Get ready to kiss shortwave radio goodbye....

A couple of sites:

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/01/07/8/

"The FCC reports clearly show that BPL operating at the FCC Part 15 emission limits generates a strong RF signal for long distances along overhead power lines," Hare said. "The FCC data showed noise that was many decibels above otherwise quiet ambient noise levels."

Hare said that even in spectrum notched out by BPL system providers, the FCC-provided reports indicate a measurable increase in noise levels that would "obstruct many of the signals that amateur operators routinely use for radio communication."

Some 150 pages of the documentation consisted of technical material and presentations by FCC staffers, including Martin and Leimer. The remaining 500 or so pages include correspondence, technical reports and interference complaints from radio amateurs to the FCC. Falling into the last category is extensive correspondence involving the Alliant Energy BPL field trial in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. That pilot project was abandoned after difficulties in resolving interference issues with local radio amateurs proved insurmountable."



http://www.nwfusion.com/net.worker/news/2004/0212powerbroad.html

"The ARRL argued that the FCC rules will place the burden of proof on licensed users of the radio spectrum experiencing interference from BPL. But commissioners downplayed interference complaints while voting to move forward with BPL rules. "While we must be mindful of harmful interference, we cannot let unsupported claims stand in the way of such an innovation as BPL systems," said Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein. "... We need to push the boundaries to accommodate new technologies.""

 

FEMA has stated its concern over interference, as has the forestry services of some states and radio astronomers. The FCC is taking a cavalier attitude on the interference issue.

This reminds me of a project that the military did back in the 60s where they spread a zillion tiny metal needles in low earth orbit to make a reflector for the purpose of communicating by bouncing signals off the needles. They got hell from the astronomy community for that one. What's worse about BPL is that it won't be a temporary issue like the needle project, where the needles eventually fell out of earth orbit.

 

Speaking of Michael Powell, does anyone know of anything in his resume that would justify him being head of the FCC? (other than being Powell's son)

 

Knowing how to kiss corporate ass? Having a pathological obsession with Janet Jackson's breasts?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62718-2004Nov19.html

 

I know this thread has alot of links that arent valid now but I wanted to say....

Its good people were able to somehow stop BPL but it really didnt make any difference... There is so such interference on AM mode now its sad!!!

People dont care enough to shield stuff and its just litters 10-11 meters and AM mode in general with garbage all over it!!

The AM radio in my room has so much interference I can barely hear anything distant!! (Well I did find where its coming from..... The power cord to 1 of our garage doors is leaking so if I unplug it,the noise from that is gone thank goodness..... For years I didnt know what was causing it!)

 

In our area of 'not boondocks anymore', AZ, contractors are daily installing very thick bright orange cables underground along all our major streets and about to start installing those cables alongside the other streets. Given the cable bundles are about 6 or 7 inches in diameter, they could hold hundreds (?) of single fiber-optic cables. It will be interesting when they show up to our house to install cameras into all our rooms without our permission. There are multiple empty lots in our town stocked with dozens to hundreds of large wooden spools that hold the orange colored cables.

 

If they ever do that I hope we will be able to tell what it is and destroy it!!!!!!

 

I've been trying to figure out who is paying for all the digging, labor, traffic diversion, cutting through some properties driveways, etc.

 

Yesterday I found a statement as to who is paying for the hundreds of miles of fiber-optic cable bundles. According to town records, they are being installed by private contractors with their own funding. Sounds flaky. When they run out of money, they'll expect the county and state to subsidize their efforts.