To: ARRL members in New England
Just over a week ago Representative Michael Ross, WD5DVR, of Arkansas, introduced a resolution in the US House of Representatives calling on the FCC to “conduct a full and complete analysis” of radio interference from broadband over power line (BPL). A copy of HRes 230 is available on the ARRL Web site in .PDF format at:
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/filings/hres230/HRes230.pdf
It was too late to get the news into June QST but it did go out via ARRL Bulletins and the ARRL Letter: http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/2005-arlb012.html and http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/05/0429/
This is an important step in our effort to slow and stop the deployment of BPL. In recent months there have been a couple of test BPL systems installed in Massachusetts (Western Massachusetts Electric) and Connecticut (United Illuminating). They really do cause significant interference even in the limited test areas that already have been installed.
1) It is important for you to contact your representative in the House of Representatives now and ask them to support House Resolution 230. Please send a letter in the next two weeks if at all possible. Ask him or her to sign on as a co-sponsor for H Res 230. There are roughly 1500 licensed Amateurs in each congressional district. A sample letter is available on the ARRL Web site:
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/filings/hres230/HRes230-SampleLtr.doc
Express your support in your own words. If you’re not sure who represents your congressional district, visit the United States House of Representatives Web site at http://www.house.gov/
To expedite delivery, send all correspondence bound for Members of Congress–preferably as an attachment–to hres230@arrl.org; or fax it to 703-684-7594. The ARRL will bundle correspondence addressed to each Member of Congress for hand delivery.
2) Two New England Congressmen are on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and will have a direct role in what happens with H Res 230. They are Rep Charles Bass (D-2) who represents much of southern and all of western New Hampshire, and Rep Tom Allen (R) who represents northern and eastern Maine. We’re interested in working with ARRL Members in those districts who know either Representative or someone on their staff – we’d like to make sure they are well informed about BPL. Please contact me if you can help out.
3) Finally, we need those of you with contacts within the law enforcement and public safety community to help us out. If you know any officials in your area who participate in the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) or the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International (APCO), please encourage them to continue their efforts to block BPL interference. These two groups have filed comments with the FCC with concerns of BPL interference. These groups represent associations such as the American Red Cross, The International Association of Chiefs of Police, the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the International Association of Emergency Managers.
In summary, it is important to get the point across that this resolution does not hinder Broadband, but, rather seeks to delay the BPL docket (FCC ET 04-37) until further study can be made. We need to stress the importance of how BPL is not only causing interference to Amateur Radio operators, but it is causing interference within the Law Enforcement and Public Safety area. While contacting your representatives it needs to be mentioned that ARRL has filed a petition for reconsideration to the FCC.
Thanks for your support and direct action on this important topic!
Tom Frenaye, K1KI
ARRL Director
New England Division
860-668-5444
k1ki@arrl.org