p2pnet.net News:- Surfers will be able to use home power outlets to go online.

Under a new order, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) says it wants to encourage the development of Access Broadband over Power Line (Access BPL) systems, “while safeguarding existing licensed services against harmful interference”.

Access BPL is designed to tap the communications capabilities of the US power grid.

“By facilitating access to BPL, the Commission takes an important step toward increasing the availability of broadband to wider areas of the country because power lines reach virtually every home and community,” says the FCC.

“In areas where consumers already have broadband access, BPL can enhance competition by providing another broadband alternative.”

The commission says Net users won’t be the only ones to benefit.

Access BPL will also help electric utility companies to dynamically manage the power grid itself, “increasing network reliability by remote diagnosis of electrical system failures,” says the FCC, going on that it recognizes the fears of some licensed radio service users that Access BPL systems could cause interference to their operations. But, it says, it’s sure Access BPL systems will operate successfully on an unlicensed, “non-interference” basis.

Specific technical and administrative requirements for Access BPL equipment and operators will, “ensure that interference does not occur and, should it occur, to provide for a timely resolution of that harmful interference without disruption of service to Access BPL subscribers,” declares the FCC.

The Order also defines procedures to measure the radio frequency (RF) energy emitted by Access BPL equipment.

Specifically, the Order by the Commission:

• Sets forth rules imposing new technical requirements on BPL devices, such as the capability to avoid using any specific frequency and to remotely adjust or shut down any unit;
• Establishes “excluded frequency bands” within which BPL must avoid operating entirely to protect aeronautical and aircraft receivers communications; and establishes “exclusion zones” in locations close to sensitive operations, such as coast guard or radio astronomy stations, within which BPL must avoid operating on certain frequencies;
• Establishes consultation requirements with public safety agencies, federal government sensitive stations, and aeronautical stations.
• Establishes a publicly available Access BPL notification database to facilitate an organized approach to identification and resolution of harmful interference.
• Changes the equipment authorization for Access BPL systems from verification to certification; and
• Improves measurement procedures for all equipment that use RF energy to communicate over power lines.

The question now is:

When will power-line modems start to happen?

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See:-

- FCC Adopts Rules for Broadband Over Power Lines to Increase Competition and Promote Broadband Service to All Americans, FCC, October 14, 2004

This entry was posted on Friday, October 15th, 2004 at 2:00 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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