Jul 14, 2004 12:00 PM

FCC Chairman Michael Powell today said “the future is bright” for broadband over power line technology and pledged that the commission would continue to explore ways to support the nascent technology. However, Powell also acknowledged the FCC’s obligation to ensure that BPL doesn’t interfere with other wireless services.

Powell’s statement followed a BPL demonstration conducted by AT&T and Pacific Gas and Electric Company at the AT&T laboratories in Menlo Park, Calif. Amateur radio operators and first responders are concerned about the potential for radiation leakage from BPL that could interfere with their radio signals.

However, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued by the FCC in March calls for BPL operators to operate within the commission’s Part 15 rules.

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