ARRL Repeats Call for Shutdown of Arizona BPL Field Trial:
from
The ARRL Letter, Vol 23, No 42
on
October 23, 2004
Website:
http://www.arrl.org/
View comments about this article!
ARRL Repeats Call for Shutdown of Arizona BPL Field Trial:
The ARRL again has asked the FCC to immediately shut down a broadband over
power line (BPL) field trial in the Cottonwood, Arizona, area that it says
is interfering with Amateur Radio communication. The League's second
shutdown request, sent October 11, accuses the FCC of doing "absolutely
nothing" to enforce its rules or to protect licensed services from
interference. In an accompanying 12-page technical analysis, the ARRL also
cast serious doubt on the accuracy--and possibly the integrity--of the BPL
system's FCC-required six-month report, filed more than two months late.
Its review of the report from system operator Electric Broadband LLC (EB),
the League said, indicated inconsistent test results demonstrating that
ambient noise conditions at the test sites "were clearly misstated."
"To be blunt, as can be easily determined from the EB report itself," ARRL
General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, wrote in a cover letter to the ARRL's
technical analysis, "one of two things occurred: either (1) EB altered the
data to suit its false conclusion that the system is operating in
accordance with FCC rules; or (2) its technical consultants were not
qualified to conduct the tests and glaringly misinterpreted, among other
things, the source of noise generated internally in their own test
equipment."
Imlay called the EB test results "completely compromised" and said they
can't be used to determine whether or not the system is operating legally.
"ARRL has previously established that the system is operating
substantially in violation of Part 15 rules," he said, "and is causing
actual interference" on ham bands.
The ARRL said that EB's report further indicates that in the low-VHF
Public Safety allocation at 30-50 MHz, "the BPL system is operating at
radiated emission levels significantly in excess" of Part 15 limits.
In its report EB claimed to have spent "significant time and effort"
looking into interference complaints from hams, running tests and "taking
steps to mitigate any possible interference" the system was causing. It
even invited the FCC to come and see for itself.
EB and utility APS have been operating the BPL experiment at two Yavapai
County, Arizona, sites since June under a Special Temporary Authorization
(STA) the FCC granted EB in March. The League pointed out that the STA now
has expired "but the system apparently continues to operate nevertheless."
In its technical analysis, the ARRL said EB continues to deny any
interference issues associated with its system, despite continuing
complaints and "detailed and accurate" technical showings submitted by
Cottonwood-area amateur licensees. Testing done in early September shows
clearly "that BPL signals were present at various sites on frequencies
where APS and EB claim it was not," the ARRL analysis asserted. The League
also charges that EB's test methodology was flawed and not up to industry
or regulatory standards.
The FCC prompted release of EB's six-month report in a September 1 letter
that took note of "several complaints" alleging interference to amateur
operations from the experimental system. It also mentioned ARRL's August
request, filed on behalf of Cottonwood-area amateurs, that the FCC shut
down the system, revoke its STA and fine the system's operators.
The first Amateur Radio complaint, filed in June, cited testing by the
Verde Valley Amateur Radio Association (VVARA) in the 1.8-30 MHz range. It
asserted that BPL interference makes attempts at ham radio communication
useless. VVARA submitted a comprehensive report to the two companies and
the FCC in late July detailing interference issues.
In late September, the VVARA BPL Interference Committee met with
representatives of APS and Mountain Telecommunications (MTIO, which
handles system operations. According to VVARA, APS and MTI indicated that
the BPL system operators had decided to proceed with "notching" amateur HF
frequencies. A representative from Electric Broadband was not at the
meeting, VVARA says.
Source:
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 23, No. 42
October 22, 2004
This article has expired. No more comments may be added.
|
ARRL Repeats Call for Shutdown of Arizona BPL Fiel
|
|
|
by KF7CG on October 24, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I wonder how long the FCC will remain silent on this one?
Since the final Report and Order on the BPL dockets is yet to be written and interference complaints to the FCC for BPL still have to go to OET, will the complaint be treated as a "prohibitted" communication?
I wonder if this one will set the tone for speedy interference mitigation?
David
KF7CG
|
| |
|
RE: ARRL Repeats Call for Shutdown of Arizona BPL
|
|
|
by N5JYZ on October 25, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Michael Powell will remain silent as long as the White House wants him silent and the FCC. Powell's has absolutely no qualifications to be in the postition he is in. He is there merely because his "daddy" is Colin Powell and you can be sure they in addition to the many in this administration have a financial interest in the succsessful deployment of this BPL venture.
The FCC is a regulatory entitiy and that is all they should never be used as a politcal tool as they have been in this entire administration. And we thought Nixon's presidency was corrupt. His administration looks like Pewee Herman's Playhouse compared to how Corporate America has gain contol of the White House in this administration.
And if it re-elected you can expect more of the same and then some.
Bob
|
| |
|
RE: ARRL Repeats Call for Shutdown of Arizona BPL
|
|
|
by KF7CG on October 25, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Bob,
You may be right, but did you ever really notice what was going on in that playhouse?
Remember PeeWee got himself out of show biz by being convicted of public masturbation. He was caught doing his thing in a porno theatre for all to see (and not as an actor in the movie).
I truly beleive that this is an non-partisan problem. It is a problem of a bureacracy that is so large that it for the most part runs itself. The trouble comes when those at the top, like similar corporate instances, become too removed in thought and spirit from the basics of the opperation. This without regard to party, race, or any of those no-no's leads to ultimate mismanagement and corruption.
More government, more government problems.
David
|
| |
|
ARRL Repeats Call for Shutdown of Arizona BPL Fiel
|
|
|
by AB7RG on October 25, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
>And if it re-elected you can expect more of the same and then some.
Do you really think that a Kerry
administration will care about hams
and ham radio? Big corporate money
pushing for new technology will
always beat us out. -- Face it,
neither party is even aware of
amateur radio, so get over it. We
are just not big enough to matter.
There are bigger issues at stake,
and thankfully we have the ARRL to
lobby for us in Washington.
KF7CG pretty much nailed this issue
on the head...
|
| |
|
RE: ARRL Repeats Call for Shutdown of Arizona BPL
|
|
|
by N5JYZ on October 25, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
This has nothing to do with "ham radio". BPL is about money. That is why the FCC is being held at bay. When have we ever seen the FCC treat calls from the ARRL and the many other that have called as well with silence. It is very apparent the FCC is being used to ensure the deployment of BPL. And as far as Pewee Herman's issue what were the police doing inside the theatre. Haven't they more important crimes to concern theirselves with. Kinda like the police hanging out in a bar and arresting you for drinking.
It will happen and amtauer radio operators will be given the deaf ear on any and all complaints. Whether Kerry gets elected and changes anything remains to be seen and unpredictable but was is predictable is the path the last 4 years of this current administartion will be 4 more years of what we have seen.I am not telling anyone how to vote I am just pointing out what the last 4 years have brought and expect no change in the BPL atmosphere if nothing else changes.
Having a change in leadership provides at least a glimmer of hope that FCC will come to it's senses but for the last 4 years it has not and will not unless leadership changes.
Bob
|
| |
|
RE: ARRL Repeats Call for Shutdown of Arizona BPL
|
|
|
by N9XCR on October 26, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
"Whether Kerry gets elected and changes anything remains to be seen and unpredictable but was is predictable is the path the last 4 years of this current administartion will be 4 more years of what we have seen."
"Having a change in leadership provides at least a glimmer of hope that FCC will come to it's senses but for the last 4 years it has not and will not unless leadership changes."
You're kidding me, right? Kerry would most likely view this as another taxable service and say the hell with the other guys. Who don't really know. Asking Kerry would be a waste of time because he flip-flops more than a pe*** on a naked jogger. :) He says whatever seems like the popular thing to say at the moment. Even if you don't like George W. at least he'll stand up for what he believes in. You can't blame him for wanting to pursue the technology. I don't think you should give up on an idea just because it didn't work right off that bat. They just have to figure out a better way of doing it and he knows that. Noone but Kerry and perhaps his dope of a running mate know what Kerry actually has in mind on anything. Kerry is already saying that he may have "over-promised" a bit. Even if he promised to do something about BPL interference to licensed services, I doubt he'd do a thing, but then again, it all depends which face is showing when it's time to act.
At least the power companies have been shutting down the BPL trials. Now THAT'S a glimmer of hope, not Kerry.
Chris
|
| |
|
RE: ARRL Repeats Call for Shutdown of Arizona BPL
|
|
|
by W8JAS on October 26, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
A ham friend in Boston sent a letter to Kerry's campaign asking for his position on BPL and internet over the power lines. The response he got was that Kerry supports BPL and thinks it is a great idea to provide internet access especially to low income areas and thinks that government should subsidize the deployment of the technology especially to rural areas. If your hope is Kerry, you're in for a rude awakening.
|
| |
|
RE: ARRL Repeats Call for Shutdown of Arizona BPL
|
|
|
by N5JYZ on October 26, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Well at least those who live to the north of the states have a better observation position of things.
It's good to know that we Americans can not only get good prices on the prescription from the Canadians we also can get good sound political advice at the same time.
Probably why they have a better medical system for their citizens as well.
Bob
|
| |
|
RE: ARRL Repeats Call for Shutdown of Arizona BPL
|
|
|
by VE3HBB on October 27, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I appear to have been censured. My reply was removed and I do not know why. It was a well-reasoned analysis of John Kerry and BPL. It was not flame bait and I have seen some really rude junk be kept here. I guess it doesn't pay to speak out here against Bush. Sad.
I'll not go to the trouble of posting here again.
Charles VE3HBB
|
| |
|
RE: ARRL Repeats Call for Shutdown of Arizona BPL
|
|
|
by N5JYZ on October 27, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Charlie-
This site practices censure all the time. It boasts that is a service but when you attempt to control the thoughts of the users unless they are obscene or criminal which is quite understandable you render any credibility.
And they have the audacity to ask for donations to support it. I just laugh at them when his donate banner comes up.
You done good Charlie. Next Tuesday Americans will have their say despite the current administrations attempts to sway the numbers with the corruption we saw in 2000. Funny how for all of my voting life (I am 52) I have never seen such questionable practices at the polls that we saw in 2000. If we see a repeat I am sure all of the stupid Americans that helped ensure it will just casually pass it off as coincidence or better yet to follow their extreme right-wing mindset "it was God's Will".
Bob
|
| |
|
RE: ARRL Repeats Call for Shutdown of Arizona BPL
|
|
|
by KG6AMW on October 27, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
When you consider that Kerry is being subsidized by George Soros and company with the millions he made from international money speculation which caused mayhem in the English financial markets your pro Kerry comments seem quite foolish. Perhaps this website is best left to ham radio issues.
KG6AMW
|
| |
|
RE: ARRL Repeats Call for Shutdown of Arizona BPL
|
|
|
by N5JYZ on October 27, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
And Bush being subsidized by Harken Oil Compnay, Halliburton, Kellogg-Brown and Root (Haliburton owned)), Ingersoll-Rand (Haliburton owned), Dresser-Rand (Haliburton owned), Abbott Pharmaceuticles, Wyeth, I could go on and you are no doubt happy with this subsidy. You feel this pinch everytime you fill your gas tank or your perscription.
Bob
|
| |
|
RE: ARRL Repeats Call for Shutdown of Arizona BPL
|
|
|
by KG6AMW on October 27, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
Sorry to see you stuck in the fever swamps. Good luck.
|
| |
|
RE: ARRL Repeats Call for Shutdown of Arizona BPL
|
|
|
by K4RAF on October 27, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Kerry will use OUR money to subsidize BPL:
Kerry and Bush are Split on Broadband says WiFi Planet.
A John administration would use federal subsidies to help spur broadband deployment while President Bush would continue his policy of deregulation to spread the technology.
The Bush approach is that the best way to get greater broadband deployment is to reduce regulations, deregulate in areas where regulations have essentially provided disincentives to the deployment of broadband," Lenard said at a debate sponsored by the tech trade group CompTia. "Kerry believes the market can not do it alone, so you need to subsidize it."
Kerry is proposing a 10 percent tax credit for investments in current broadband technology for rural and inner city areas. He's proposing a 20 percent tax credit for next-generation broadband technologies, which the Massachusetts Democrat defines as speeds of more than 20 times today's networks.
According to the Kerry technology plan, the tax credits would cost $2 billion over five years and would be paid for by the estimated $30 billion the government will gross by auctioning off the spectrum left behind by broadcasters transitioning to digital television.
"This is one of those issues ... between two fundamentally differing approaches," Atkinson said. "What Bush is proposing is [by 2007] every single American can get low-speed broadband. I think that's emblematic of their approach. When Kerry is talking about broadband, he is talking about big broadband. He is talking about networks that are 10 to 100 times faster [than today] and setting that as a goal."
|
| |
|
RE: ARRL Repeats Call for Shutdown of Arizona BPL
|
|
|
by N5JYZ on October 27, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
To KG6AMW
What's the matter Merril you had nothing to retort!
Outta ammo?
Stuck in the swamps??????
Do enlighten us
|
| |
|
ARRL Repeats Call for Shutdown of Arizona BPL Fiel
|
|
|
by KC9GGV on October 27, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Don't just blame Colin Powell's son. Has everyone forgotten that Al Gore invented the Internet?(ha ha) It really doesn't matter which party is in control. The FCC does not have true professionals as commisioners and they are all (Democrat or Republican) out to line their pockets. None of them understand what Amateur Radio is all about either. There was a time in the past when the majority of the technical people at the FCC were Hams. But that is no longer the case.
Gary
KC9GGV
|
| |
|
RE: ARRL Repeats Call for Shutdown of Arizona BPL
|
|
|
by K1YDA on November 2, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
KG5AMW is EXACTLY RIGHT about George Soros.
|
| |
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to discussions on this article.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Related News & Articles
NTIA Report Lays Groundwork for Responsible Deployment Of BPL:
FCC Forms Wireless Broadband Access Task Force, Seeks Public Comment:
W1RFI to Represent ARRL at BPL Session:
Broadband Internet Plug and Play
An Opportunity to Gain Co-Sponsors for H.R. 691
Other News Articles
Announcing Railroad Depots on the Air:
Rowley Shears, G8KW (SK):
Cuba Facilitates Equipment to Amateur Radio Operators:
ARNewsline # 1684 -- Nov. 20 2009:
Propagation Forecast Bulletin #47 de K7RA:
|
