With radio communications possibly threatened, Congress should hold hearings on Broadband Power Line proposal before FCC acts.
Could shortwave radio including the BBC, ham radio, CB radio, some police and law enforcement radio, and other radio communications suddenly stop working in the United States?
Yes, says the Amateur Radio Relay League, a ninety-year old organization of radio enthusiasts. (*)
They cite the proposal before the FCC to allow Broadband over Power Line (BPL) technology. Electrical power lines would act as gigantic transmitters and receivers. This could jeopardize radio communications that are critical to securing the homeland and providing emergency services. FEMA has warned that its operations would be impaired with BPL. (†)
Considering that a number of informed people have stated very serious concerns on these very important matters, and that the FCC is proceeding apace to implement the BPL plan, it would appear advisable to Congress to hold hearings on BPL before the FCC acts.
It would be better to slow down BPL for a short while to get the facts as opposed to bearing the risk of the great harm that informed people say would occur with BPL.
April 18th, 2004 at 01:07
Law enforecment gets more problems from jamming around churches, strip clubs and sun spots!
Refrigerators and hi-power cooling systems cause problems too!
If people like the AARL wanted to break out of the “Ameature” ranks, they would enlist their members to scan every square mile of their home towns and map all existing RF problems before BPL arrives. Then they would have proof of changes in “static” (no joke intended) RF radiation emission sites. Stick that under the FCC’s nose!
However, BPL is going to be so big, they may try to shuffle the spectrum again and give AARL members a smaller piece of the pie.