Broadband Over Power Line technology has been slow at becoming adapted as a means for pushing broadband internet to homes from the local power company.  Interference with HAM radio has been a major issue.

The new IEEE 1901 standard could enhance the current landscape for BPL apps in the home.  The IEEE 1901 standard establishes standard data rates in excess of 500 Mbps in LAN applications.  This could offer an opportunity for BPL technology to increase it’s place in the home as audio/video apps in the home increase.  Apps in transportation and the likes of smart energy will also lay the need for other ways to piped broadband connecttivity.

“There is a huge potential in Smart Grid applications,” said Jean-Philippe Faure, chair of the 1901 Working Group, in an e-mail. “Today, the pilot projects mostly used low-data-rate communication solutions, but IEEE 1901 is developed to support the quantity of information and response time that will be necessary to manage an effective smart grid.” Faure added that 1901 is expected to benefit companies with a stake in smart grids, including utilities, service providers and consumer electronics companies.

The new standard is also designed to help spur the growth of BPL in home applications. “BPL technology is doing very well in the home,” he said. “It is very successful in the IP TV market. … 1901 BPL modems are used as LAN extensions between the DSL/cable modems and the TV IP (boxes). BPL is also used to extend coverage and performance of WiFi networks.”

This move seems like the only path for the technology to take.

It’s no secret in the industry that broadband over power lines advocates have butted heads with ham radio operators the past few years.  The controversy raised by those using ham radios, is that broadband over power line technology interferes with their transmissions.  Finding a middle ground between the two groups has been an uphill battle.

Last Friday, the FCC issued a new notice of proposed rulemaking requesting further comment on whether power line systems and devices interfere with other transmission of radio signals.

In 2007, the American Radio relay league went to court with the FCC regarding its plans for broadband over power line technology.  Their main argument was that the service interfered with transmissions from ham radio signals, and demonstrated examples, such as this.

In April 2008, the DC circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia sided with two of the American Radio Relay League complaints.  The court found that the FCC had insufficiently explained its stance for the BPL standards it had established.  And secondly, the court had found there was “little doubt that the commission deliberately attempted to exclude from the record evidence adverse to its position.”

Now though, the FCC has released fully transparent case studies after the ARRL FOIA requests.  The commission is requesting feedback on the type of power levels it should authorize for broadband over power line technology.  The “extrapolation factor” of BPL emissions is there primary focus.  Testing how quickly the BPL emissions decay at different levels of power strength will be reviewed.  In past case studies, the FCC has suggested using 40 dB per decade for frequencies less than 30 MHz.  The ARRL would like to see that number cut in half, and cited studies in favor of its position.

The commission has stated that its possibly willing to go with a 30 dB per decade transmission, even though it could increase the compliance burden for BPL equipment.

We’ll now wait for the ARRL to respond to this latest proposal by the FCC.