May 2004 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[ARRL-ODV:10627] Gallagher speaks
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 21 May '04

21 May '04

NTIA Acting Assistant Secretary Michael Gallagher presented opening remarks at the United Telecom Council Telecom 2004 conference in Nashville, TN. His PowerPoint presentation, just posted on the NTIA Web site (URL is a the bottom of this message), includes some specifics that we had not previously seen with regard to the NTIA's Phase 2 report. His comments noted that the NTIA Phase 1 technical study "showed that interference risks are high under existing FCC Part 15 rules," but that "risks can be reduced through refined compliance measurement procedures" and "there are numerous other means for reducing risk and mitigating interference if it occurs." He claims that the Phase 2 analysis shows that ionospheric propagation and aggregation of interference "is not a potential near-term problem." It will be interesting to see the justification for this claim and the explanation of what is meant by "near-term." Is it OK to go ahead with a bad idea if the problems it causes are sufficiently far in the future? The final slide contains the statement "Our BPL study of more than 10 million signal samples shows that solutions exist to all identified BPL technical issues." This is true only if you include shutting a BPL system off, and keeping it off, as a "solution." Dave K1ZZ http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/speeches/2004/utc_05172004.ppt

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[ARRL-ODV:10626] BPL Spies
by Tuck Miller NZ6T 21 May '04

21 May '04

I'm waiting for the new BPL Internet aware toasters that can get a telemarketer on the phone to sell a new one to you -- just before it's built in lifetime timer expires. Tele: "Hello, your toaster is going to expire in an hour, would you like to buy a new one?" User: "Uh, how do you know?" Tele: "The toaster told us your warranty was up -- through the internet." User: "Ok, since it's going to break, I'll take one" Tele: "Thanks, we've preshipped it to arrive today so you won't miss your 7:00 Toast." User: "How did you know I have toast every day at 7:00?" Tele: "Your toaster told us through the internet." User: "What else do you know?" Tele: "You get up at 6:20 every morning, your alarm clock told us. You blowdry your hair after your shower at 6:35. You turn on the coffee maker at 6:50. You put toast in the toaster at 6:55. You get the orange juice out of the refrigerator at 6:57. You take the toast out of the toaster at 7:00. The new blenders even have web-cams built in." User: "What gives you the right to spy on me like that?" Tele: "We're "The Power Company" -- we can do anything we want. "power" is our middle name! -- Well I have more toasters I need to break -- your new 2 year toaster is on it's way. Be careful and don't slip on that piece of buttered toast you just dropped -- we would be required by law to turn over the video to your insurance company. ...and have a great day!" *click*

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[ARRL-ODV:10625] NPR
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 20 May '04

20 May '04

Paul Rinaldo and I were interviewed this week by National Public Radio for a story on BPL. As always, there is no way of knowing which parts, if any, of what we said will be used in the story. NPR's interest was prompted by the May 18 demonstration of the FCC Lab's new anechoic chamber for interference measurement. Dave

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[ARRL-ODV:10624] FWD: Broadband over Power Lines (BPL)
by dick＠pobox.com 20 May '04

20 May '04

20 MAY, 2004 - 1405 CDT Below is the, more or less canned, surprising response to a ham's inquiry to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) about the status of BPL activity in the Hoosier State. 73 - Dick, W9GIG ====================================================================== From: "Sosbe, Kevin" <KSosbe(a)urc.state.in.us> To: ArnalCC(a)aol.com, tomcox(a)iquest.net Cc: "Evans,Patrick" <PEvans(a)urc.state.in.us>, "Borum, Bradley" <BBorum(a)urc.state.in.us>, "Higgins, Rich" <RHiggins(a)urc.state.in.us> Subject: Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 16:24:45 -0500 On the behalf of the Commission, I would like to thank you gentlemen for your inquiry about the provisioning of broadband over power lines (BPL). As you know the use of power lines to provide broadband service to the consumer is a new technology. As such there are many problems that need to be addressed. The FCC has taken the initiative to investigate the problems with BPL and to find solutions for this technology by requesting comments from the general public as to the best future course of action. Comments, both good and bad should be forward to the FCC @ <http://www.fcc.gov/>http://www.fcc.gov/. At the present time, there are only reports of pilot programs in Indiana, where companies are testing the use of BPL technology and in most cases the service will be provided by another company, usually an affiliate of the electric utility, using the utility's lines only. This company, as an internet provider is not regulated by the Commission. Thank you again for your interest in BPL and if you have additional questions or comments please contact me. Kevin B. Sosbe Principal Telecom Analyst Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission

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[ARRL-ODV:10623] Re: House Telecoms Subcommittee hearing
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 19 May '04

19 May '04

Here's what I've given Rick Lindquist on the hearing. Dave > -----Original Message----- > From: Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ > Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2004 1:12 PM > To: Lindquist, Rick, N1RL > Subject: House Telecoms Subcommittee hearing > > This noon the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet held a hearing on Competition in the Communications Marketplace: How Convergence Is Blurring the Lines Between Voice, Video, and Data Services <hearing.htm> . While the hearing did not focus specifically on BPL, one of the panelists was: > > Mr. Jay Birnbaum > Vice President & General Counsel > Current Communications Group, LLC > 12800 Middlebrook Road, Suite 201 > Germantown, MD, 20874 > > In a question for Mr. Birnbaum, subcommittee member Greg Walden raised the issue of radio interference, citing the NTIA report released on April 27 and mentioning the fact that the NTIA had found BPL could cause interference to aircraft as much as 40 km away from a BPL installation, and that fixed stations could be interfered with at 470 meters and land vehicles at 75 meters. In reply, Mr. Birnbaum spouted the usual nonsense about the power levels being very low and attenuating quickly as you move away from teh power lines. He said he disagreed with the conclusions of the NTIA report, that BPL doesn't pose the hazards that NTIA has raised, and that the emissions from his company's equipment was "undetectable just tens of meters away." He also said that Current notches the ham bands in order to avoid the "political" issue. Congressman Walden reiterated his particular concern with regard to interference with radios in vehicles. > > I think the headline is "BPL Industry Disputes NTIA Report" > > My comment is: "It was interesting to hear a BPL spokesman try to dismiss the significance of the NTIA's findings. Clearly, the report has them worried -- as well it should. Anyone who gets past the introduction and actually reads the body of the NTIA report can only conclude that the NTIA's findings are devastating to the case for BPL." > > Dave

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[ARRL-ODV:10622] House Telecoms Subcommittee Hearing on Competition in the Communications Marketplace
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 19 May '04

19 May '04

This is being Webcast now: http://energycommerce.house.gov/108/Hearings/05192004hearing1278/hearing.htm One of the panelists is from Current Communications, a BPL provider. Dave K1ZZ

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[ARRL-ODV:10621] Re: Travels
by W5JBP＠aol.com 18 May '04

18 May '04

At the moment I am in Washington, D. C. getting ready to meet with a number of people over the BPL issue and should have a good report by Friday. We have full day for today as well as tomorrow and Thursday with quite a number of people. As far as I know, this is the last trip for a while and quite frankly I am glad. For some reason trips stacked up to the point that I have been away every week for the past six weeks. Starting with the NAB show in Las Vegas. There I got a chance to visit with Kevin Martin, FCC commissioner about the complaints filed in the trial areas of BPL. Later that day I spoke to Commissioner Adelstine along with FCC enforcement Chief Solomon about the same subject. It just so happened that Mr. Gallager of the NTIA was standing there at the same moment. I followed up with letters and at this time no response. The next weekend was the A&F meeting in Newington, followed by the Midwest Division Convention in Lebanon, MO. Immediately after that was the RAC meeting in Ottawa, Canada, then Dayton and now here in Washington. At Dayton, I was quite surprised in that no one mentioned restructuring, but rather the hot topic was BPL. Everyone wanted the "scoop" and wanted to know how they could help. I think Dayton went well, and over all the attendance was about the same as last year in my opinion. I will be interested to see the numbers from our booth as that is always a good indication of Hamvention. More on Friday. Jim Haynie

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[ARRL-ODV:10620] FWD: Reverse BPL
by dick＠pobox.com 18 May '04

18 May '04

18 MAY, 2004 - 1530 CDT As the old saying goes, if you can't beat them, join them. 73 - Dick, W9GIG ====================================================================== This, thanks to N2ZD: I've come up with a real neat idea but I am relying on the fine members of eHam to produce the hardware (since I am too stupid to do that myself.) Anyway, I would like to create an interface that will allow the transmission of amateur RF over power lines, hence "HPL technology" obviously meaning >>>hamming over power lines<<< :-p Just think, no limits to the amount of power you could run (with a proper RF to AC mains interface) and since it's on a closed system, there may not be any rules regarding mode or band!!! Think of the pileups you will break running that old 8 foot tall Collins military 20-KW amp into your fuse box for an added kick! As we know, power lines can carry a signal quite far and since its a "closed system" and the power people already >>>>worked out the bugs<<<< And I am SURE they wont mind sharing the technology with us hams. Ham Heaven!!! No lousy covenants, silly antenna restrictions, unsightly towers or a homeowners association to deal with. No smelly coax or cables to be run around the house. The wife will be thrilled with this exciting new way of hamming! In fact, it gives grid squares and phased antennas a whole new meaning. The beauty of this is that the power companies admitted that the system is flawless, the FCC's distinguished Mr. Powell (a well known engineer for many years and electronics inventor BTW, I forget his call sign... Please remind me.) agrees with them 100 percent and hams are assured and should not fear any problems with the up and coming BPL system. In short this means >>>>no interference<<<< on our precious ham bands!!! For those fuddy duddies not willing to move into the 21st century of ham radio, you will still have the old way of operation available to you. But this is just the boost Amateur radio needed, new technology and more spectrum thru our AC outlets. We can now combine our HF gear with our computers so we can work that net and log 'em at the same time. Want to go portable, just find an outlet somewhere and set up shop. I sure hope that W4RT, MFJ and some of the other manufacturers can supply an interface allowing us to spread our amateur good will thru the walls of America. I hope to hear you soon on HPL... 73 and 60hz to you and your families. N2ZD

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[ARRL-ODV:10619] Re: Fwd: Fw: IEEE-USA News: IEEE-USA Cites Concern on Access BPL Systems Rules with FCC
by K5ur＠aol.com 18 May '04

18 May '04

Thanks Paul! 73, Rick - K5UR

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[ARRL-ODV:10618] Re: Fwd: Fw: IEEE-USA News: IEEE-USA Cites Concern on Access BPL Systems Rules with FCC
by Paul L Rinaldo 18 May '04

18 May '04

Rick et al, Ed Hare is scheduled to attend the Denver Power Engineering Society meeting and will make a brief presentation on BPL interference. I'm an active member of IEEE-USA Committee on Communications and Information Policy (CCIP) and contributed to the IEEE-USA's comments filed in the BPL NPRM. Carl Stevenson drafted it, had to tone it down a bit but got it through the approval process despite some nay-sayers. BPL remains a priority topic for CCIP. At this point, it's not clear whether IEEE-USA will file reply comments. Paul At 03:25 PM 5/17/2004 -0400, K5ur(a)aol.com wrote: >Hi All: > >FYI. > >I thought that I'd forward this to ODV since we have a lot of hams with IEEE connections. > >73, >K5UR >Return-Path: <k4pzt(a)usit.net> >Received: from rly-yg02.mx.aol.com (rly-yg02.mail.aol.com [172.18.180.98]) by air-yg04.mail.aol.com (v99_r4.3) with ESMTP id MAILINYG41-27540a9017e12d; Mon, 17 May 2004 14:16:42 -0400 >Received: from SMTP.ARRL.ORG (smtp.arrl.org [69.0.106.218]) by rly-yg02.mx.aol.com (v99_r4.3) with ESMTP id MAILRELAYINYG29-27540a9017e12d; Mon, 17 May 2004 14:16:30 -0400 >Received: from mail.ARRL.ORG ([10.1.120.113]) by SMTP.ARRL.ORG with Microsoft SMTPSVC(5.0.2195.6713); > Mon, 17 May 2004 14:05:58 -0400 >Received: from capitol.mail.pas.earthlink.net ([207.217.120.180]) by mail.ARRL.ORG with Microsoft SMTPSVC(5.0.2195.6713); > Mon, 17 May 2004 14:04:03 -0400 >Received: from dialup-145-160.tnkno2.usit.net ([216.80.145.160] helo=D1GN0N41) > by capitol.mail.pas.earthlink.net with esmtp (Exim 3.33 #1) > id 1BPmT2-0006T8-00; Mon, 17 May 2004 11:04:01 -0700 >Message-ID: <001c01c43c39$5299f380$a09150d8@D1GN0N41> >From: "David Bower" <k4pzt(a)usit.net> >To: "Rick Roderick" <k5ur(a)arrl.org>, "Larry Marshall" <wb4ncw(a)arrl.org>, > "Henry Leggette" <wd4q(a)arrl.org> >Cc: "Jennifer Hagy" <jhagy(a)arrl.org> >Subject: Fw: IEEE-USA News: IEEE-USA Cites Concern on Access BPL Systems Rules with FCC >Date: Mon, 17 May 2004 14:03:54 -0400 >MIME-Version: 1.0 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="iso-8859-1" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit >X-Priority: 3 >X-MSMail-Priority: Normal >X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1409 >X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1409 >X-OriginalArrivalTime: 17 May 2004 18:04:03.0393 (UTC) FILETIME=[566BE310:01C43C39] >X-AOL-IP: 69.0.106.218 > >Forward--FYI--concerning "BPL" input from IEEE-USA. The conference they >mention in Denver involves IEEE-SA (that's the IEEE standards society), the >PES (Power Engineering Society), and other IEEE societies involving >communications. > >It's great news to hear from IEEE-USA !!! > >Please forward this information to ARRL people, as appropriate. > >FYI, I'll be meeting in Washington, DC this week to discuss H1-B and L-1 >engineering concerns representing IEEE-USA, meeting with government >representatives, and I'll certainly bring up BPL concerns as appropriate. > >David Bower >d.bower(a)ieee.org >

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