BPL Update

Steve Welsh (AD4E) sent a letter to Mayor John Marks requesting that TARS be kept abreast of the City's investigation into the feasibility to deploy BPL technology in Tallahassee.  The text of that letter follows:

To: Mayor John Marks, City of Tallahassee
From: Tallahassee Amateur Radio Society
Represented by Steve Welsh, Member and Past President
Date: June 11, 2004
SUBJECT: Internet Access Using Broadband over Powerline (BPL)

It has come to the attention of local amateur radio (ham radio) operators and the Tallahassee Amateur Radio Society (TARS) that the City of Tallahassee is investigating the feasibility of offering broadband internet access to subscribers using a new technology called Broadband over Powerline, or BPL.

BPL superimposes radio frequencies (RF) carrying digital data onto power lines to deliver internet access to subscribers. This technology inherently radiates signals into the same frequencies used by ham radio operators (and other licensed radio services as well), thus causing interference. Although the signals produced by BPL systems are localized, they do have the potential to seriously degrade radio communications taking place nearby.

Besides its attributes as a hobby, amateur radio operators have consistently provided supplemental communications support for the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC), the American Red Cross (ARC), the National Weather Service (NWS), LCSO, TPD, and other agencies in times of natural disasters, man-made disasters, or any time of distress, including acts of terrorism (Homeland Security). The frequencies used by us are a precious natural resource and should be protected as such.

TARS members are in daily communication with the agencies mentioned above and we are ready to offer assistance at a moments notice; in fact, many of our members are employed by those agencies.

Please hear our request that BPL be scrutinized closely for its benefits versus its costs, including its known detrimental effects on radio communications. By this letter, TARS is requesting to be updated to the current status of the City's research and to be kept apprised of future research into BPL. We are also requesting to be included on any committee or work-group researching BPL. Our membership does include several professionals in the fields of electrical and communications systems engineering.

Please respond to Steve Welsh, as representing TARS, regarding this inquiry by July 15. Should you should have any questions, I can be reached at 414-7235; 1137 Virgil Road, Tallahassee, FL 32311-3422

cc: Commissioners Debbie Lightsey, Mark Mustian, and Andrew Gillum; Electric Utility Contact Gary Brinkworth

(Note: this memorandum was sent via US Postal Service on June 14, certified return receipt.)

The City of Tallahassee's reply via e-mail follows below.

-----Original Message-----
From: Williams, Alan [mailto:williaal@talgov.com]
Sent: Monday, June 21, 2004 2:35 PM
To: 'Welsh, Steve'
Cc: Fernandez, Ricardo; Favors, Anita; Hart, Dinah
Subject: RE: Internet Access Using Broadband over Powerline (BPL)

Sent on Behalf of Mayor John Marks:

Dear Mr. Welsh:

RE: Concerns regarding BPL investigations by the City of Tallahassee

Thank you for your letter dated June 11th expressing some concerns about the City's investigation into Broadband over Power Lines (BPL). Much like other opportunities that may benefit the City and its customers, we have done a very preliminary assessment of this technology. This technology has the potential to provide enhanced communications capabilities for our utility and public works field crews in addition to the broadband Internet access service you mentioned in your letter.

The City's electric utility did a "high level" analysis of deployment of BPL in December 2003 for the purpose of determining if the technology had any value for the City. While that analysis seems to indicate there could be benefits associated with a targeted deployment of BPL, a number of technical questions remain unanswered and we have made no decision about pursuing the technology at this time. However, we are continuing to review technical and legal issues related to BPL and may at a future date consider further studies or a small field trial.

Your letter makes reference to radio interference concerns associated with BPL, and the City would certainly investigate the issue before making any decision about implementing this technology. City staff is aware of successful field trials and commercial deployments of BPL that were able to resolve the radio interference concern and we would expect to be able to find a workable solution before any system was deployed by the City. I would welcome the participation of TARS should we decide to undertake any sort of field trial of BPL; staff will contact you if the City decides to move forward with that investigation.

John Marks, Mayor
City of Tallahassee
Alan Williams
Aide to Mayor John Marks
City of Tallahassee
850-891-2000