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FCC Perspective on

FCC Perspective on. Broadband Over Power Line. Bruce Franca Deputy Chief. Office of Engineering and Technology FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION. Outline. Evolution of Communication Technologies over Power lines Benefits of Access BPL and Access BPL Rulemaking

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FCC Perspective on

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  1. FCC Perspective on Broadband Over Power Line Bruce Franca Deputy Chief Office of Engineering and Technology FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

  2. Outline • 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 Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

  3. Communication over Power Lines • 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 frequency • Low speed • Narrow frequency/spectrum bands • Used inside buildings/controlled environments (campus) Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

  4. Broadband over Power lines • 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) Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

  5. In-Home Computer Networking, Or Link Between Access BPL & Home “Low Voltage” (120/240 VAC) Broadband Internet Service “Medium Voltage” (e.g. 10kV) Two Types of BPL In-House BPL Access BPL Access BPL connects to computers in the home byin-house BPL or by WiFi (wireless)

  6. Coupler Coupler Power Generation Plant Backhaul Point (Gateway) In some Access implementations, these physical links are replaced by wireless links Low Voltage Aggregation Point BPL signals are extracted here & converted into/from traditional communication packets for appropriate communication direction High Voltage MediumVoltage ~ 1kVolts to 40 kVolts ~ MVolts ~ 120/240 Volts LV Distribution Transformer Substation Power Line Interface Device Located In Home Internet ACCESS BPL

  7. Benefits of BPL • “Last 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, security monitoring, traffic control, remote meter reading, instant Wi-Fi Hot Spot installation • Enhance national security of energy distribution systems • Foster development of smart appliances and resource sharing (home networking) Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

  8. Access BPL Rule Making • Notice of Inquiry – April 2003 • Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) – February 2004 • Adopted October 14, 2004, released October 28, 2004 • ET Docket 04-37, FCC 04-245 • http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-245A1.doc Report and Order Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

  9. Objectives • 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 Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

  10. Access BPL Rules I • 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) Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

  11. Access BPL Rules II • 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 Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

  12. Access BPL Rules III • BPL cannot operate on certain “excluded frequency bands” • Specifically, the following 12 Aeronautical (R) frequencies (communications restricted to safety and regularity of flight): Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

  13. Access BPL Rules IV • 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 Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

  14. Access BPL Rules V • 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 Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

  15. Access BPL Rules VI • 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 Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

  16. Database Requirements • 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 Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

  17. Access BPL Rules VII • 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 Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

  18. Test and Evaluate Product to Determine Compliance Access BPL Certification Submit Application to TCB – new technology, not permitted F C C G R A N T Label Product Prepare Test Report and Application Submit Application to FCC Market Product Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

  19. Access BPL Rules VIII • 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 Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

  20. Mitigation Responsibility • 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. Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

  21. Interference Complaints Procedure I • 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. Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

  22. Interference Complaints Procedure II • 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. Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

  23. Transition • 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 Registerfor BPL equipment already installed, manufactured or imported before the above deadline Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

  24. The Future of BPL • 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 Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

  25. Other Issues / Next Steps • 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) Platts Broadband Power Lines Conference

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