The FCC on Thursday affirmed its rules regarding Access BPL and planned to release an order – possibly on the same day – underlining its position.
Commissioners said they consider BPL another way to promote all Americans' access to broadband. To that end, gas and petroleum companies had asked to be considered public safety entities, but the FCC denied the request. Bruce Romano, a spokesman for the FCC, could not divulge details behind the FCC’s reasoning, saying only the industry will have to wait for the order to be published.
Brett Kilbourne, counsel and director of regulatory services for the United Power Line Council (UPLC), said his understanding was commissioners did not think the Aug. 3 meeting was the “time or place” to address the matter, adding it remained “an open question.”
Meanwhile, the UPLC has been asking for BPL to be considered an information service, the same as DSL and cable modem access. The FCC was set to consider that appeal but, the day before its August meeting, dropped it from the agenda. FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin told reporters after Thursday’s meeting there was no particular holdup and that all commissioners support the idea. He explained he was just “trying to streamline the meeting” and hopes to push the item through soon.
Kilbourne told xchange, “All indications are the commission will treat BPL the same as cable and DSL.”
He also said the FCC gave BPL equipment manufacturers “another year’s lease on life” by letting them use current hardware in existing systems for an additional year. This means BPL companies can expand their systems while manufacturers keep seeking certification.
The FCC further said its rules for Access BPL systems will maintain safeguards against interference to existing radio services, such as the kind operated by ham radio enthusiasts. “If harmful interference does occur, the commission will take appropriate action to remedy the situation,” the commission noted in a press release.
The FCC originally adopted rules governing BPL in October 2004.
FCC www.fcc.gov
United Power Line Council www.uplc.org
