FYI Jim Weaver, K8JE Director, Great Lakes Division ARRL 5065 Bethany Rd., Mason, OH 45040 Tel.: 513-459-0142; E-mail: k8je@arrl.org ARRL: The reason Amateur Radio Is! MEMBERS: The reason ARRL Is! -----Original Message----- From: Charles Mabbott [mailto:aa8vs@msn.com] Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2004 4:05 PM To: k8je@arrl.org Subject: FW: [QRP-L] Local BPL threat as reported in a local paper (fwd) FYI Jim Chuck AA8VS -- "The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while Nature cures the disease." Voltaire www.aa8vs.org/aa8vs ----Original Message Follows---- From: k9di@k9di.org To: qrp-l@mailman.qth.net Subject: [QRP-L] Local BPL threat as reported in a local paper (fwd) Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2004 02:24:47 -0500 Hi Gang, the following article from the newspaper in Peoria Illinois details plans being put forward by the City council in Princeton IL:K9DI Radio league: Cable plan may cause trouble Group: Interference likely if Princeton uses power lines for high-speed Internet July 27, 2004 By BRANDON COUTRE of the Journal Star PRINCETON - As the City Council moves forward with plans to offer high-speed Internet via the city's electrical system, a group of amateur radio operators is planning to protest the project. "They're about to create a nightmare of interference. They're trying to put this stuff on the power lines, and they're not designed for that," said Stephen Gross, a member of the American Radio Relay League. Broadband over power lines can cause interference with police and fire radio, as well as shortwave radio, according to Gross. Over the past eight months, city officials have been developing a program that could provide high-speed Internet throughout the city via fiber-optic lines and, in the long run, through they city's electric system. By offering high-speed Internet, Princeton officials hope to gain a competitive edge in attracting businesses and bolster economic development. Gross said he is in full support of the fiber-optic program, but when it comes to broadband over power lines, he is strongly opposed. "Princeton needs to realize we are not going to go away. We are going tomake a stink out of this. We're going to do whatever it takes for them to forget about this project," said Gross, who lives in Mount Morris. Gross plans to attend the next City Council meeting with a group of other amateur radio enthusiasts to let the city know of their opposition to the project. Princeton City Manager Andrew Brannen said he has heard of Gross' complaints but said the city is continuing on as scheduled. Any interference issues will be dealt with during a pilot program in a small area of the city, which should happen early next year. "We were well aware that there were some communities that had interference. It's a local issue. If it is present in our system, we will deal with it before we make it available citywide," Brannen said. Offering Internet service through electricity is a new technology. Gross said the Princeton project is the first of its kind in Illinois. Gross said he also wants to caution Princeton that because the city owns its electric system, it could face fines from the Federal Communications Commission if interference were to occur. A week ago, city officials announced they will begin contract negations with Connecting Point Computer Center in Peru to provide the Internet service. Internet through fiber-optic lines, which mostly large businesses would utilize, should be available around the end of the year. Internet service via electricity, which mostly smaller business and home users would utilize, will take much longer to initiate. ______________________________________________________________ QRP-L mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/qrp-l Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:QRP-L@mailman.qth.net