Congressman-Ham Asks FCC to Wait for NTIA Study Before Acting on BPL

US Rep Greg Walden, WB7OCE (R-OR).

NEWINGTON, CT, Jan 16, 2004--US Representative Greg Walden, WB7OCE, has called on the FCC to put off any further action in its Broadband over Power Line (BPL) proceeding until the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) releases the results of its BPL study and the public has had a chance to comment. Walden is a member of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.

"I feel that it is important to give the NTIA study thorough consideration before proceeding further with BPL technology, in view of the importance of avoiding interference to federal government HF communications," Walden said in a January 15 letter to FCC Chairman Michael Powell. An Oregon Republican, Walden is one of two Amateur Radio licensees in the US House.

The FCC released a BPL Notice of Inquiry in ET Docket 03-104 last April.

In comments filed last August, the NTIA expressed "broad concern" about BPL. The agency--which administers spectrum allocated to federal government users--has said the FCC "must ensure that other communications services, especially government operations, are adequately protected from unacceptable interference."

The NTIA, which is part of the US Department of Commerce, subsequently undertook evaluations of BPL field test sites, in part to gauge the technology's interference potential. Walden noted that the NTIA's field work was scheduled to wrap up this month, and that its observations and conclusions would be released sometime during the first quarter of this year.

Walden told Powell that, given its interference potential to federal and nongovernment radio services in the HF and low-VHF range, the issue of BPL is "of great concern to me." He did not indicate in his letter that he was an Amateur Radio licensee.

"It is important that the commission give serious consideration to both the NTIA study and the subsequent round of public comment on the study results," Walden asserted. While agreeing with the goal of increased competition in broadband delivery, Walden encouraged the FCC to "give sufficient attention" to concerns raised regarding BPL's potential to interfere with other radio services.

"Allowing the public sufficient time to evaluate the NTIA study is clearly in the best interest of all," Walden concluded. He asked Powell to respond "outlining how you intend to proceed on this important matter."

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