From the UTC Industry Intelligence - April 29, 2004 (United Telecom Council)

NTIA BPL Study Is Good News, Bad News

Late Tuesday, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released its study on the interference potential of broadband over power line (BPL) system operations to federal government communications in the high frequency (HF) bands. The NTIA recognizes that President Bush has "established the bold goal of universal and affordable broadband access for every American by 2007," and has called for "technical standards that make possible new broadband technologies, such as the use of high-speed communications directly over powerlines." The NTIA study also indicated agreement with the FCC that BPL can be deployed using the existing emission limits. But, it states that existing Part 15 measurement guidelines "significantly underestimate peak field strength," and the study does "not recommend that the FCC relax the Part 15 field strength limits for BPL systems."

Instead, NTIA recommended several new measurement guidelines: 1) measure emissions at power line height; 2) measure at a uniform distance of 10 meters from the BPL device and power lines; and 3) measure using a calibrated rod antenna or a loop antenna in connection with appropriate factors relating magnetic and electric field strength levels. In addition, the NTIA wants "exceptional protection" (e.g. notching) for 41 frequencies (4.2 MHz of spectrum total) amounting to 5.4% of the 1.7-80 MHz frequency range in which BPL operates. Finally, the report recommended that BPL interference can be prevented or eliminated by mandatory registration of certain parameters of planned or deployed BPL systems; and by routine use of minimum output power, using filters and terminations to extinguish BPL signals on power lines where they are not needed, and judicious choice of BPL signal frequencies to reduce radiation.

Broadband as Presidential Campaign Issue

BPL made it to a presidential speech this week. In an address to the American Association of Community Colleges Convention in Minneapolis, President Bush commented extensively on the need to promote broadband deployment. His administration has set the goal of universal broadband technology availability in the U.S. by 2007. To this end, Bush announced several efforts that the Administration is planning. He commended BPL technology and noted that technical standards should be changed in order to better promote it. The President also commented that additional spectrum should be made available for new wireless applications.

Noting the importance of keeping broadband affordable, Bush also stated that access taxes should be avoided. The most notable method mentioned was through the streamlining of federal rights-of-way permits, designed to enable greater access for fiber-optics cable on federal land. In conjunction with this initiative, the White House also released this week an Executive Memorandum. The memo is intended to carry out recommendations issued by an NTIA-led working group on federal rights-of-way issues. The working group released a paper, coordinated with the Executive Memorandum, setting up several goals to help streamline the permit process. Goals include updated information on NTIA's website as well as websites for all involved federal agencies.

Members of the telecom community commended the President's statements, noting that eliminating regulatory hurdles will facilitate competition and enable real user benefits. Broadband activity this week comes amid Democratic criticism that the Bush Administration had not taken enough hard action in broadband deployment. Several Democratic senators criticized the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), noting that only $132 million of the $2 billion in allocated funds have been released. The senators also criticized the Bush administration for not including tax incentives for broadband deployment in any proposed legislation. Additionally, Democratic frontrunner John Kerry has recently released a statement that questions the administration's broadband commitment.