fcc perspective on

Bruce FrancaBruce Franca

Deputy ChiefDeputy Chief

December 8, 2004 Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference 22

• Evolution of Communication Technologies over Power lines

• Benefits of Access BPL and Access BPL Rulemaking

• What are FCC requirements for Access BPL?

• Transition

• The Future of BPL

• Other Issues / Next Steps


Carrier current systems have been around for many years

Some examples:

Campus radio systems Lamp/thermostat controllers

Until recently, general characteristics of carrier current systems were:

Low frequencyLow speedNarrow frequency/spectrum bandsUsed inside buildings/controlled environments (campus)


NEW Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) operations are different Advanced digital processing and modulation techniques Multiple carriers Wide spectrum bandwidths (e.g., 2-80 MHz)

Two General Applications: Access systems – Internet/broadband to neighborhood

using medium voltage lines In-Home or in-building operations (HomePlug)

In-Home Computer Networking, Or Link Between Access BPL & Home

“Low Voltage” (120/240 VAC)

Broadband Internet Service

“Medium Voltage” (e.g. 10kV)

Access BPL connects to computers in the home by

in-house BPL or by WiFi (wireless)

Power Line Interface Device

Located In Home

High Voltage Medium Voltage Low Voltage

LV Distribution Transformer

PowerGeneration

PlantSubstation

AggregationPoint

InternetInternet

~ MVolts ~ 1kVolts to 40 kVolts ~ 120/240 Volts

CouplerCoupler

Backhaul Point

(Gateway)

ACCESS BPLACCESS BPLBPL signals are extracted here & converted into/from traditional communication packets for appropriate communication direction

In some Access implementations,these physical links are replaced by wireless links


““Last Mile” solutionLast Mile” solution: potential 3rd Pipe (+ DSL & Cable) to bring broadband services to the home

Internet and high speed broadband access to wider areas of the country

Promote redundancy of communications systems

Improve utilities’ management of electric grid:

remote power outage notification, remote power outage notification, security monitoringsecurity monitoring, , traffic traffic controlcontrol, , remote meter readingremote meter reading, , instant Wi-Fi Hot Spot instant Wi-Fi Hot Spot installationinstallation

Enhance national security of energy distribution systems

Foster development of smart appliances and resource sharing (home networking)


Notice of Inquiry – April 2003

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) – February 2004

Adopted October 14, 2004, released October 28, 2004

ET Docket 04-3704-37, FCC 04-245

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-245A1.doc


Remove regulatory uncertainty to encourage investments in BPL

Promote development of Access BPL technology to allow consumers to reap its benefits

Ensure protection of licensed radio services

Ensure that compliance measurements are made in a consistent manner with repeatable results


Access BPL remains under Part 15 unlicensed device rules (new Subpart G)

No change in existing Part 15 emission levels (low power unlicensed operation)

Access BPL operations cannot cause harmful interference and must accept any interference (47 C.F.R §15.5)


Access BPL must include adaptive interference mitigation capabilities to avoid local and site-specific interference, e.g.

Exclude or “notch” any specific frequency or band

Remotely shut off any BPL device


BPL cannot operate on certain “excluded frequency bands”

Specifically, the following 12 Aeronautical (R) frequencies (communications restricted to safety and regularity of flight):

2850-3025 kHz

3400-3500 kHz 4650-4700 kHz

5450-5680 kHz 6525-6685 kHz 8815-8965 kHz

10005-10100 kHz 11275-11400 kHz 13260-13360 kHz

17900-17970 kHz 21924-22000 kHz 74.8-75.2 MHz


Establishes “exclusion zones” within which Access BPL must avoid operating on certain frequencies

Access BPL must avoid using 2182 kHz (2173.5- 2190.5 kHz) within 1 km of a U.S. Coast Guard or maritime public coast station

Access BPL using overhead power lines must avoid using 73-74.6 MHz within 29 km of ten radio astronomy sites (Very Long Baseline Array facilities)

Access BPL using underground power lines or overhead low voltage power lines must avoid using 73-74.6 MHz within 11 km of these ten radio astronomy sites


Establishes “consultation requirements” for BPL with public safety, and certain sensitive federal and aeronautical stations

Establishes a “good faith” process to ensure that

Access BPL systems do not cause interference; and

Any restrictions by licensees on BPL are only those necessary to avoid interference


Requires industry to establish a publicly accessible database for Access BPL systems containing:

Access BPL Provider Name

Access BPL deployment by zip code

Frequency bands of operation

Type of equipment (FCC ID)

Contact Information (phone number and email address) to facilitate interference resolution

Proposed or Actual date of Access BPL operation


The industry will select the database administrator and must inform the Commission within 180 days of publication of Report and Order in the Federal Register

The Commission will issue a Public Notice announcing the identity of the database administrator


Changes equipment authorization requirements for Access BPL devices from Verification to FCC Certification, to be carried out by the BPL manufacturer

Certification is an equipment authorization issued by the FCC and requires manufacturers to submit testing and measurement data to the FCC

Under Verification, the manufacturer determines the equipment is compliant and no data is submitted to the FCC unless requested


Prepare Test Report and Application

Prepare Test Report and Application

FCC GRANT

FCC GRANT

Label ProductLabel

Product

Market ProductMarket Product

Test and Evaluate

Product to Determine

Compliance

Test and Evaluate

Product to Determine

Compliance

Submit Application

to FCC

Submit Application

to FCC

Submit Application to TCB –

new technology,

not permitted

Submit Application to TCB –

new technology,

not permitted


Provides new measurement procedures and guidelines to ensure that testing of Access BPL and other carrier current devices is performed in a more consistent and repeatable manner

Recommends that BPL operators perform testing during initial installation and periodically to ensure compliance


Protection of Licensed Radio Services is provided by: the emissions limits for Access BPL systems (low Part 15 levels)

the provisions for consultation areas, excluded bands, and exclusion zones; and

the requirement that Access BPL systems not cause interference.

The mitigation requirements are intended to ensure that Access BPL systems are designed with features that support interference mitigation

during initial installation, if sensitive local communications systems are identified in advance; and

after installation, the newly required operational capabilities will allow Access BPL system operators to expeditiously resolve any instances of interference that may occur, without the need to cease operations and thereby disrupt the broadband data services they provide to their subscribers.


Parties who believe they are experiencing interference from an unlicensed device are first expected to bring the matter to the attention of the operator of the unlicensed device.

If that action does not resolve the interference, the party may then seek intervention by the Commission.


In the event a BPL interference complaint is filed by a licensee with the Commission, the Commission will contact the complainant and/or the BPL provider to determine if they have first attempted to resolve the interference complaint among themselves.

If they have not made such an attempt, the complaint will be forwarded to the BPL provider for action and the complainant notified that they will be contacted by the BPL provider concerning their interference complaint.

The Commission may periodically monitor the resolution process to ensure that the parties are working in good faith and making appropriate progress in resolving the interference complaint.

If the parties have attempted to address the complaint but the matter remains unresolved, the Commission, through its Enforcement Bureau with assistance from the Office of Engineering and Technology, will review the complaint and take appropriate action.


Rules Effective 30 days from publication of BPL Report and Order in Federal Register

for all new BPL equipment

Transition time

18 months from publication of BPL Report and Order in Federal Register for BPL equipment already installed, manufactured or imported before the above deadline


The FCC has adopted minimal technical and administrative rules intended to create a positive growth environment for BPL and to facilitate investments in this technology

The concerns with BPL potential interference issues are addressed by adopting the necessary restrictions on BPL operations to protect licensed radio services

The adoption of a reasonable mechanism for interference resolution allows BPL operators to continue to provide uninterrupted service to their subscribers while addressing interference complaints

The future of BPL will depend on BPL investments and innovative business plans


ARRL FOIA request of test results

Some Outstanding Interference Complaints

Potential Petitions for Reconsideration

Helping Local Government on BPL Regulatory Issues NARUC

SEARUC

Continuing to work with NTIA and FERC

Cooperating with our neighbors on BPL (Canada)

fcc perspective on

Documents

bpl device

access bpl rulemakingwhat

vacaccess bpl

inhouse bpl

voltsaccess bpl

access bpl homelow voltage

certain frequencies

power lines bpl operations