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 NEWS  News  media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Fax-  On-  Demand  202  /  418-  2830  TTY  202/  418-  2555  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  ftp.  fcc.  gov  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974).  FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE  News  Media  Contact:  October  14,  2004  Bruce  Romano 
 (202)  418-  2124 
 FCC  ADOPTS  RULES  FOR  BROADBAND  OVER  POWER  LINES  TO  INCREASE  COMPETITION  AND  PROMOTE  BROADBAND  SERVICE  TO  ALL  AMERICANS 


 Washington,  DC  -  As  part  of  its  goal  to  promote  access  to  broadband  services  for  all  Americans  and  to  encourage  new  facilities-  based  broadband  platforms,  the  Federal  Communications  Commission  today  adopted 
 changes  to  Part  15  of  its  rules  to  encourage  the  development  of  Access  Broadband  over  Power  Line  (Access  BPL)  systems  while  safeguarding  existing  licensed  services  against  harmful  interference.  Access  BPL  is  a  new 
 technology  that  provides  access  to  high  speed  broadband  services  using  the  largely  untapped  communications  capabilities  of  the  nation’s  power  grid.  By  facilitating  access  to  BPL,  the  Commission  takes  an  important  step 
 toward  increasing  the  availability  of  broadband  to  wider  areas  of  the  country  because  power  lines  reach  virtually  every  home  and  community.  In  areas  where  consumers  already  have  broadband  access,  BPL  can 
 enhance  competition  by  providing  another  broadband  alternative.  Access  BPL  will  also  facilitate  the  ability  of  electric  utilities  to  dynamically  manage  the  power  grid  itself,  increasing  network  reliability  by  remote 
 diagnosis  of  electrical  system  failures. 
 In  the  Report  and  Order  (Order)  adopting  these  changes,  the  Commission  recognized  the  significant  concerns  of  some  licensed  radio  service  users  regarding  the  potential  of  Access  BPL  systems  to  cause  interference  to  their 
 operations.  The  Commission  stated  that  its  intention  in  adopting  the  Part  15  rule  changes  was  to  ensure  that  Access  BPL  operations  do  not  become  a  source  of  harmful  interference  to  licensed  radio  services.  Based  on 
 extensive  research  and  analyses,  as  well  as  experience,  it  concluded  that  the  interference  concerns  of  licensed  radio  users  can  be  adequately  addressed  and  that  Access  BPL  systems  will  be  able  to  operate  successfully  on  an 
 unlicensed,  non-  interference  basis  under  the  Part  15  model.  The  rule  changes  in  the  Order  establish  specific  technical  and  administrative  requirements  for  Access  BPL  equipment  and  operators  to  ensure  that  interference 
 does  not  occur  and,  should  it  occur,  to  provide  for  a  timely  resolution  of  that  harmful  interference  without  disruption  of  service  to  Access  BPL  subscribers.  The  Order  also  sets  forth  procedures  to  measure  the  radio 
 frequency  (RF)  energy  emitted  by  Access  BPL  equipment. 
 Specifically,  the  Order  by  the  Commission: 
 -  Sets  forth  rules  imposing  new  technical  requirements  on  BPL  devices,  such  as  the  capability  to  avoid  using  any  specific  frequency  and  to  remotely  adjust  or  shut  down  any  unit; 


 -  Establishes  “excluded  frequency  bands”  within  which  BPL  must  avoid  operating  entirely  to  protect  aeronautical  and  aircraft  receivers  communications;  and  establishes  “exclusion  zones”  in  locations 
 close  to  sensitive  operations,  such  as  coast  guard  or  radio  astronomy  stations,  within  which  BPL  must  avoid  operating  on  certain  frequencies; 


 -  Establishes  consultation  requirements  with  public  safety  agencies,  federal  government  sensitive  stations,  and  aeronautical  stations. 
 -  Establishes  a  publicly  available  Access  BPL  notification  database  to  facilitate  an  organized  approach  to  identification  and  resolution  of  harmful  interference. 
 -  Changes  the  equipment  authorization  for  Access  BPL  systems  from  verification  to  certification;  and 
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 -  Improves  measurement  procedures  for  all  equipment  that  use  RF  energy  to  communicate  over  power  lines. 
 Action  by  the  Commission,  October  14,  2004  by  Report  and  Order  (FCC  04-  245).  Chairman  Powell,  Commissioners  Abernathy,  Martin,  and  Adelstein  with  Commissioner  Copps  dissenting  in  part  and  approving  in 
 part.  Joint  statement  issued  by  Chairman  Powell  and  Commissioner  Abernathy,  separate  statements  issued  by  Commissioners  Copps,  Martin,  and  Adelstein. 


 ET  Docket  No.  04-  37 
 Office  of  Engineering  Technology  Contact:  Anh  T.  Wride,  202-  418-  0577. 
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