After the Order was released, the amateur radio community and the BPL industry filed a total of 17 petitions for reconsideration. Oppositions to petitions were due on March 23, 2005, and replies to the oppositions were due April 4, 2005. A Report and Order on the petitions is expected soon.
Even if all the experts are wrong and there is large-scale interference, the FCC would
never allow a new technology to displace a well-established and widely valued service like the Amateur Radio Service. Its principal responsibility is to protect the spectrum.

FORTNEY PETE STARK
13TH DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA
COMMITTEE ON
WAYS AND MEANS
JOINT COMMITTEE
ON TAXATION
WWW.HOUSE.GOV/STARK
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WASHINGTON, DC 20515
April 18,2006
239 CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHNGTON, DC 20515
(202) 225--5065
39300 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 220
FREMONT, CA 94538
(510)494-1388
PETEMAIL@MAIL.HOUSE.GOV
Andrew J. Oppel
1308 Burbank Street
Alameda, CA 94501-3946
Dear Mr. Oppel:
Thank you for contacting me about potential interference problems with broadband over power lines, or BPL.
The FCC is acting in large part to comply with the 1996 Telecommunications Act, which "encourage[s] the deployment on a reasonable and timely basis of advanced telecommunications capability to all Americans."
On behalf of the FCC, the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA) extensively researched interference concerns, and found that BPL can be deployed without harming government frequencies used for emergency response, defense, and homeland security.
The FCC has implemented an Order that requires BPL systems to incorporate capabilities to mitigate harmful interference. It has also pledged to adopt new procedures to resolve any localized interference quickly and without bureaucratic hurdles.