Earlier this week the Federal Communications Commission issued A Request for Further Comment and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Licensed U.S. amateur radio enthusiasts have long been concerned that the technology dubbed BPL (broadband over power line) could cause disruptive interference with their broadcasts. Readers of the eNews may recall that earlier this year, a Federal Appeals Court held for the ARRL (American Radio Relay League) and ruled that the rulemaking of federal agencies like the FCC backing their proposed rules on scientific or technical studies, must make full disclosure and provide un-redacted results of those studies. The commission’s request is the response to the court’s remand. This 28-page document cites a number of studies and details the myriad controversies regarding measurement techniques, the collection of data, and the correct extrapolation of that data. While all those weighing in may agree that widespread access to broadband is a desirable goal, the details about achieving such an outcome clearly remain to be worked out.View the FCC document online.
FCC and BPL Controversy: The Next Chapter
