[RFI] Tesla's Response to Solar Panel RFI

[Hare, Ed W1RFI]

If you contact the FCC, it will probably send the case directly to ARRL.  Not many years ago, the FCC did essentially nothing in response to complaints, stating that it didn't have the staff resources to deal with individual complaints. Beginning with Riley Hollingsworth, both Riley and ARRL managed to open that door a lot more widely, but with the provision that ARRL would try to work with hams to resolve problems before asking for FCC help.  This involves first assessing whether the reported noise is harmful interference as defined by FCC rules.  It is then necessary to ensure that the noise source has been correctly identified.  FCC then wants the ham to try to resolve it first, usually by directly working with a neighbor, utility, company, etc.  As each of those steps unfolds, ARRL documents these efforts to resolve problem.  Then, if the parties involved do not act responsibly, FCC can and does send an advisory letter to try to facilitate resolution.

Politicians are not the answer. To them, this is a matter of pitting a hobby against big business or the general public. Amateur Radio will not come out looking good if it opens that can of worms.

Congress is probably not going enact an Act that changes Part 15, so the matter will be up to the FCC.  FCC is not going to change the limits or place any licensed service underneath an unintentional emitter, and if we continue to work reasonably with what seems to be a generally cooperative industry, it is not likely that any solar company or utility will ask them to.

I think we are on the best possible track and ARRL staff in the Lab will continue to work with hams, Solar Edge, Tesla and the FCC, both globally and on individual cases.

Ed Hare, W1RFI



-----Original Message-----
From: RFI <rfi-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Eddie Edwards
Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2019 7:55 PM
To: '<Rfi at contesting.com>' <rfi at contesting.com>; 'Stan Zawrotny' <k4sbz.stan at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [RFI] Tesla's Response to Solar Panel RFI

I totally agree with Stan's assessment, and would recommend all hams who operate HF and VHF bands begin contacting the ARRL and the FCC immediately regarding this issue whether you have solar RFI today or not.  

This issue will only grow worse with time and we'll soon all have this problem next door as politicians continue to move utilities away from fossil fuels and towards expensive renewables like wind & solar power eventually making the cheap, noisy home solar power more affordable to lower electricity bills.  

We can't hope for a weakness in solar power technology like BPL had with WiFi technology obsoleting house-wired BPL.  All it will take for solar to win in courts is for politicians to change the FCC Part 15 in favor of the home solar systems and companies that make and sell them.  We need political activism now not judicial court actions taking years doing nothing. 

1. If not already a member, put aside your politics and join ARRL.  It will take a large organization with a large membership to take on this battle.  
2. Contact your ARRL section manager and regional directors about the problem and your expectations of ARRL actions. 
3. Contact the FCC in writing complaining about solar power system companies ignoring FCC regulations and complaints by license radio services. 
4. Any other ideas out there?  Please share them here and on and club email
or facebook groups.   

I can see this issue eventually forcing amateur operators to add full power amps to their stations so they can be heard by hams suffering from solar RFI.  So it might be viewed reasonable for ARRL to submit a request to the FCC to increase the legal maximum power output for Amateur Radio stations.
I'm not proposing this as an actual solution, but as a desperate measure in response to the FCC's failure to act appropriately to resolve the problem.  

Geez, with HOAs reducing the number of licensed operators on HF and now this, HF operation could become a thing of the past if we lose this battle in the long run.  

73, de ed -K0iL
Ed Edwards
Omaha, NE

-----Original Message-----
From: RFI <rfi-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Stan Zawrotny
Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2019 17:00

Our "class action" vehicle, as was already pointed out, is the ARRL. As part of their charter to protect our spectrum and represent their members in all aspects of the hobby, they need to step up to the plate and take charge of the Solar RFI problem. They, in turn, need  to (1) contact offending companies, and (2) pressure the FCC to become aware of the entire noise level problem and start enforcing their rules.

Stan, K4SBZ



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