BPL Update

The KØNR Radio Site

BPL Update

Bob Witte KØNR
Technical Coordinator
ARRL Colorado Section
Tel. 719 488-0859
14 October 2007

You've probably heard about Broadband over Power Line, commonly known as BPL. This technology uses an electric utility's power lines to deliver broadband Internet to its customers. Sounds pretty good until you understand how many of these systems cause interference to the ham bands. This is an update on what is happening around the nation and in Colorado concerning BPL.

First, the good news. We have formed an amateur radio BPL team in Colorado to monitor the situation and deal with any interference issues. Here's more good news: we have not heard of any BPL deployments in Colorado. Some utilities have looked at the technology but so far none of them have deployed it. If you hear of a BPL deployment in the state, please contact me.

BPL News - Nationwide

The ARRL continues to challenge the FCC's findings and has filed a federal appeals court brief outlining its case and requesting oral arguments in its petition for review of the FCC's BPL rules.

Technology Developments

It is important to note that several BPL equipment vendors are having success with avoiding interference to ham radio frequencies. The ARRL has correctly taken the position that the amateur radio community is not opposed to BPL, but is opposed to BPL systems that cause interference on the amateur bands. These technical developments are encouraging:

A demonstration at ARRL Headquarters of DS2 BPL equipment suggests the manufacturer is working to minimize--if not altogether eliminate--interference from its products on amateur bands. The new DS2 technology is capable of 40 dB notches in the ham bands.
Current Technologies BPL equipment has been deployed successfully in Cincinnati without significant amateur radio interference. Current has avoided putting high-frequency energy on the medium-voltage lines by using low-band VHF (30-50 MHz) instead. Current's system uses Homeplug modems, which avoid all ham bands except 60 meters, to connect to individual customers.

BPL Struggles in the Marketplace

On the business front, BPL continues to struggle with gaining traction in the marketplace. Recently, Duke Energy, a big BPL advocate, announced that they are "moving away from BPL" and focusing on wireless technology instead. See the article from BPL Today, on the Ambient Corp web site.

BPL Team

If you hear about a BPL deployment in Colorado, please contact the Colorado BPL Team via Bob Witte KØNR. Members of the Colorado BPL team are Bob Witte KØNR, Ron Hranac, NØIVN, Randy Reynard, NQØR, and Kit Haskins, KAØWUC.