Here's a good letter that's already been sent to the reporter. Dave K1ZZ -----Original Message----- From: Joseph Ames Jr. [mailto:joe.ames@verizon.net] Sent: Monday, July 11, 2005 8:18 AM To: tom.fowler@chron.com Cc: Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ Subject: Re: Double duty for power lines Tom, I noticed your article on IBM, Center Point Energy, and BPL thanks to Drudge's hyperlink. I am a principal consultant for one of this venture partner's Communications/Utilities financial management practice. I am also a federally licensed Amateur Radio Service operator, better known as a "ham" radio operator, involved in emergency and disaster response. Your article did not mention that the very high failure rate of similar attempts by several other large electric distribution companies. In trial after trial, the results were the same: BPL was withdrawn because the interference it creates destroys high-frequency (HF) radio communications along the length of the power lines. Despite numerous attempts to "notch" or "filter" the high-bandwidth radio signal of the Internet provider, AC distribution lines simply act like giant antennas at radio frequencies. They are designed for 60Hz -- not 60MHz! Why is this important? Because the HF spectrum uniquely supports global communications without benefit of satellites or wires. Almost 700,000 US amateur radio operators are joined by military, commercial, and government users who depend on that spectrum every day. Amateur radio in particular, which is supported not with corporate or government budgets but by the individual ham himself, uses low-power levels easily destroyed by BPL's incessant hash and noise. Yet these very radio services are integral to emergency response efforts even now underway in areas where standard communications have failed -- as in the Gulf Coast and its many hurricanes. What a shame to destroy this capability--and the significant investment in time and training made by generations of hams -- to offer a service practically and technologically inferior to DSL, cable, Wi-Fi, and other techniques in development, none of which destroy the HF spectrum. Tom, I consult to the CFO's office of numerous utilities. I understand why they want to "get in on the action" and increase their profit margins beyond their regulated rates of return. But this is not the way. I hope you will investigate the other side of the BPL value proposition, the side that imposes a severe cost on 3/4 of a million Americans, conveniently ignored by BPL suppliers' press releases. I am copying this to the president of our national organization, the American Radio Relay League, who may be able to provide you with valuable data and study results. Also, please visit the below link for several presentations on BPL and HF compatibility. http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/presentations.html. Very best regards, Joseph A. Ames Jr., MBA, MS Bryn Mawr, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Amateur Radio Station W3JY Assistant Emergency Coordinator for Delaware County, Pennsylvania www.delcoares.org -----Original Message----- From: Mileshosky, Brian N5ZGT (Vice Dir, RM) Sent: Monday, July 11, 2005 9:28 AM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:12694] IBM and BPL... Hi Everyone -- Found this one on Drudge... http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/tech/news/3259278 73, Brian, N5ZGT ARRL Vice-Director, Rocky Mountain Division