FCC Scheduled to Decide Broadband over Power Lines ( BPL ) Classification

FCC Scheduled to Decide BPL Classification
10/30/2006
Kelly M. Teal


The FCC on Friday is likely to decide whether BPL should be classified as an interstate information service, rather than a telecommunications service, the same as DSL and cable modem access.

Offering a service under the information service header puts providers at an advantage, as they face less regulation than they would under the telecommunications service moniker. The decision also stands to influence the deployment of BPL services, which remain scant.

The commission is taking up the matter three months after it originally had planned to address a request that was filed by the United Power Line Council (UPLC) in late 2005. Commissioners on Friday also are expected to consent to the pending AT&T-BellSouth merger during the meeting, scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. EST.

The UPLC last year asked the FCC for the classification change for BPL, also known as the “third wire” into the home. The federal body was to consider the appeal in August, but dropped the matter from its agenda and has not taken it up again until now.

UPLC lawyers contend that classifying BPL as an information service would serve the public interest by promoting investment in BPL equipment and technology. It further would encourage facilities-based competition against telcos and cablecos, the organization argued, and help meet the president’s goal of achieving ubiquitous broadband by 2007.

Brett Kilbourne, counsel and director of regulatory services for the UPLC, told xchange in August, “All indications are the commission will treat BPL the same as cable and DSL.”

The industry has yet to see large rollouts of BPL services; it also faces skepticism from experts who are not entirely convinced of the technology’s viability in the marketplace. The largest project underway so far is being done by TXU Electric Delivery in Texas, along with BPL solutions provider CURRENT Communications Group. The companies are in a 10-year, $150 million contract to develop a broadband-enabled “Smart Grid” for delivering BPL Internet access. Marking the project’s advancement, TXU announced last week it will buy 400,000 BPL-capable power meters in 2007.

TXU Electric Delivery’s BPL will be able to reach as many as 2 million customers in the Dallas-Forth Worth area, the company has said.

Source: www.xchangemag.com