http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2003/07/08/1/

"BPL is a Pandora's Box of Unprecedented Proportions"
By Rick Lindquist, N1RL (ARRL)

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https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/bpl/


Here's the situation...

Utility companies with deep pockets are promoting a new scheme -- with great
potential for causing harmful interference to Amateur Radio operators
nationwide. The FCC is considering possible rule changes to aid these
commercial interests who want to use existing electrical power lines that
run along nearly every street and road, and into every neighborhood, to
carry high-speed Internet service into homes and offices.

Why is this important to you?

Broadband over Power Line ("Access BPL") feeds broadband digital signals
onto power lines using high-frequency RF from 2 to 80 MHz -- right on top of
80 meters, 40 meters, 20 meters and every other popular ham band all the way
up to 6 meters. And it's not just the ham bands -- short-wave listeners are
at risk too. Although this technology is already allowed, the industry wants
the limits to be relaxed -- with greater interference potential to your ham
radio operation.

These BPL signals could transform HF from a quiet haven that hams enjoy to a
noisy industry wasteland, changing ham radio forever. It's already hard
enough to maintain a regular schedule with your friends, hear weak DX
signals, or copy a maritime ham in distress. Imagine trying to do that
through several S-units or more of broadband garbage. Imagine not even being
able to throw your rig in the car and escape it through mobile operation --
power lines are everywhere! Will you have to operate from a remote site just
to enjoy a quiet QSO?

.. . .

David Sumner, K1ZZ
ARRL Chief Executive Officer