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G4EBT > ARRL 06.01.07 22:34l 88 Lines 3587 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 104077G4EBT
Read: GUEST
Subj: Re: ARRL to sue FCC over BPL
Path: DB0FHN<DB0MRW<DB0SON<DB0HBN<DB0SWR<DK0WUE<GB7FCR
Sent: 070106/1951Z @:GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU #:13102 [Blackpool] FBB-7.03a $:104077G4
From: G4EBT@GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU
To : ARRL@WW
From GB2RS News:
> The American Radio Relay League is suing the Federal Communications
> Commission over the US watchdog's policy on broadband over power line.
> Broadband over power line - or BPL, as it is more commonly known - is a
> technology for providing internet access over unshielded power lines.
> The technology is a major threat to amateur radio because it can cause
> serious interference to radio receivers.
>The ARRL decided it had no other option than to sue the FCC,
>stating: "Reasoned technical arguments backed up by overwhelming
>evidence have not altered the FCC's errant course. There was only one
>thing left that we could do: appeal in federal court. After carefully
>considering the costs and consequences, the ARRL Board of Directors
>concluded that was what we must do."
>ARRL chief executive officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, has launched a scathing
>attack on the new rules. He said: "With one stroke, the rights of
>FCC licensees have been subordinated to those of spectrum polluters.
>Never before has an unintentional emitter been given a free pass to
>interfere with licensed radio services."
It will be interesting to see the outcome.
I may be wrong, but I think that radio amateurs - be they in the US or
elsewhere, don't have "rights" - only "privileges". I don't think that
amateur radio is a protected service as such.
Being devil's advocate, looked at objectively, on the one hand, broadband
over power lines can benefit untold millions of citizens, on the other
hand, this is at the expense of spoiling the enjoyment of a reducing
number of hobbyists.
Amateur radio isn't helped by its old fashioned image - Samuel Morse,
Marconi, Tony Hancock etc, and hasn't moved with the times much. Many
amateurs have eschewed new developments every step of the way - repeaters,
SSB, packet, satellites, IRLP, and other communications media, especially
internet.
A large proportion are complacent or inactive, and are fairly ambivalent
about the future of the hobby, and I guess I include myself in that. I'm
geared up to go on all bands from 160 - 2 M, but haven't bothered to go on
air for at least three years.
That said, I wouldn't want to see the hobby encroached upon by BPL, and
the ARRL seems to have a powerful argument if well-designed BPL systems
can obviate or minimise interference From what they say, interference
isn't an inevitable consequence of BPL if the FCC takes a more balanced
view.
More power to the ARRL's elbow.
Maybe they should start a fighting fund? Non-members of ARRL, be they in
America or elsewhere stand to lose a great deal, so arguably, if ought not
to simply be ARRL who pick up what might be very significant costs.
They're up against a powerful business lobby, who for all they're worth,
will play the card of "we're providing a service to all members of the
community and keeping America to the fore in developing new means of
piping information into the homes of citizens at minimum cost.
In addition to the powerful commercial considerations, the actual concept
of BPL is an attractive one which is easy for the non-technical public to
grasp. Everyone has a power line into their homes - why not "hitch a ride"
and use this ready made infrastructure as part of the "information
highway?"
Not an easy argument to counter.
73 - David, G4EBT @ GB7FCR
British Vintage Wireless Society Member
G-QRP Club Member, No: 1339
QTH: Cottingham, East Yorkshire.
Message timed: 18:27 on 2007-Jan-06
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