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Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
Lionel Booth (N5LB)
on
July 19, 2004
View comments about this article!
Subject: BPL Interference Complaints
Even though I am not yet a victim of BPL interference I have taken the liberty of using the ARRL's interference filings list as the basis of a letter of concern to my Congressman. Attached is the letter I received in reply.
Those of a cynical nature will surely point out that the letter was written by his staff and that I'll probably never hear another word. I readily agree with the first and will allow that the second is possible if not probable. That happens to be politics, so what? I'll press on.
Here's the point, an individual can make a difference. I have gotten a part of what I asked for and I will press for the rest which is an investigation into the FCC's inaction in the matter of formal complaints against BPL operators. One of our Senators from La., Senator Landrieu also replied but she is confused and somehow tied BPL to the two Spectrum Protection bills in committee. My mission is to educate her staff and to press the same request as I made to Congressman Vitter.
What I am suggesting, no make that asking, is for every concerned individual to take the time and write a well thought out letter or fax explaining the issues and the concerns about BPL deployment. Their addresses and fax numbers are on the web, readily available, as is their local office contact information.
My experience, and this isn't my first one, is that most Congressmen and Senators are concerned about their constituents.
If none of us try, we all lose. If some of us try we may succeed; if all of us try we will succeed.
This article has expired. No more comments may be added.
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Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by AE1X on July 19, 2004
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Hi Lionel,
It's great to hear that your REP at least responded. I have sent e-mail to my REPs and called their local offices to complain about a number issues lately. The Democrats here in MA just answer: "The wrong party is in power". What a cop out, but I will keep trying.
Ken
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by KT8K on July 19, 2004
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I almost always get a response from my congresspeople. I know that, at least in some cases, if they get more than a few people requesting their action on a particular topic, they have their staff start a checklist to track how many people call and what their positions are. The staff apparently maintain the checklist until the issue is resolved, report to the senator/representative on the numbers of calls received from constituents by issue, and report the proportions of the positions on the issue.
If even a few of our congresspeople do this, it behooves each of us to contact them and register our views on BPL and the conduct of the current FCC in general.
Make the calls, folks. If you don't use your voice you'll just take what you're given. I'm not taking BPL lying down!
73 de kt8k - Tim
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by KD5HIY on July 19, 2004
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the bad thing is that Reps get so many email that they just delete them. You will have to hand write them to even have a chance of them hearing.
You can call but you will run into the problem again, either "We'll let them know" or "You will need to call this person" mumbo jumbo most of the time.
Chris
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by N3OP on July 19, 2004
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Congressmen do not work for their constituents. They are guided by a much stronger purpose-- the pursuit of money and power. Who would you listen to--- a "regular" constituent whom you represent, or a constituent who attended your $10,000 a plate dinner? So please continue to write, email, or call your "elected servants". Maybe you will be one of the lucky constituents and receive a form letter from your congressman's aide. Remember, you must PAY to be heard in Washington!!!
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by K8LEA on July 19, 2004
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I always get a reply. Usually a form letter expressing views in opposition to my own, or a request for money....
But at least I know that they're getting (and counting) these notes, and that their hearts are in the right place ('right about center mass [grin]).
Could be worse....
You really need to think about who you're talking to when you reply to a letter from a constituent. That guy (going slightly off topic) in the drive-through line at the bank you just gave a hard time to may control a six figure account or two.... It's pretty easy (if you ignore the cost of printing new checks) to change banks.... Wanna see how fast?
('Course, with my three-figure balances, they usually offer to help, if not suggest it outright, but that's another story. I was a very wealthy man before my wife found out about it.)
Stu K8LEA
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by KG6TEW on July 19, 2004
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N3OP: Wow, how uplifting. I think N5LB acknowledged this when he started this thread, just in not so many words. I think we all understand that this is usually true. But I think he's right, ya gotta try, or you take what you get. If you don't make an effort to be heard then you hold no right to complain about outcomes. Silence is not always golden but in some cases (like in the case of your response) it is.
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Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by N0FP on July 19, 2004
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I applaud your initiative re:BPL and your elected representative. In spite of the other, rather cynical, comments above, representatives DO listen to the constituents or they lose their job. But there is safety in numbers. The squeaky wheel gets greased. Get those cards and letters flowing into the halls of congress folks!
I contacted the office of Mark Dayton (MN) and received a similar letter. I was assured that Mr. Dayton was aware of the situation and fully supports the protection of amateur radio. The letter gave me warm fuzzy feelings, but I'm sure it was summarized and trashed minutes after being read.
I contacted John Kerry's campaign after Mr. Bush visited Minneapolis and spewed all sorts of lies about BPL being the end-all media for high speed internet. I pointed out that this is another "Bush" environmental blunder in the making. Bringing a nation to war over rumors, the abandonment of good science by allowing (in BPL's case--encouraging) the plundering our natural environment will likely be George's legacy in the archives of history. I also contacted the Bush campaign people and pointed out that they should distance themselves from BPL as quickly as possible.
In both cases, I received phone calls in response to my comments. No, John and George did not call me, in each case a campaign worker contacted me. In both cases, the caller(s) prepared a notation in a summary report that briefs the candidate. In Kerry's case, the worker indicated that he had been briefed on the "Bush's comments on BPL" situation that morning.
I'm afraid getting an audience with powerful people takes powerful connections. Money certainly does turn the heads of elected officials--it's only natural. But there IS safety in numbers. If you have not yet done so, WRITE YOUR LETTER!
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by N3OP on July 19, 2004
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NOFP:
Boy, it does not take much to satisfy you? Your had your comments added to a summary report, and you received calls from low-level campaign workers, but will the politicians really act on your comments. The odds are not in your favor. If 50,000 hams contacted their Congressmen concerning BPL and 5 electric companies donated $5,000,000 to these Congressmen, which way would they vote? Will they vote for their concerned constituents, or will they vote for electric companies?
By the way, how many hams have written to our "elected servants" concerning antenna restrictions? Did we get any results? NO, and you may ask why! Well I will tell you why. MONEY!
Unless hams are willing to contribute more money than the Home Builders PACs (Political Action Committee), our Congressmen will vote with the PACs most of the time. The same principle applies to BPL.
Please don’t get me started on John F’ing Kerry. He believes in both sides of most issues. He will tell hams he against BPL one day, and the next day he will tell the electric companies that BPL is a great technology because it creates jobs for the “Middle Class”. Furthermore, John F’ing Kerry believes that American must surrender its military authority to the U.N. Give me a break!
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Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by KD7CJO on July 19, 2004
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Hi All, Oue leaders do want to hear from us! I emailed a well thought out letter to one of our reps here in Wyoming about a proposed law that would affect our abilitiy to operate mobial due to some problems with folks on cell phones cousing accidents and similir traffic concerns. I receaved a very nice reply saying that if the law was passed(it wasn`t) then he wanted me to name it! So yes, they do sometimes hear AND respond to our voice. If you THINK about the your response and views on the issue and word your answer carfully(not emotional or critical,just factual) then you have a better chance of being heard by our "leaders" and please don`t stoppe to the level of being an example. Lead by example, don`t become one! 73 and good dx to all. de kd7cjo in Wyoming
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Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by KG4YJR on July 19, 2004
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Looks like the typical fill in the blank form letter. I'll bet you $20 you can write to the same representative next week and say you are pro BPL but those doggone hams keep stirring things up by complaining about RF noise and you will get another nice and polite form letter thanking you for writing and saying that your comments were "forwarded to the appropriate officials".
If you should get the chance to meet the gentleman face to face I'd also bet he'd say: "BPL? What's that?" Unless he's on a pro BPL utility company's Christmas card list already.
73
Dave
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by AA4PB on July 19, 2004
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Someone at the Congressional office reads e-mails. I've sent a couple and in relatively short order get a reply that they will check into it. A month or two later they send me a copy of the FCC response to them. Of course that response is alway the FCC party line that they are working hard to ensure that there will be no harmful interferrence from BPL. At least the FCC got bugged by the Congressman and had to take the time to send a response. Perhaps if it happens enough times the FCC will get the idea that there are people watching what they are doing.
I think the problem is that the politically motivated FCC upper management knows little to nothing about the technology. They look at it as a bunch of "amateurs" vs. the "professional" engineers at the power companies so who are they going to believe? They forget that it was "professionals" that built the Titanic. The "amateurs" built the arc. Actually this is a pretty common problem that I have seen in years of Government service. The people at the top who ultimately make the technical decisions are lawers and accountants, not technicians and engineers who understand the technology. One would think that they would rely heavily on their technical staff but they often get the wool pulled over their eyes by outside marketing people who are willing to tell them what they want to hear.
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Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by W6EZ on July 19, 2004
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I have been told that since the anthrax scares a few years back, most snail mail to congressional offices is never opened.
It would appear that this was not the case in this instance.
A few months back, I sent faxes to all my senators, reps and even the president on the issue of BPL. I got one very canned response from one rep in a matter of hours, and today I got a response from B Boxer. It is basicly canned, but I can at least hope it got logged somewhere in some data base. I have attached a copy of the text below.
She basicly tells me to file a comment with the FCC.
=================================================
Dear Mr. Griffin:
Thank you for contacting my office to
express your views on the Federal Communications
Commission?s proposed rule to install broadband
lines over existing power lines (doc. 03-104).
The Commission is currently accepting comments
from the general public on the proposed rule.
Please feel free to fax any comments of concern
to the Federal Communications Commission at
202-418-2806, or contact them via the Internet
at http://www.fcc.gov.
I believe that all citizens should become
involved in the legislative process by letting
their voices be heard, and I appreciate the time
and effort that you took to share your thoughts
with me. One of the most important aspects of
my job is keeping informed about the views of my
constituents, and I welcome your comments so
that I may continue to represent California to
the best of my ability. Should I have the
opportunity to consider legislation on this or
similar issues, I will keep your views in mind.
For additional information about my
activities in the U.S. Senate, please visit my
website, http://boxer.senate.gov. From this
site, you can access statements and press
releases that I have issued about current events
and pending legislation, request copies of
legislation and government reports, and receive
detailed information about the many services
that I am privileged to provide for my
constituents. You may also wish to visit
http://thomas.loc.gov to track current and past
legislation.
Again, thank you for taking the time to
share your thoughts with me. I appreciate
hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator
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Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by K9COX on July 19, 2004
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This is a sad but true story, when I wrote my congressman about BPL concerns using an ARRL approved letter, the reply referenced my concern about immigration!
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by KG4YJR on July 19, 2004
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>>I wrote my congressman about BPL concerns using an ARRL approved letter, the reply referenced my concern about immigration!<<
I LOVE IT!!!
You can't find people that stupid in the public sector, they'd be fired. You should scan a copy of that response and post it online.
When is everyone going to wake up and figure out that a U.S. senator only makes about $140,000 a year but within an average of four years they are already millionaires. The math doesn't add up my friends.
An FCC official makes even less but as I've said before and don't mind saying again, the most corruption lies in any and all offices that hold regulatory or enforcement powers.
73
Dave
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by N3OP on July 19, 2004
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KG6TEW:
Just because I am pessimistic about our current political system doesn't vitiate the validity of my statements. You suggest that I should be silent, but you are entitled to your opinions. In theory, politicians should respond to their constituents concerns, but most Americans believe that our elected officials are not serving them benevolently. Many people including myself believe that politicians seek office for money, power, or business contacts. Occasionally, Congress performs a notable task without pecuniary interests; however, this is the exception. For example, Congress created Megan's Law in 1996, which protects kids from sexual perverts.
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by KG6TEW on July 20, 2004
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N30P: as I said "I think N5LB acknowledged this when he started this thread, just in not so many words. I think we all understand that this is usually true."
But don't discourage others from trying. N5LB was making a positive, productive point. YOU were doing little more than to share your pessimism. Fine. Few, if any, actually TRUST politicians. But at least some folks try to make changes by being heard rather than rant about the negative aspects of politics.
YOU are entitled to your opinion and many share it with you. I do too, to an extent. But I think this thread should focus on the good that can result if everyone takes part in making their voices heard.
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by KG6TEW on July 20, 2004
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EHAM GUEST 001 -- letters from Santa get answered. Just go to your local post office at Christmas and see ALL the letters being answered by caring people who come and take the letters to follow through on a an underpriviledged child's dream.
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by N3OP on July 20, 2004
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KG6TEW:
Why should this thread only focus on the good that can result if everyone takes part in making their voices heard? Should we give other hams false hope? Should we lead hams to believe that if they write or email their Congressmen, Congress will redress their grievances? Yes, I may have shown my pessimism for the political process, but I am being pragmatic.
N5LB wrote to his Congressman, and he received a form letter response. Big deal! His letter will go on deaf hears because it will not counteract the contributions from the utility companies PACs.
You choose to focus on the positive side of making your voice heard, but you forgot the most important part of "real world" politics. You need to make large monetary contributions to get heard in Washington.
Instead of writing your Congressman about BPL and waiting for you canned response from their aides, why not join forces with the ARRL? Don't just write; send your monetary contributions. If the ARRL joined forces with other Federal agencies that are against BPL, it may be defeated. Again, it takes money! Do you see have it works? Money will get you a listening audience, not a futile writing campaign.
Just as it is stated in the Bible, Faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26). This principle is very analogous to politics. Writing your Congressman and expecting redress without giving monetary contributions is otiose.
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by KG6TEW on July 20, 2004
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N3OP: I never disagreed with you on the bit about politicians and their motives. Reread. I disagreed with your first reply to the thread because the tone was negative and offered no solution. The reply above is a lot less negative and does offer a solution (using money and the ARRL, etc). Letter writing is likely futile, as you say. But a paramedic out in the field must try to save a life even if he/she knows it is futile. In the case of letter writing, the futility becomes less and less when more and more people do it. I think that is what N5LB was promoting - if more people write these letters, a deaf ear may start to hear.
And, like I said, at least above you offered a solution rather than just put the original idea down flat. Your comments are going to be better received when they are more tactful and offer solutions. That was the point I was trying to make.
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Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by KG4YJR on July 20, 2004
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The only difference between one politician vs. another is that one will talk out of his rear end (example: Bush) and the other will defecate out of his mouth when he speaks (example: Kerry).
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Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by K1CJS on July 20, 2004
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Yes, there is strength in numbers. Unfortunately, even 200,000 letters (if we're able to get that many hams and others to write them) still doesn't equal $200,000. To the BPL manufacturers and purveyors, that's a drop in the bucket.
Still, we should not give up. Keep on writing those letters, and someday we'll find representatives and senators willing to listen to us. We just have to keep fighting.
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Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by N0FP on July 20, 2004
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Frankly, I'm stunned... Many cynical voices blathering about our failed democracy. Apparently, none have taken the time to read the news and see what the rest of the planet has to deal with every day! I'll take our alleged 'failed' system of governance any day of the week.
BPL is just a tiny fly speck on the radar screen of a typical polititian. Letters do bring the issue to light. And the folks that actually believe doing nothing is a good approach, I suggest you move to Cuba. I think you would be happy there.
The FCC 'party line' is completely true. They are working hard to resolve the interference issues. You and I don't think they will solve the problem. But it has not been given a blank check either. This stuff takes time. Lots of time. And WE need to do our due diligence to see to it that the FCC lives up to its mandate.
Just like you and me, politicos have to 'pick our fights.' BPL is just a pesky fly speck in the grand scheme of things. All sides are dealing with HUGE unknowns. These unknowns have to be solved before ANY realistic decisions can be made with respect to BPL's future.
How's this for a good dose of reality: When you get that form letter back from your congressperson, pat yourself on the back. Your letter was one of ten thousand received and processed that week on topics like Busted Health Care; Pension Fund failures; Domestic violence; the war in Iraq; pot holes in our highways; constitutional debates; screwed up passports; drug abuse; teenage pregnancy; and yes, other ham's concerns about BPL.
I think many on this thread need a good dose of reality. This IS our system of government. And the process does work the way it does for many reasons. So if you are going to participate, then you have to use the system the way it works. Write your letters! Support the ARRL with your membership! Contribute to the Spectrum Defense Fund! Support your favorite congress person with a donation. Either participate in making the world a better place or get the heck out of the way!
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by KG4YJR on July 20, 2004
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If most people knew the true definition of a "democracy", not what they teach in the public schools, you would see that in fact our "democracy" is not a "failed" one at all.
Definition: de·moc·ra·cy a : government by the people; especially : rule of the majority
Rule of the majority, mob rule, for the common good.
No respect for individual or constitutional rights and yes, that would include losing or amending licensed services and privileges for the "common good".
If 7 million people demand from their politicians more options for broadband and to have it cheaper vs. the 700,000 hams (active?) then you get to really see democracy in action.
They may fool most of you but they don't fool me. When the "mob" demands something it automatically becomes a right. Some states are already subsidizing and/or paying for high speed Internet access for people on welfare and living in public housing with the reason being "poor people have the right to have high speed Internet access too".
Instead of having the right to work, democrats now say that you have a right to have a job.
Democracy huh? Keep it.
73
Dave
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Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by W9XT on July 20, 2004
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I'm glad you got a reply from your representative. I sent snail mail letters to my senators and representative.
I received a letter from my representative thanking me for my views and promising to give it consideration before making any decisions. It was pretty non-commital. One the positive side he brought up the ham radio frequency protection bill.
I also received a letter from one my senators (the one up for re-election this fall). The reply didn't make a lot of sense. It was obvious his staffer didn't really understand it. It did suggest that I send a comment to the FCC by the end of the reply period. The letter arrived about a week after the period ended. I don't know if that was intentional but would be surprised if it really took the USPS 3 weeks to deliver it.
Its true that numbers are what really counts. They might not take much interest yet, but if we continue to send them letters and call their offices they will eventually get the picture. They know for each call and letter they get there are tens or hundreds of others that hold that opinon.
Its also true that 700,000 hams don't stack up to millions of potential BPL customers, but at this point potential BPL customers don't know anything about it, and the few that due are not likely to make the effort to write their representatives. That is one advantage we still have. Take advantage of it and keep those cards and letters flowing. Consider the cost of a 37 cent stamp vs your ham gear.
73 Gary, W9XT
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by KG6AMW on July 20, 2004
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You sure can count on good old babs when the chips are down. Lets see, thanks for contact, take it to FCC yourself and oh by the way, check out my great web site. Compare that response to other citizens whose representative/senator forwarded their constituent's comments directly to the FCC for them.
KG6AMW
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by W6TH on July 20, 2004
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Not much to say at this time, but I am going to let George say it again.
Government is not reason, Government is not eloquence, Government is force,
and
like fire it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."
-George Washington
My love for the real George. Yes, I agree, he was the father of our country. We should listen to our fathers.
.:
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by W6TH on July 20, 2004
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If you live in a log cabin, you would require fire for your survival.
You would use it to cook your food, and heat your home.
Fire is such a necessary part of your survival, that you would create a
special place
for your fire.
Government is necessary for our survival.
We need government to survive.
The founding fathers created a special place for government.
It is called the constitution.
Anytime the fire is in the fireplace it is a good fire.
Anytime the fire gets outside of the fireplace it is a bad fire.
Conversely,
Anytime the government stays within the limitations of the constitution
it is a good government.
Anytime the government is outside of the constitution it is a bad
government and it is time for us to stomp it.
.:
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by N3IJ on July 20, 2004
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Writing letters about BPL is good. Even better is writing about H.R. 713, the Spectrum Protection Act. This short bill has specific language that requires the FCC to provide equivalent replacement spectrum if their actions reduce the utility of our existing allocations. BPL certainly qualifies, IMO.
I hand-delivered a letter asking for my congressman's support back in May and within a week he had signed on as a co-sponsor. Another representative from my county got a similar visit and he signed on too. (We take no personal credit, we were accompanied by well-informed and personable hams.) Two others didn't sign on. But now my state has a majority of its delegation supporting H.R. 713.
Unfortunately, the current session will end in a few months, and Congress is (as usual) way behind schedule. In fact, I think we just got under the wire in May.
After the election, we'll write again, asking all our representatives to support the Spectrum Protection Act as original co-sponsors. (The two holdouts will get visits.) A copy of the letter will go to Rep. Bilirakis, the sponsor of H.R. 713. I urge Tampa hams to remind him to resubmit the bill with all 103 of the current co-sponsors as original co-sponsors.
If your representative isn't a co-sponsor yet (331 are not), pick up the phone, call the local office, make an appointment before the election, and ask the representative politely to support the bill when it is introduced in the 109th Congress. Do the same with your Senator regarding S-537, especially if he or she is up for election. Follow up when the new Congress convenes. When they do what you want, thank them.
Further details are on http://n3ij.home.comcast.net. The status report is especially relevant to this thread.
Tom, N3IJ
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Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by K8WV on July 20, 2004
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Actually, the odds are very good that a staffer noted that a comment on BPL was received from a constituent and that it was a "no." When the time comes to vote on something, if it does, the congressman will be told "we received an lot of (little, few, no) comments on this and most of them were against (for) it."
How much that means depends on a lot of things, but it could mean a great deal. I visit each of my senators and representatives each year to talk about a particular topic. We usually talk about some other things during the process. (I've been doing this a long time.) VERY often I'm told how the "mail" is going on a subject. Phone calls count a lot, as do personal letters. DC office visits are HUGH. Local office visits are noticed.
If your guy/gal is a Republican, what the President wants is probably controlling on a lot of issues. If s/he is a Democrat, what the President wants may be controlling, but in a different sort of way. Of course contributions are important, too. Facts are facts.
Form letters/faxes/e-mails are counted, but don't mean as much. If you use a form letter, personalize it by adding a comment or two.
Unless you are very special, don't bother trying to contact someone who doesn't represent you. They generally only care about someone who can vote for them. Even if you have authority to say you represent a national organization, take a constituent with you. I once saw the executive director of a fairly large industry trade group gently excused from the senate appropriations chairs office because he lived and voted "somewhere else." He was told to return with someone from the senator's home state.
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by KD5DFM on July 21, 2004
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i think if santa wrote a letter to the white house something might get done , after all dubya still belives ;-P
yes dick there really is a ;-)
> letters from Santa get answered. Just go to your >local
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Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by N0FP on July 21, 2004
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Go and re-read the posts of N3IJ and K8WV (above)again! They 'describe' the political process in use in these United States. Whining and bitching on this obscure eHam thread does nothing for anybody. 'Working' the process does.
Then go read page 1 of the ARRL website. The Board has been discussing this topic this week! Turning a national organization protest (ARRL) into a grass-roots 'movement' is the way to go!
Get your club or group of 'buddies' to meet at your state's Capitol. Have an appointment. Have a statement to present to your elected officials. Make your passionate oppinions known! I guarantee you that your motives are pure and your passionate opinions will express it. And your elected representative WILL respond appropriately when the time comes to respond.
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Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by WA2JJH on July 21, 2004
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BRAVO on trying.
However as other posters pointed out our officials are well, lets just say.......FILL IN THE BLANK.
This was proven to me when I was asked to look for editing tricks and lie's in the new Michael Moore Movie
F-9/11. I saw many editing tricks and staged incidents.
Moore does make a few valid points.
MOST IMPORTANT
Moore went around to our elected officials. They asked some congressman or senator did he read the HOMELAND SECURITY ACT that he signed off on.
The Pahlookahs answer was.......""Dang that thing was over 200 pages long, do you really think we read most of what we are signing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am glad you tried however. Just remember your elected officail may have a hidden agenda.
Your elected official seemed to listen to you, he may not do a thing about it!
In the mean time you gave your elected official
FREE GOOD PRESS ON EHAM. He may also think you will tell all your friends about what a ""stand up guy"" he is.
I AM NOT SAYING YOU WASTED YOUR TIME!!!
Send a second letter, and see if you get a letter that is much more specific to BPL and HAM RADIO.
My guess is that you will get another form like letter,
being vague.
Giving you a TELCO number of one of his toadies should be further looked into.
THE TOADIE will just yes you to death. The TOADIE could be some college kid with no clout.
I am glad you did what you did. I have done the same on Ham and other issue's.
I have come to a conclusion.....You must meet an elected official in person at a dinner party.
Only then you know if he listened!
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by KC8VWM on July 21, 2004
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>>They 'describe' the political process in use in these United States.
Whining and bitching on this obscure eHam thread does nothing for anybody. 'Working' the process does.<<
N0FB,
This "obscure" Eham thread is the meeting place for many individuals including myself.
That is to say, this is after many of us have made our phone calls, addressed & submitted our letters and filed our comments and concerns with the FCC etc.
No offence meant here, but I prefer to look at postings on eham as "advocating" instead of "whining and complaining." Our intent is to protect the interests of our bands and to voice our concerns and opinions in an open forum.
I am hopeful that by reading the many posts here on Eham that we may possibly learn something from sharing our ideas with one another.
73
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Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by KG4YJR on July 21, 2004
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The concept shared by the majority on this thread is that doing something is better than doing nothing but it is my opinion (opinion only) that things are being gone about the wrong way. Sure, putting a band-aid on an open knife or gunshot wound is better than doing “nothing” but it is not very effective or long term and just like the phrase that you need the right tool for the right job, no matter how hard you try to drive a nail into a 2x4 with a fish and no matter how much encouragement you get from your friends and family, it’s just not going to work and behind your back everyone thinks you’re a chump. You do need a mouth in Washington to meet face to face with your representatives or speak directly on the phone with them when they call, not some office flunky who is only there from 9 to 5 for only a paycheck. We have the ARRL and that’s it but the bottom line is until there are actually politicians in office that protect individual’s rights (not what the majority demands) and actually do the will of their constituents you are never going to accomplish anything. Plus most of the anti-BPL form letter writing brigade thinks, “well I know my representative doesn’t care one way or the other about BPL or my right to erect an antenna but by God he believes I should get free prescription drugs so I’ll vote for him anyway and maybe I can change his mind by sending him a thousand emails, yeah that’s what I’ll do.
For the past five years my wife and I have been vigorously trying to get more people to purge these career candidates that represent special interests and vote third party for candidates that actually promote individual rights, smaller government and less regulations that tell us how to run our lives because they think they know better as they give themselves pay raises and increase our taxes. The more powerful Americans let government become, the less accountable they have to be. They have Americans fooled by saying third party candidates “steal” votes and since most Americans have willingly handed their personal freedoms and decision making to the almighty government, the federal government is slowly passing laws that make it extremely difficult for third party candidates that believe government is to protect American’s constitutional rights and to protect our borders to have ballet access and they don’t let them participate in debates with them on the issues. No sir, it’s one crook against the other so they can keep government in the retirement business, the charity business, the job and job training business, the world police, take rights away from one individual to give special privileges to another (when we are all created equal), etc.
So you work on pestering the politicians with deaf ears to your problems and I’ll work on finding you honest sets of ears that will actually listen to you. But that is probably as hopeless as the fish and the nail saying. Too many people want the government to run their lives as they are too afraid to do it themselves.
73
Dave
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Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by KN4LF on July 21, 2004
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Don't want to rain on your parade BUT the FCC through Chairman Powell and the Republican controlled U.S. Congress is in the pocket of the greedy "screw society" corporations.
It's all about money and power, so no matter what we hams and other users of the shortwave spectrum saw or do BPL will become a reality. We just have to hope that ultimately BPL is economically unfeasable to spread all across the country.
Also mark my word we licensed hams will get quiet hours for causing interference to Part 15 BPL systems. In other words BPL will be protected from us, not the other way around per the RCA of 1934 and related laws on the federal books.
73,
Thomas Giella, KN4LF
Plant City, FL, USA
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by W1RFI on July 22, 2004
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> Also mark my word we licensed hams will get quiet
> hours for causing interference to Part 15 BPL
> systems.
With but one exception I am aware of, hams have not been given quiet hours for interference that was not caused by spurious emissions. Wired telephone and cable TV are also "unlicensed" and amateurs have not been given quiet hours to protect them. The FCC has consistently said over the years that interference to non-radio devices is the result of the affected device improperly functioning as a radio receiver.
In this proceeding, the FCC has made very public statements that explain the rules: Part 15 devices must not cause interfence and must accept any interference caused to them. That has made it less likley -- not more likely -- that the Commission will do an about face on decades of precedence.
IMHO, the BPL industry should be far more concerned with interference to their systems than they are. Several local groups and ARRL have offered to do testing with them to help them make a determination of their susceptibility. Only one manufacturer has taken up my offer, and his prototype equipment was quite susceptible -- at a level that supports what was found in the Current Technologies equipment in Potomac, MD in the AMRAD tests. In at least one other system, the locals have offered to do such testing, and the offer was accepted, but I have not heard that such testing was actually done yet.
But none of this changes the rules: Under federal law, Part 15 devices are not entitled to any protection from interference. The present Notice of Proposed Rulemaking does not contain any provision to change that.
On what basis do you believe that the FCC will impose quiet hours that are contrary to its own rules, its own statements and the rules changes it has put on the plate? These changes seek to add restrictions to BPL, not remove any.
Ed Hare, W1RFI
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Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by KG6QHP on July 23, 2004
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All --
I have been a political activist for several years.
My experience is that when politicians feel the heat, they see the light. The "perfect" victim is the one
that does not fight back.
Even if you know your federal reps support BPL, hammer them anyway with calls, faxes and letters and get your
friends to do the same. In your communications, state that you want a written reply to your inquiry. If nothing else you are using up their energy.
73,
Jim KG6QHP
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by KG6QHP on July 23, 2004
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w6th said:
<<Anytime the government stays within the limitations of the constitution
it is a good government.
Anytime the government is outside of the constitution it is a bad government and it is time for us to stomp it. >>
AMEN. I've got my size 12's boots on too.
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by KG6AMW on July 25, 2004
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"Don't want to rain on your parade BUT the FCC through Chairman Powell and the Republican controlled U.S. Congress is in the pocket of the greedy "screw society" corporations." And unfortunately the democratic party is under the control of very wealthy and very liberal people who live in places like New York, Hollywood and Boston who care nothing about ham radio or for that fact the average person on the street. So what's your point?
KG6AMW
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Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by W0PV on July 26, 2004
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When the ARRL broadcast their "Call to Arms" I sent a similar message by FAX and also email to:
1) President Bush
2) to my U.S. Representitive from Florida Katherine Harris
3) to both my U.S. Senators from Florida, Bob Graham and Bill Nelson.
I soon received automatic-style receipt acknowledgements from all of them.
I also telephoned the White House "Comment Line" and spoke briefly with an aide to express the same message.
That was April 28 2004.
A couple of weeks later I received a printed form letter response back from the White House via USPS. However it contained no surprising or satisfying information.
Then EXACTLY a month later I received an email from Sen. Bill Nelson; the only more detailed response I have received from any of my representation in U.S. Congress. See the text copied below.
Again the letter has a form-like format, and in my opinion it is not sympathetic regarding interference, but rather indicates that if needed, the rules will be changed to allow BPL to happen. ("whatever it takes")
I immediatly forwarded this letter by email to ARRL HQ, and to my League SE Division and WCF Section leaders. I asked them if they knew if anyone else in Florida had received such a response, if they are planning any local lobbying efforts on the FL US Congress people, and pledging my further support. So far I have not heard anything back from them, not even an acknowledgment receipt! Oh well ...
Text of email from FL Sen. Nelson:
In a message dated 5/28/2004 1:28:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Bill@billnelson.senate.gov writes:
>
>Mr. John Rech
>3314 40th St. W.
>Bradenton,FL 34205-1233
>
>Dear Mr. Rech:
>
> Thank you for contacting me regarding the emerging technology of
>transmitting broadband over power lines. I am excited about the
>possibilities of this innovative technology, although I am aware of the
>challenges that first must be faced.
>
> Because power lines are present everywhere, it may be possible for
>them to carry voice, data, and pictures at high speeds to rural areas.
>Before this technology can be fully exploited, however, issues such as
>harmful interference must be thoroughly reviewed, and current regulation
>must be rewritten.
>
> Over the next few years, Congress will revisit the telecommunications
>laws, and the concerns you broached will be addressed. As a member of the
>Senate Commerce Committee, I will continue to monitor the situation closely
>and keep your views in mind. The FCC has proposed rules changes to
>enhance broadband deployment and is currently receiving comments. I would
>recommend relaying your thoughts to the FCC for their consideration. The
>FCC's Web site at www.fcc.gov contains helpful information in this regard,
>or you may phone them toll-free at 1-888-225-5322.
>
> I appreciate you sharing your concerns. Please contact me if I can
>be of further assistance.
>
> Sincerely,
> A
>
> P.S. From time to time, our Senate staff compiles electronic news
>briefs highlighting key issues and hot topics of particular importance to
>Floridians. If you'd like to receive these free e-briefs, visit my Web
>site at http://billnelson.senate.gov/ and click on the "e-briefs" button.
>
>
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by AB5XZ on July 26, 2004
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W6TH,
Apparently, George didn't say it.
http://www.guncite.com/gc2ndbog.html
Not that I don't agree with the sentiment.
73Tom
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RE: Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by W1RFI on July 26, 2004
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>> Whining and bitching on this obscure eHam thread
>> does nothing for anybody. 'Working' the process
>> does.
> This "obscure" Eham thread is the meeting place for
> many individuals including myself.
I find my discussions here to be of great value, in shaping my ideas and in honing my skills in talking to a diverse group of people. Some of the more valuable part of this forum are found in the disagreements.
Those who see no oer than whining are missing out on most of the worth of public fora. The point is valid that more has to happen than just posting here, but calling it "whining and bitching" really misses the point.
Ed Hare, W1RFI
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Congressman Replies on BPL Interference
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by NX9U on July 28, 2004
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I have always been one to contact my Representitives on issues but I didn't stop there. If they failed to do their jobs I found someone new to vote on. I have seen many stay in office for years and years who had very bad track records. Why? We aren't doing our jobs as voters when this happens. If the ranks was cleaned out starting at the top each election day when promises weren't kept you would start seeing some changes and freshman congressmen and senators wouldn't end up like the stale ones.
Take health care. How many Presidents has promised to give us affordable health care and didn't do it. If at the next election him and every Representitive who failed to produce where voted out of office with a loud outcry from the voters as to why they are being voted out I think you would start seeing big changes on the hill. Instead the average American sets on his couch gripping and fails to vote at all. The big concerns keep paying off and you have the situation we are in right now.
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