1	Broadband Over Powerlines The biggest threat to amateur radio since WWII
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3	RF Spectrum Without BPL
4	RF Spectrum with BPL
5	What is BPL? A broadband service that utilizes power lines as the medium for transporting data communications.
6	So What is the Problem? BPL equipment occupies the HF frequency spectrum 2 – 80mhz to transport the data. Power lines are designed to transport power not RF/data. Harmful Interference ROI - “Rural” is a smokescreen. Unknowns – Aggregation? – Propagation? FCC is cheerleader of BPL technology.
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8	What is Harmful Interference Harmful interference. Interference which endangers the functioning of a radio navigation service or of other safety services or seriously degrades, obstructs or repeatedly interrupts a radio communication service operating in accordance with the Radio Regulations. (FCC Rules, §97.3(a)(23))
9	The Guts of Part 15 Operation of an intentional, unintentional, or incidental radiator is subject to the conditions that no harmful interference is caused and that interference must be accepted that may be caused by the operation of an authorized radio station, by another intentional or unintentional radiator, by industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) equipment, or by an incidental radiator. (FCC Rules, §15.5(b))
10	So Then What happens And if the operator, once informed of the harmful interference, willfully refuses to take immediate corrective action? Then a higher authority than the FCC kicks in: the Communications Act of 1934, by which the FCC was created in the first place. Section 333 says, "No person shall willfully or maliciously interfere with or cause interference to any radio communications of any station licensed or authorized by or under this Act or operated by the United States Government." Clearly, the operator of a device causing harmful interference who refuses to fix the problem immediately is interfering willfully and is subject to stiff penalties.
11	Where? Burnet, Texas - City of Burnet and Broadband Horizons – Main Net Blanco, Texas – Pedernales Electric Cooperative and Broadband Horizons – Main Net Weimer, Texas – Fayette Electric Cooperative and Broadband Horizons – Main Net Bridgeport, Texas – Broadband Horizons presented a plan to the city managers. The North Texas ASM was there to present the Amateur Radio side. Irving, Texas - TXU with a local ISP – Amperion
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16	What can we do? WTX Section BPL Coordinator Create teams in West Texas Technical coordination Coordinator Information manager Use the following guidelines found at: http://www.arrl.org/~ehare/bpl/Guidance_for_field_trials.doc Be professional – The industry has described us as "....a bunch of old graying men still using vacuum tube transmitters....“ The teams also will cooperate with the ARRL to monitor and investigate BPL in the affected area using "the highest professional standards“. This allows our testing results to be credible to all persons interested in BPL This will shed a good light on Amateur radio
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19	Teams Technical coordination Read all you can about the technology Need HF capabilities Shortwave radio HF radio and tunable antenna – S meter is a good indicator Spectrum analyzer – Not a must Coordinator Keep your ear to the ground Communicate with your local power company Will there be BPL pilots in your area? When and where? Communicate with ISP Organize meetings with Utility and ISP Information manager Prepare site visit reports Take pictures Communicate with the section BPL coordinator
20	How to get involved? Talk to your ARRL Section Manager John C. Dyer, AE5B - 254-442-4936 Roy C. Rabey, AD5KZ 214-507-4450 – Tom Blackwell, N5GAR- 214-361-5275 E. R. Taylor, N5NAV 830-625-1683 Talk to your utility company Learn as much as you can about BPL ARRL Texasbpl.com Learn about alternatives to BPL Fiber optics Telco – DSL Cable WiFi WiMAx Help your city managers understand the problems with BPL and the benefits of the alternatives. Support the ARRL – This is the biggest voice you have. My email is wlawless@w5wrl.com My phone number is 432-520-4734
21	What the Analyst are saying Meta Group senior analyst David Willis said although the FCC initiative to breed more competition into the U.S. broadband market may have its merits, the power line broadband effort is unlikely to do so. "It's hard to make a business case," Willis told TechNewsWorld. "Given the current war between the DSL guys and the cable guys, this is not going to be good for utility companies. There's no business case for the utility companies." Frost & Sullivan industry analyst Imran Khan told TechNewsWorld that despite some testing and potential for another revenue stream, utility companies would have to invest as well, and it could mean divergence from their core competencies. "They could maybe expand the [broadband] capabilities in rural markets, but they're not big enough to make it worthwhile," Khan said. The analyst added that BPL would also have to be technically on par with cable and DSL broadband, which are both improving in performance and dropping in price. Khan said that even in places such as Ireland or Germany where BPL has seen some deployment and success, it was not widespread enough to make a mark on the radar. Both Willis and Khan said that broader, faster wireless broadband technologies are much more likely than BPL to serve the market segments that cable and DSL currently do not reach. Willis said coverage through Wi-MAX, a broadband wireless technology capable of longer geographic reach, could allow wireless carriers to turn a profit by 2007, presenting a much more favorable opportunity compared to that from BPL.
22	BPL Failures Cedar Rapids, Iowa – Alliant Energy pulls the plug early on BPL evaluation following complaints of apparently unsolvable serious radio interference. Penn Yan, New York – Data Venture, Inc under whelmed by a technology - regarded as not commercially deployable. Raleigh, North Carolina – Progress Energy shut down BPL pilot and removed all BPL equipment. Menlo Park, Ca – ATT pulls BPL trial – Rumor is no subscribers – Unable to make a business case for the technology. Cottonwood, Arizona – ARRL has stepped in and is demanding that the BPL system be shut down. Latest is that the BPL folks have now admitted to exceeding part 15 rules and are working to resolve. 2^nd letter from ARRL asking the FCC to shut down the pilot ARRL has asked the FCC to shut down a BPL field trial system in Briarcliff Manor, New York – Many interference complaints since March.
23	Rules and Orders FCC admits to potential interference BPL providers will be required to maintain a database of BPL deployments BPL manufactures will be required to certify BPL equipment BPL service providers will be required to quickly resolve interference problems BPL levels of operation not low enough Amateur frequencies are not protected The burden in on the ham to initiate the complaint No protection to the BPL provider FCC suggest that hams can reposition antennas away from interference No confidence that the FCC or BPL providers will resolve interference problems. 18 months away
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29	Late Breaking News Interference complaint filed with the FCC concerning interference in Irving. Texas bill SB1748 - Troy Fraser (R-San Angelo) His district includes members in the West Texas, North Texas and South Texas Sections. "Key cities in the district include Abilene, Brownwood, Belton, Temple, Killeen, Kerrville, Fredericksburg and Stephenville.“ We expect Lt. Governor Dewhurst will refer this bill to the Business and Commerce Committee, which he has appointed Senator Frazier to chair. Here are the members: .Ken Armbrister, Kim Brimer, John Carona, Kevin Eltife, Craig Estes, Eddie Lucio, Jr., Leticia Van de Putte The bill appears to be an attempt to allow some special interest/electric organization to have the freedom to offer... or not...BPL without being required either to do so, or being prohibited. It appears, as well, to restrict what a BPL carrier can be charged for carriage on someone else's power lines. What it lacks is anything about interference potential. Texas bill HB1411 – Troy Fraser (R-San Angelo) Appears to be a bill that if passed would fund some type of broadband project in San Angelo Senator Fraser lives near Burnet and was quoted in several press releases about BPL pilot projects in Burnet, Blanco and Weimer – Broadband Horizons connection? Powell out Martin in He has demonstrated that he is less interested in doing what's good for big business -- than he is in doing what's in the public's best interest.
30	Final Words Don’t panic - We're a long way from dooms day :-) There is a lot of competition that is faster, cheaper to deploy and more reliable. Economic reality will be the strongest force against its deployment. Part 15 does give us tools that will help keep this under control Actively pursue resolving interference issues today. Is you club’s interference committee active? We need to be honorable and honest at all times about BPL. Have fun with your hobby – Join MOCAD, Introduce the hobby to others, work in your community using ham radio
31	Bill Lawless, W5WRL ARRL West Texas Section Manager Candidate.