FCC Reaffirms Support for Broadband over Power Lines

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously adopted an order intended to reaffirm and build upon the first set of regulations that were issued for Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) technology in 2004. The original rules focused on preventing the new Internet service from causing detrimental interference with radio signals that rely on nearby frequencies, such as those used in aviation and within zones near U.S. Coast Guard and radio astronomy stations. The original guidelines had engendered a number of reservations from both within and outside the BPL industry.

The spread of BPL technology would allow a greater number of Americans, especially those in rural and underserved areas, to gain access to high-speed Internet service. A consequence of the growth of BPL technology, according to the FCC commissioners, could be that markets that are dominated by cable and DSL may be forced to lower consumer bills. Among the reservations that were addressed in the updated guidelines, the regulators rejected requests by the amateur radio community, television broadcasters and the aeronautical industry to either exclude or prohibit BPL availability at certain frequencies, finding that there was insufficient evidence of potential interference to warrant stricter limitations.

Although interest in carrying Internet access over the electrical grid began several years ago, there are currently only about 50 such systems operating in the United States, the vast majority of which are still in the experimental or developmental stage. These modest numbers are largely the result of the resistance to the deployment of BPL mentioned above. Nonetheless, the calls for commercializing the technology seem to be growing. Last year, two companies unveiled plans to soon offer BPL to 2 million homes and businesses in northern Texas, and California regulators recently removed obstacles to testing the service in the state. Furthermore, investment in the technology has also been gaining momentum. Current Communications Group, a BPL provider, has received more than $200 million in financing from major corporations such as Google, General Electric, and Earthlink.