[RFI] WSJ & BPL

Wed Mar 24 11:10:39 EST 2004

Nicely Done...

My point with BPL is simple.  Why would anyone want to be tethered to a 
power line when they can go wireless.  Wireless phones are so popular 
now that  there is now a decline in the number of wired phone installs 
in this country. The same logic applies to wireless data.  Wireless is 
the way of the future.  Not another unreliable, high priced wired 
service with so so performance.

Besides the threat of BPL interference the really scary part is that 
part you mentioned about all of us having to pay for this power company 
"monopoly" mistake...I hate that ;-(

Best Regards,
dave
wa3gin

W0UN -- John Brosnahan wrote:

> For the record--I did respond to Ken Brown's WSJ article.  It is
> not a particularly great reply, but I hope I covered some the salient
> points in a relatively friendly and helpful manner.  I have not yet
> heard from him!    ;-)
>
> --John  W0UN
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> ken.brown at wsj.com
>
> Hi, Ken--
>
> I am sure you will get a LOT of mail about your story and most of
> it from the ham community, of which I am a member.
>
> But your story DOES sound like a handout from the power company,
> with no mention at ALL of the other groups who feel that BPL
> technology is not appropriate for many reasons.
>
> You should research how many countries have played with BPL
> and then REJECTED the technology because it caused interference
> with many other technologies that also use the HF spectrum.
>
> BTW  This technology is called PLC in Europe--doing a search on PLC
> will add to your knowledge.  Ever wonder why the name was CHANGED?
>
> And you should do some research on how many government
> agencies (not just hams) have also protested about the technology.
> For instance the military and homeland security have raised
> serious concerns about BPL to name just a few.
>
> And you should look at the financial issues with this technology.
> It HAS been studied before and a little google searching will
> help you find it.   The electric utilities have a poor technology
> that is years late compared to cable, telephone DSL, WiFi, etc.
> They are trying to make some quick bucks in a field that has
> already been well-established and better-served by more appropriate
> technologies.  And in the process of the utility companies trying
> to get involved with "sexy" new technology they have failed miserably
> in maintaining there core business--of power distribution.
>
> As a purveyor of financial information (the WSJ, right) you SHOULD
> be warning your readers about the potential losses they could
> sustain when the utilities fail at finding a niche large enough to
> support their inappropriate technology.
>
> Here is your chance to do some GOOD reporting and dig into
> the BPL issues and show your readers an unbiased story that
> incorporates the concerns of a lot of government agencies, has
> failed the tests in a number of European countries, and could well
> be the boondoggle of this decade.
>
> Good luck on doing your homework and I would be happy to
> help you in any way I can.  Just don't do a narrow story that points
> at a single group and think you are doing a good story about the
> technology.
>
> Go to the FCC web site and see just what agencies have expressed
> concern and what countries have already dumped this inappropriate
> technology and then try to protect the investors of this country from
> yet another Montana Power style rip off.  I read the WSJ for sound 
> financial
> advice and this article is disingenuous.
>
> Sincerely--
>
> John Brosnahan
> Signal Hill Research LLC
> 45066 FM 187
> Vanderpool, TX  78885
>
> 830-966-5646
>
>
> ------------Notice the words "CHORUS of federal organizations" 
> below-------------
>
> <http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/36294>FEMA Cites BPL Concerns
> <http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/36294>Broadband over powerline 
> deployment cautioned
> The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) joins the chorus of 
> federal organizations concerned about broadband via-power line 
> interference. The agency recently expressed "grave concerns" that the 
> technology could impair the group's crisis time abilities. FEMA filed 
> <http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6515292045>comments 
> on December 4 in response to the FCC's BPL notice of inquiry, 
> <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/12/08/1/?nc=1>reports the ARRL. 
> According to FEMA, BPL could "severely impair FEMA's mission-essential 
> HF radio operations in areas serviced by BPL technology." The National 
> Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) also recently 
> filed their 
> <http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/fccfilings/2003/bplcomments_08132003.htm>own 
> comments, urging the FCC to "move forward expeditiously". For 
> backstory, Broadband Reports has 
> <http://www.dslreports.com/sitesearch/News/BPL>often explored 
> broadband over power-lines and the potential interference to amateur 
> radio hobbyists and emergency communications.
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>---
>Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
>Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
>Version: 6.0.601 / Virus Database: 382 - Release Date: 2/29/2004
>  
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>_______________________________________________
>RFI mailing list
>RFI at contesting.com
>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi
>  
>