FCC's final version of BPL rule released today

"In this Report and Order, we adopt new rules for Access Broadband over Power Line (Access BPL) systems, a new type of carrier current technology that provides access to high speed broadband services using electric utility companies' power lines," the FCC said in the official BPL order put out today.
     "This new technology offers the potential for the establishment of a significant new medium for extending broadband access to American homes and businesses.
     "Given that power lines reach virtually every residence and business in every community and geographic area in this country, Access BPL service could be made available nearly everywhere.
     "This new broadband delivery medium could also serve to introduce additional competition to existing cable, DSL, and other broadband services.
     "The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has undertaken a significant effort to both study Access BPL technology, including its operating characteristics and interference potential, and to make specific recommendations to the Commission for policies to encourage its implementation and to manage its interference potential.
     "Our staff has worked closely with NTIA on this matter and the policy decisions and rules we are adopting herein reflect this cooperation and embody many of NTIA's recommendations," said the order.
     Download the order, press release and statements from the commissioners at FCC's main webpage:  http://www.fcc.gov/.
     See Monday's BPL Today for reactions from stakeholders and our analysis of what this means for the industry plus what happened at the NARUC BPL Task Force meeting.