back. Until then, when the hash hits, its time to pack up the radios and store them in the closet. Look at the bright side. We're at the bottom end of the solar cycle. BPL will be history well before the next cycle peaks.
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The Deadline Is MIDNIGHT On May 3!!
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by CALLSIGNPENDING on May 3, 2004
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Right now, it's after 5:00 p.m., on May 3, on the East Coast.
HOWEVER, if you've been THINKING about filing in FCC Docket 04-37, you STILL have time to do so.
The FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) will accept Written Comments until MIDNIGHT Eastern Time (9:00 p.m. Pacific Time).
73,
Don Schellhardt aka CALLSIGNPENDING
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Only a smidgen more than 1000 comments.....
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by KA4KOE on May 3, 2004
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AND,only 1011 comments filed. I am bitterly disappointed.
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RE: Only a smidgen more than 1000 comments.....
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by KE2IV on May 3, 2004
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KA4KOE,
Why are you disappointed?
American hams made their stand in defense of Amateur Radio by insisting that CW remain a licensing requirement. A triumph of arrogant nostalgia over modern logic.
By doing so, they have chased off what few non-ham radio afficiandos remained.
In the words of Pogo (aka Walt Kelly): "We have met the enemy, and he is us."
There are too few hams left to object to BPL - each and each day we are dying off!
73,
George
KE2IV
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Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by AB7RG on May 3, 2004
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At least those of us who have posted a comment in opposition to BPL can stand proud knowing that at least we took the time to voice our opinions.
73 Clinton AB7RG
"Now is the time to either stand up or step aside."
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by KA4KOE on May 4, 2004
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Yep, Clinton. I read yours. Did you read mine? The ARRL posting was an impressive tome of 101 pages.
Tell it all, Brother, tell it all!
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RE: Only a smidgen more than 1000 comments.....
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by AG4RQ on May 4, 2004
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Posted by KA4KOE on May 3, 2004:
"AND,only 1011 comments filed. I am bitterly disappointed."
There were 1011 comments posted by the close of the business day. Those filed after 5 PM up until 11:59 PM EDT will be posted by the FCC on the morning of 5/4. I filed a second comment to add something to my original comment around 6 PM, so there's at least 1012. I think the number will double or triple by 5/4. I'm sure we all wasted our time, as the President is behind BPL. That's OK. I'll have my say on November 2. Every ham should speak loudly on 11/2.
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Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by N2CTZ on May 4, 2004
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if the inteference is bad on hf then we need to sue the bpl companies.
if that doesnt work i will switch to my second hobby bbq
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by KA4KOE on May 4, 2004
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Rack of ribs and a Rolling Rock is good when propogation be bad.....
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by AG4RQ on May 4, 2004
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Posted by N2CTZ on May 4, 2004:
"if the inteference is bad on hf then we need to sue the bpl companies."
Yes, and sue them again after BPL fails and they raise our electric rates to recoup their losses.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by K3UD on May 4, 2004
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I was one who visited a BPL test site to experience what the interference was actually like. I filed my comments to the FCC, based on what I experienced, before the deadline yesterday (May 3)
I was also surprised by relatively few comments that were filed. However, many of them came from industries who have a stake in HF communications.
73
George
K3UD
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by K5UJ on May 4, 2004
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<<<I submitted my comment on ECFS to NPRM 04-37 this afternoon. What's the good as long as our President is hell-bent on BPL with no genuine regard for anything else that it might interfere with? I did all I could do regarding this NPRM. No matter what, we will get BPL shoved down our throats and up our -----. Now, all that's left is to express my displeasure with Bush and his actions as President on November 2. >>>
Oh come on. Do you really think the votes of all hams will sway a national election? Even if every licensed U.S. ham voted against the President that would be a drop in the bucket. Forget about the President and deal with the FCC.
Now, it is too late to file original comments, but you can REPLY to comments on file until June 1st. There is still another month to register opposition to BPL with the FCC provided you are replying to an existing, i.e. pro BPL comment. Get it?
Anyone else who has not filed one word so far and excuses himself by saying it is all over is simply trying to deceive himself and the rest of us into letting him off the hook. It's not over. Why? Two reasons: Comments in the docket can be used as legal ammunition later if necessary, and doing absolutely nothing will guarantee an undesireable outcome.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by AG4RQ on May 4, 2004
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Mail this to a friend!
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Posted by K5UJ on May 4, 2004:
"Oh come on. Do you really think the votes of all hams will sway a national election? Even if every licensed U.S. ham voted against the President that would be a drop in the bucket"
Don't you remember how close the 2000 election was? If this election is as close as the last one was, yes 700,000 hams can decide the election. Another thing you don't realize is that I reside in the state that decided the 2000 election. Florida could very well decide this election also.
"Forget about the President and deal with the FCC."
The FCC is a puppet of the President. He says jump. The Commission asks "how high?". I knew that Bush was behind BPL long before he made his public statement. Many hams thought I was crazy. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that Bush was behind BPL all along when we saw his boy Michael Powell (Gee, there's that name Powell again. Where have I heard that name before? Hmmm. Oh yes. Colin Powell, Sec. of State).
BPL is not the only reason why I want Bush out of office. His neglegance regarding 9/11, the fact that we're still in Iraq long after we finished our task while our soldiers get picked off daily, $87 billion to rebuild oil-rich Iraq and Afghanistan, a sagging economy, the inept way he handled the China crisis in 4/01, Bush literally sat back and allowed North Korea to develop nuclear weapons, and the biggest one - siphoning billions of dollars from the Social Security reserve fund for the war on terrorism. The Social Security system was supposed to remain solvent until 2035. Not any more. Thanks, GWB! Us baby boomers probably won't see a dime of what we put into the system for years. I welcomed Bush as a refreshing change from Clinton. As bad as Clinton was, Bush was far worse. I am a registered Republican. I voted for Bush in 2000. Shame on me. I won't make the same mistake this year. I don't like Kerry, but I'll take him as I consider him the lesser of 2 evils.
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RE: Have YOU Written to the FCC Yet?
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by AG4RQ on May 4, 2004
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Mail this to a friend!
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Oh, and by the way, K5UJ, I filed 2 comments yesterday on ECFS to 04-37. I did what I had to do. I just feel it was a waste of time. I hope you're right and I'm wrong. I hope it did do some good, but I doubt it. Our Prez pulls the strings, and he's hell-bent on BPL. Nobody listens to me. Why should the government? When BPL creates interference around the world and becomes a major embarrassment to the United States, and it has to be dismantled because of complaints from other countries, I hope the Feds remember all of our comments to 04-37. If BPL is still in use when the next solar cycle peaks, see if I'm wrong about worldwide interference and the embarrassment it causes the United States.
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