Broadband over Power Lines is “Spectrum Pollution”
I always thought that delivering broadband internet over power lines was a great idea; however, it looks like there are some drawbacks that need to be considered. A Slashdot thread about the use of amateur radio during the NY blackout linked to this ARRL article in which the ARRL President claims that “BPL (Broadband over Power Lines) is the most crucial issue facing Amateur Radio and the one that has the most devastating potential.” I support amateur radio because I like its decentralized nature, low-cost, and community focus. It is also very useful during emergencies, especially when cellular or emergency networks are down. One poster on the afore-mentioned Slashdot article pointed out that emergency communications often depend on repeater antennas to connect radios, whereas amateur radios - which do not need relays - can continue to operate in situations where some emergency networks fail.
Today is the deadline for comments to the FCC’s Notice of Inquiry about this matter. Visit the ARRL Website for more information.
