Technical problems are preventing the posting of the following article, which appeared December 18, on the Potomac News Web site.

Sari tells me that the plan is for BPL service to be inaugurated in Manassas in January to four subdivisions with 2,100 residences. I cited that in the February QST editorial, which is aBPL update that I will forward separately for your information.

Dave K1ZZ

By SARI KRIEGER
skrieger@potomacnews.com

Manassas will be first in the country to provide an innovative Internet
service city-wide, beginning in January. But the Federal Emergency
Management Agency released a statement to the Federal Communications
Commission earlier this month opposing this Broadband over Power Line
service.
"FEMA has grave concerns regarding the interference that likely would be
caused to Government communications by unlicensed BPL systems," the FEMA
report said.
It could interfere with licensed shortwave radio uses, including FEMA's
national emergency communications systems, FNARS, as well as military and
civilian volunteer emergency services, according to the report.
"The federal government relies on FNARS for communications, both for natural
and man-made disasters," the report said. "The safety, health and welfare of
our citizenry are directly tied to the successful execution of our
communications programs."
The FCC has solicited comments on the technology from any interested party.
"I think the fact that FEMA is part of (the Department of) Homeland Security
ought to swing a lot of weight with the FCC," said John Heartney, Vice
President of the Old Virginia Hams, an amateur radio club.
BPL subscribers can gain internet access by plugging a computer into any city
outlet.  The City Council granted a franchise to Prospect Street Broadband
LLC to manage the network and market the service. A company called Main.net
will provide the equipment, with the city offering use of crews and existing
power lines.
BPL will be permitted under the Federal Communications Commissions Part 15
rules that govern unlicensed technologies and state that no interference
with other forms of licensed communication may be caused.
The FCC gave the green light for the service, and said it is no more
disturbing than microwaves, refrigerators or cell phones, according to
Manassas Councilman Ulysses X. White.
"Nobody has proven its a problem," White said. "If it is a problem, then we
reevaluate it. There's no reason not go forward with it."
But amateur radio and other shortwave radio users say BPL will cause
extremely disturbing static on the frequencies they use. Amateur radio
allows users to communicate casually or relay important messages, such as
during Hurricane Isabel and on Sept. 11, 2001, to others across town, the
state, the country or the world. Other shortwave radio uses include
broadcasts of foreign stations and Citizen's Band radios.
Amateur or "ham" radio users have been advocating for months against BPL,
which has been banned in Japan because of interference, according to the
August 2002 issue of the Japan Amateur Radio League News. 
"The concerns are mounting as the evidence mounts that you simply can't
implement a Main.net system," said David Sumner, chief executive officer of
the Amateur Radio Relay League.
A British Broadcasting Corporation study in Scotland of a Main.net system
confirmed the interference with shortwave radio, and Sumner suggests other
BPL systems used in pilot programs around the country may be less damaging.
But this is the only commercially available system, according to Manassas
Utilities Director Allen Todd, who is also a ham radio user.
"Somebody has to be the first," Todd said. "We have looked at this technology
and we did an 18-month pilot program. We think it has a very unique
application and a lot of benefits."
Once installed, the system will be monitored and any problems will be
rectified, Todd said, although no field testing for radio interference was
done during the pilot program.
Manassas may have rushed into this venture, according to Director of the Old
Virginia Hams, Don Blasdell.
"The overhead (power line) wiring is just going to radiate everywhere,"
Blasdell said. "Even in their test stage it was causing interference, and
they said it didn't."
BPL will not harm other radio uses and industry representatives are available
to meet with FEMA officials, or any other concerned party, according to Jeff
Norman, Main.net vice president of sales.
"As an industry we don't cause interference," Norman said. "But in the case
that interference would happen, we would make it right for the licensed
operators."
The technology will also allow the city to pinpoint power outages at
individual homes, and it will be comparable in speed to DSL and cable, Todd
said. It will cost $26.95 per month for Manassas residents, compared to
other services ranging approximately from $40 to $50, and will create
positive business competition, White said.
"When citizens enjoy prosperity, they spend more money and we get more taxes,
and then we can provide more for the citizens," White said. "That's why this
country is so prosperous and everyone wants to come here."
But proponents of this project have not looked at the whole picture,
including the value of shortwave radio and ham operators, Blasdell said. BPL
is not worth the risk of damaging some worldwide and emergency
communications, according to Sumner.
"To disrupt that in the interest of providing a very short-range broadband
capability that can be provided in other ways seems to be very
shortsighted," Sumner said. "And as FEMA pointed out, it has national
security implications as well."

Staff writer Sari Krieger can be reached at (703) 369-6751.