FCC Gives Broadband-Over-Power-Lines Light Regulatory Touch

Publication Date: 6 November 2006

The US Federal Communications Commission late last week freed broadband-over-power-line technology from various regulatory constraints by classifying the technology as an information service. This puts BPL in the same regulatory bucket as cable modem and DSL.

The FCC voted unanimously to approve the United Power Line Council’s bid for the classification, as was widely expected. The FCC had reiterated its support of BPL in recent months.

If the FCC had classified BPL as a telecommunications service instead, BPL providers that use power transmission lines to provide data access would have been subject to far more regulations.

Previously, the FCC ordered that BPL providers could not interfere with existing radio services, despite requests by several entities, including amateur radio, aviation and broadcasting groups, to either ban or limit the service.

BPL is still very much in its nascent stages in the US, with just a handful of networks currently deployed around the country, predominantly in the northeast.

“The commission’s broadband statistics show that subscribers to BPL Internet access services, although few in number overall, increased by nearly 200% in 2005,” said FCC chairperson Kevin Martin, in a statement. “These services hold great promise for consumers. It is, therefore, critical that the commission take appropriate action to foster their development.”


Source: Datamonitor