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New Docs Show FCC Glossed Over BPL Flaws
Surprising, well, nobody...

The relationship between the FCC and ham operators has always been a contentious one, due to BPL's interference potential and the FCC's rather, uh, over-enthusiastic promotion of the flawed technology. As part of an effort to pretend their pro-incumbent policies resulted in something more than an uncompetitive duopoly, the agency used to call BPL the "great broadband hope." Hams have always alleged that the agency ignored interference data for the benefit of the BPL industry.

Interestingly, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) has obtained and published on its website FCC studies it had obtained from a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request it filed at the end of March. In October of 2007 the ARRL filed suit against the FCC, alleging that the FCC had held studies on BPL that may not have supported its own position on BPL until it was too late to comment on them. The FCC dismissed these documents as "internal communications" that did not factor in on its decision to adopt the BPL rules.

The FCC fought releasing the documents for years, until new FOIA rules implemented by the Obama administration finally resulted in the documents being released earlier this week. The studies show, among other things, that the FCC redacted, manipulated and ignored data in order to support their own position that power lines were perfectly suited to broadband, while ignoring advise from numerous providers and vendors in the sector.

That's in line with previous criticisms levied at the the way former FCC boss Kevin Martin ran the agency. In Martin's FCC, objective science and real data were an afterthought to political agendas or fealty to industry lobbyists. Even employees within the FCC complained that the agency had become a political animal that frequently ignored or violated the commission's own guidelines at the whims of Chairman Martin.

Unfortunately for Martin and the FCC, all of their BPL cheerleading efforts came to naught. With the recent closure of several of the technology's highest-profile trials, BPL exists as little more than a fringe player being used in very select rural locations to provide connectivity. Most of the BPL vendors the FCC was presumably working for have since moved on to promote smart electrical grid functionality.
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Sammer
join:2005-12-22
Canonsburg, PA

1 recommendation

Sammer

Member

Re: New Docs Show FCC Glossed Over BPL Flaws

No real surprise here, next thing you know they'll find Kevin Martin's conclusions about white space devices flawed too. The FCC has now been run to benefit large corporations rather than the public for years.

fifty nine
join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ

1 recommendation

fifty nine

Member

Re: New Docs Show FCC Glossed Over BPL Flaws

said by Sammer:

No real surprise here, next thing you know they'll find Kevin Martin's conclusions about white space devices flawed too. The FCC has now been run to benefit large corporations rather than the public for years.
I'm sure they sold us down the river for a lot of things.

Kudos to ARRL for sticking up for its membership, which reminds me - I need to re-up my membership.

I Use Dial
join:2004-01-04
Morgan Hill, CA

I Use Dial

Member

Eat your cake and have it, too.

A few entries down DSLR is talking up having the federal government increasing regulation. But here in this entry DSLR is discussing how federal regulation ends up being a tool for manipulation.

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

1 recommendation

Karl Bode

News Guy

Re: Eat your cake and have it, too.

Yes, let's certainly not judge the quality of each instance of regulation on its own merits. Much easier to just say regulation itself kills puppies and is the worst sort of evil, right?

N3OGH
Yo Soy Col. "Bat" Guano
Premium Member
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs

N3OGH

Premium Member

Re: Eat your cake and have it, too.

If regulation kills puppies, then de regulation eats little kittens. (And calm down please, folks. It's a funny...)

fifty nine
join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ

1 recommendation

fifty nine to I Use Dial

Member

to I Use Dial
said by I Use Dial:

A few entries down DSLR is talking up having the federal government increasing regulation. But here in this entry DSLR is discussing how federal regulation ends up being a tool for manipulation.
Good, transparent regulation is not a bad thing.

When the FCC hides stuff it's not good.

Ryokucha
join:2000-10-20
Ormond Beach, FL

Ryokucha to I Use Dial

Member

to I Use Dial
One could also argue that a change of regulation for the better, "new FOIA rules", brought to light regulation that was poorly administered by a corrupted administration.

It all depends on who is in control of said regulation, humans with their corruptibility can easily be swayed by money and power. So in this case I don't think it is fair to blame regulation, more so to blame those who regulate.

Is all regulation good, no. Should everything be regulated, no. Should regulation exist that protects the little guy from the big guy with a lobbyist at every door in Washington, I sure hope so.

N3OGH
Yo Soy Col. "Bat" Guano
Premium Member
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs

1 recommendation

N3OGH to I Use Dial

Premium Member

to I Use Dial
I think the duality you so quickly point out shows a level of objectiveness.

If it's good regulation, the regulation can be good.

If it's Kevin Martin's latest shitbag coverup, then it's lousy regulation...
me1212
join:2008-11-20
Lees Summit, MO

me1212

Member

Could BPL work?

Could it, it would be an easy(easy=no laying new cables) way to get high speed to people in rural areas where it is sat or dial-up.
moonpuppy (banned)
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD

moonpuppy (banned)

Member

Re: Could BPL work?

said by me1212:

Could it, it would be an easy(easy=no laying new cables) way to get high speed to people in rural areas where it is sat or dial-up.
Good god, not this old tired argument again.

Please read up some of the older posts before you make blanket statements like that.

rf_engineer
join:2003-08-04
USA

rf_engineer

Member

Re: Could BPL work?

Power outlets are everywhere, so logically we could have Internet everywhere! You could charge up laptop batteries from the outlets and have mobile broadband using BPL.

This BPL broadband will be great when Duke Nukem Forever comes out....
nasadude
join:2001-10-05
Rockville, MD

1 recommendation

nasadude to me1212

Member

to me1212
said by me1212:

Could it, it would be an easy(easy=no laying new cables) way to get high speed to people in rural areas where it is sat or dial-up.
NO.

another episode of simple answers to complex questions.
KraziJoe
join:2006-09-08
Limington, ME

KraziJoe

Member

Google

I am still awaiting Google's Sewer internet service!

N3OGH
Yo Soy Col. "Bat" Guano
Premium Member
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs

N3OGH

Premium Member

Re: Google

said by KraziJoe:

I am still awaiting Google's Sewer internet service!
Oh shit....

tschmidt
MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
·Consolidated Com..
·Republic Wireless
·Hollis Hosting

tschmidt to KraziJoe

MVM

to KraziJoe
said by KraziJoe:

I am still awaiting Google's Sewer internet service!
Running fiber in sewers is a very cost effective way to deploy fiber. Same with abandoned gas and steam pipes.

/tom

DavePR
join:2008-06-04
Canyon Country, CA

DavePR

Member

Re: Google

said by tschmidt:

said by KraziJoe:

I am still awaiting Google's Sewer internet service!
Running fiber in sewers is a very cost effective way to deploy fiber. Same with abandoned gas and steam pipes.

/tom
Clayton Williams started a huge long distance company with fiber inside of gas pipelines.
mdrift
join:2003-08-15
Spokane, WA

mdrift to tschmidt

Member

to tschmidt
said by tschmidt:

said by KraziJoe:

I am still awaiting Google's Sewer internet service!
Running fiber in sewers is a very cost effective way to deploy fiber. Same with abandoned gas and steam pipes.

/tom
Sure does when you're London and you have sewer tunnels people can walk through and practically drive trucks through. It's not practical if they are just running them through traditional US Sewer junctions which are far more cramped.

Then again, with the aging systems they should redesign to make sure these tunnels are large like London and run not just Fiber, but Power as well.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK

1 recommendation

KrK

Premium Member

I don't understand why the FCC was so big on this technology

... I think all along it's been a "strawman", an appearance of "cultivating competition".

Or maybe they just plain wanted it to work. I think there is possibilities for Internet via the electric utilities, but this doesn't appear to be it.

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

Karl Bode

News Guy

Re: I don't understand why the FCC was so big on this technology

I think by and large it served as a way to justify policies that essentially just gave AT&T and Verizon whatever they lobbied for -- with very few exceptions.

By shilling for BPL, they could use their own shilling for BPL as evidence they were trying to foster additional competition in the space, the actual viability of the technology be damned...

In other words, showmanship.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK

KrK

Premium Member

Re: I don't understand why the FCC was so big on this technology

That's exactly what I mean by saying "giving the appearance of cultivating competition." Maybe I should of said "Red Herring" instead of "Strawman" but you get the idea....

tschmidt
MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
·Consolidated Com..
·Republic Wireless
·Hollis Hosting

tschmidt to KrK

MVM

to KrK
I've never understood the advantage of Power Line broadband vs setting up a WISP. Same thing with HomePlug power line LAN vs WiFi.

The equipment to launch and receive BPL is not all that different then over the air. Power lines are not very good waveguide.

/tom
rob11252
join:2006-09-08
Macomb, MI

rob11252 to KrK

Member

to KrK
I do. It was a deliberate bet on a dead horse, thus protecting incumbents. If somebody complained that FCC did not foster competition, they could easily deny it, knowing with absolute certainty that it would never get of the ground and challenge incumbents. Mission accomplished, Mr. Martin!
moonpuppy (banned)
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD

moonpuppy (banned)

Member

WOW, the new FCC council is going after the power companies

»www.fcc.gov/eb/AmateurAc ··· ome.html

Take a look at the RFI complaints. Strong words telling them fix it or else.

fifty nine
join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ

fifty nine

Member

Re: WOW, the new FCC council is going after the power companies

Laura Smith is in there kicking butt!

I think she was a good replacement for Riley.

Notice the 11 meter enforcement letters... 3 of them to Dayton Ohio. I have to wonder if they're cleaning up the place before hamvention.
moonpuppy (banned)
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD

moonpuppy (banned)

Member

Re: WOW, the new FCC council is going after the power companies

Man, she is going after people kinda hard core. Maybe she can generate some revenue.

I saw the 11 meter enforcement letters. Who knows but maybe they can catch a few of them in the flee market area and confiscate a few more pieces of equipment.

fifty nine
join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ

fifty nine

Member

Re: WOW, the new FCC council is going after the power companies

Well, I kinda doubt it. Used 11m equipment being sold to hams isn't really illegal. It's the new equipment such as "leenyers" from the likes of RM Italy, Dave Made and extended coverage "10 meter" transceivers being sold new that is illegal.

fritz43
Premium Member
join:2004-03-14

fritz43

Premium Member

Re: New Docs Show FCC Glossed Over BPL Flaws

It just goes to show you how the previous administration was rotten to the core. Sort of like a termite-infested dog house: one good kick and the whole sorry structure comes tumbling down.

Don't stop at the FCC, though. Other infested entities: FAA, FDA - the list goes on for miles. It will take years and billions to undo the damage. So sad, plus many of those behaviors may be legally actionable.