Broadcasters got their last chance this week to file "Reply to Opposition" comments in the FCC rulemaking proceeding that led to last October's FCC Report and Order setting rules for access Broadband over Power Line (BPL). As I've described in previous issues of RF Report, licensed users of the 2 to 80 MHz spectrum shared with BPL are concerned about interference.
NAB filed comments supporting comments by the Association for Maximum Service Television (MSTV) arguing that the results of the study, Interference Effects into Low VHF Television Arising from Broadband Over Power Line, by M. Winston Caldwell and R. Evans Wetmore from the Fox Technology Group concluding that "BPL operations in the low VHF band have the real capability of making television reception impossible in some circumstances" remain valid. NAB and MSTV asked the FCC to limit BPL operations to frequencies below 50 MHz until the DTV transition is over. MSTV noted that no currently deployed BPL systems operate above 50 MHz and none of the BPL proponents advocated operation above 50 MHz.
The American Radio Relay League is extremely concerned about interference to licensed amateur radio operations in the 2-30 MHz spectrum. In its filings, the ARRL said analysis by the National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA) and others have shown that if a large number of BPL emitters is deployed, "they will raise the ambient levels of man-made noise worldwide." For a complete summary of the ARRL filing and additional comments, see article BPL is No Balancing Act, ARRL Says in FCC Filings on the ARRL Web site.
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