Jim Hu
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
October 15, 2004


Amateur radio operators expressed cautious optimism about new rules for the
transmission of broadband Internet access over power lines.

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL), which has been the loudest critic
against broadband over power lines, or BPL, on Friday said recent decisions
on the technology by the Federal Communications Commission were a step in
the right direction. Ham radio operators have complained that BPL services
disrupt their own signals as well as those of public safety organizations.

In trying to address this issue, the FCC on Thursday outlined rules to
prevent power-line access from disrupting important signals. These rules
include barring BPL from certain frequencies commonly used by airplanes and
excluding services from zones near Coast Guard and radio astronomy stations.

BPL providers must provide a public database of complaints from
organizations whose signals were corrupted.

"We'll remain concerned about pollution interference," said ARRL spokesman
Alan Pitts. "But the glass is both half-full and half-empty."

Thursday's decisions highlight the FCC's push to someday make BPL a
broadband alternative to DSL (digital subscriber line) and cable modem
technology, which are controlled by the Baby Bells and the cable industry,
respectively. Energy companies such as Cinergy and Progress Energy have
launched or tested BPL services in their areas of coverage. Internet service
providers such as EarthLink and AT&T have joined some of these tests.
For now, BPL remains more fantasy than reality. The FCC has batted around
the idea for many years, and other companies such as Nortel Networks have
failed in trying to launch BPL services. Energy companies will have to shift
their mentality as well, because the business of delivering broadband
service is different than reading meters.

"Not only are (energy companies) deploying new technology, they're getting
into a new business," said Yankee Group analyst Patrick Mahoney.

BPL technology provider Current Communications Group, which powers a joint
venture with Cinergy in Cincinnati, lauded the FCC rules, which aim to both
encourage the development of BPL and address technology concerns.
"I think the rules are a very good balance between giving protection to
licensed radio systems while not restricting BPL technology," said Jay
Birnbaum, a Current Communications spokesman.

Ham radio operators are waiting to get their hands on a more detailed report
on the rules before giving a confident thumbs up. Until then, enthusiasts
can only hope their concerns were solved.

"The devil is in the details," said ARRL's Pitts.

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