[Swprograms] BPL's QRM Recognized in NY

[jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

News from the ARRL:

New York Public Service Commission Recognizes BPL Interference Concerns

           NEWINGTON, CT, Oct 20, 2006 -- The New York Public Service 
Commission (NYPSC) this week adopted a policy statement on deployment 
of BPL systems in the Empire State. While asserting that BPL 
technology "may provide significant benefits to New Yorkers," the 
commission also has acknowledged that BPL "poses a myriad of both 
traditional and unique technical and regulatory challenges." The 
policy statement, issued and effective October 18, says that while 
most BPL providers, equipment makers and vendors believe the FCC's 
Part 15 rules address interference issues, that was not the consensus 
opinion of those who commented to the Commission. 

          "Most parties were uneasy about potential interference 
problems that could arise with the deployment of BPL technology," the 
NYPSC policy statement pointed out, citing RF interference as "a major 
issue." 

          The NYPSC policy affirmed its decision that electric 
utilities should not be BPL providers. Utility Consolidated Edison 
still operates a BPL trial system in the Westchester County community 
of Briarcliff Manor that has been the target of BPL interference 
complaints from radio amateurs. The policy puts primary responsibility 
for RFI on the BPL provider, who, under the NYPSC model, would lease 
access to the electric utility's grid. 

          "The BPL provider is primarily responsible for responding to 
all customer service and collateral service complaints and issues, 
including any related to interference produced by BPL equipment," the 
policy statement says. 
In his oral comments to the NYPSC, Robert Mayer, director of the New 
York Office of Telecommunications, characterized the interference 
issues as "serious and unresolved." Mayer told the Commission that 
radio interference is "probably one of the most fundamental questions" 
facing BPL and that it remained unresolved. 

          "It's one of the things that this commission needs to be 
most vigilant about as these trials are deployed to make an assessment 
of what interference issues exist," he said. Mayer also predicted an 
uphill battle for BPL in gaining market share. 
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