BPL has been deployed in a number of cities across the U.S. and elsewhere in the world. Some of these systems are being operated under experimental licenses, while others are operating under Part 15 of the FCC rules.

Descriptions of BPL in various US cities
BPL trials worldwide
FCC Experimental licenses
Other information about BPL trials

FCC Experimental Licenses

View Form View Exhibits View Notes View Correspondence View Grant File Number Call Sign Applicant Name Receipt Date Status Status Date Initial Current 0093-EX-PL-2002 WC2XXK Ameren Energy Communications, Inc. 05/07/2002 Grant Expired Due to New License 06/05/2002 Initial Current 0218-EX-ST-2002 WB9XQT Ambient Corporation 06/06/2002 Grant Expired Due to New License 06/21/2002 Initial Current 0126-EX-PL-2002 WC2XZG Southern Telecom, Inc. 06/10/2002 Grant Expired Due to New License 08/29/2002 Initial Current 0183-EX-PL-2002 WC2XZQ PPL Electric Utilities DBA PPL Utilities 08/05/2002 Grant Expired Due to New License 10/01/2002 Initial Current 0046-EX-ML-2002 WC2XUV Current Technologies, LLC 08/29/2002 Grant Expired Due to New License 09/12/2002 Initial Current 0435-EX-ST-2002 WB9XQT Ambient Corporation 12/09/2002 Grant Expired Due to New License 12/13/2002 Initial Current 0011-EX-PL-2003 WD2XCA Progress Energy Service Company 01/08/2003 Granted 02/10/2003 Initial Current 0046-EX-PL-2003 WD2XCN Amperion, Inc. 03/07/2003 Granted 03/11/2003 Initial Current 0069-EX-PL-2003 WD2XCZ City of Manassas 04/09/2003 Granted 04/10/2003 Initial Current 0089-EX-PL-2003 WD2XDT Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. 05/02/2003 Granted 05/22/2003 Not Available 0118-EX-PL-2003 WD2XEQ AMBIENT CORPORATION 06/09/2003 Grant Expired Due to New License 07/28/2003 Initial Current 0050-EX-ML-2003 WD2XEQ AMBIENT CORPORATION 08/07/2003 Granted 09/03/2003 Not Available 0242-EX-PL-2003 WD2XGL PowerWAN, Inc. 11/05/2003 Granted 11/06/2003 Initial Current 0506-EX-ST-2003 WB9XVP Electric Broadband 12/22/2003 Grant Expired Due to New License 12/24/2003 Initial Current 0032-EX-ST-2004 WB9XVP Electric Broadband, LLC 01/23/2004 Grant Expired Due to New License 01/26/2004 Initial Current 0005-EX-ML-2004 WC2XUV Current Technologies, LLC 01/29/2004 Denied/Dismissed 02/05/2004 Initial Current 0025-EX-RR-2004 WC2XUV Current Technologies, LLC 01/30/2004 Granted 02/23/2004 Initial Current 0136-EX-ST-2004 WB9XVP Electric Broadband 03/02/2004 Grant Expired Due to New License 03/10/2004 Initial Current 0072-EX-PL-2004 WD2XIZ AT&T CORP 04/02/2004 Granted 04/15/2004 Initial Current 0120-EX-RR-2004 WC2XZG Southern Telecom, Inc. 08/24/2004 Granted 09/29/2004 Initial Current 0182-EX-PL-2004 WD2XMB Electric Broadband LLC 09/08/2004 Grant Expired Due to New License 11/19/2004 Initial Current 0090-EX-ML-2004 WC2XUV Current Technologies, LLC 12/06/2004 Pending 12/06/2004 Initial Current 0013-EX-AU-2004 WD2XMB Electric Broadband LLC 12/09/2004 Granted 01/03/2005

Other Information about BPL Trials

United Powerline Council / Powerlines Communications Association joint report to the FCC
Internet: http://www.uplc.utc.org/file_depot/0-10000000/0-10000/7966/conman/Joint+Report+on+PLC.pdf
Summary: This UPLC/PLCA joint paper reports that "successful" field trials have taken place in the US in AL; MD; MO; NY; OH; PA and VA. Although the studies were not well publicized and did not include any direct participation by the Amateur Radio Service, this report concludes that "none of these field trials have caused any interference to home entertainment equipment, licensed wireless services and other spectrum users." ARRL believes that this conclusion is premature because none of these studies included any Amateur Radio involvment and no specific mention of measurements or tests to quantify interference levels appear to have been included.
Author: UPLC/PCLA

Megabits per Second on 50 Hz Power Lines?
Internet: http://www.ieee.org/organizations/pubs/newsletters/emcs/winter01/hansen.htm
Summary: The reason for the removal of the RegTP field trial license, based on numerous protests, is that Digital Power Line Communications (PLC) is trying to increase the speed of data rates into the Megabits per seconds range. Therefore the short wave band of up to 30 MHz will be transmitted over the low voltage distribution network. The recent history of PLC in Germany together with the standardization and measurement procedures used are given. Public opinion in Germany and technological alternatives to PLC like ADSL and wireless communications with low power are discussed and explained. The present approach of the remaining PLC consortia and their attempt to introduce the PLC technology nation wide is questionable.
Author: Diethard Hansen, EURO EMC SERVICE (EES)

Southern Electric Broadband Over Powerline Trial in Winchester, England
Internet: http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/22/30567.html
Internet: http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/22/29992.html
Summary: Over 200 homes involved in this field trial
Author: Tim Richardson, The Register

Worldwide Field Trials

Mainnet.com describes BPL availability in Linz, Austria; Mannheim, Sweden; Isle of Gottland, Sweden; Krakow, Poland; Arnhem, Netherlands; Offenbach, Germany; Creiff, Scotland; Campbelltown, Scotland.
Internet: http://www.mainnet-plc.com/plc.htm

Mainnet.com article describes field trial in Finland
Internet: http://www.mainnet-plc.com/arc_june25_01.htm

Mainnet.com article describes field trial in Spain
Internet: http://www.mainnet-plc.com/arc_april2_01.htm

Mainnet.com article describes field trial in Sweden
Internet: http://www.mainnet-plc.com/arc_feb21_01.htm

Mainnet.com article describes field trial in unspecified location
Internet: http://www.mainnet-plc.com/arc_feb22_01.htm

Field trials in Maylasia
Internet: http://neasia.nikkeibp.com/nea/200006/comy_103443.html

Field Trial in Virginia
Internet: http://www1.newswire.ca/releases/February2001/21/c5429.html

Field Trial in Wilmington, NC
Internet: http://www1.newswire.ca/releases/February2001/21/c5429.html

Several European field trials listed
Internet: http://palas.regiocom.net/reports/D1.pdf

Return to "Quick Links" Section of This Document