BPL on Long Island
LIPA to test high-speed Internet service On LONG ISLAND ....Warning Danger!!!!!
You could find BPL noise on the power lines outside your door soon. Unless
those of you who live in Nassau and Suffolk counties get involved and write,
noisy BPL may be coming to a power line near you. There is still time to write a
few letters?
LIPA to test high-speed Internet service On LONG ISLAND ....Warning Danger!!!!!
See http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzlipa0215,0,51795,print.story?coll=ny-top-headlines
for the full article.
On February 15, Newsday printed an article about LIPA's plans for a BPL test
announcing that on Feb. 21 it will ask companies to bid on a
broadband-over-power lines and wireless Internet "demonstration"
project to 105 homes and businesses in the Hauppauge/Commack area later this
year. LIPA plans to test the Broadband Power Line system, which will allow
Internet access via electrical lines and outlets, as well as wirelessly, over
the next two years. Companies in the Hauppauge Industrial area will be a focus
of the test, LIPA said Tuesday.
LIPA chairman Richard Kessel urged patience. He said LIPA doesn't want to
proceed with a wider rollout until it has fully tested the technology and makes
certain it can offer it without interruption to its power services, or
tax-exempt status.
Kessel also said the project, if rolled out profitably, has the potential to
help offset soaring electric rates.
See the LIPA page for details: http://www.lipower.org/newscenter/pr/2006/feb15.bpl.html
We are NOT going to be able to stop this LIPA test, but there is a chance we can
educate LIPA and help them choose to implement a BPL test system that is not an
RF polluter such as the Con Edison/Ambient test in Briarcliff, NY that ARRL is
currently trying to either get fixed or shut down. See the early February story
on Briarcliff. http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/02/02/3/?nc=1
You did write a letter I hope?
Our goal is to have the LIPA Board realize that they need to deploy a system
that will NOT be a problem for its rate payers, you, and other licensed services
such as police and fire. For that to happen they need to employ a system that
has a number of features:
* Employs fiber or wi-fi for the last link to the house or business
* Employs BPL only in the 30 to 80 MHz range on distribution lines
* Notches or screens all Amateur frequencies
* Enlists ARRL's technical department to assist in the choice and implementation
We are NOT against BPL, just against BPL that pollutes our precious HF
environment. Our goal here is to find a system that will operate without causing
harmful interference.
With this in mind we and some other ARRL members have already written and spoken
to a few LIPA board members about the problem. If you recognize and know any
board members on the list below let me (n2ff@arrl.org) know and I will point you
to some information to help you present your case to them.
Here is a list of the LIPA Board members:
Richard M. Kessel - Chairman
Patrick J. Foye - Deputy Chairmen
Howard E. Steinberg - Deputy Chairmen
Trustees
Michael J. Affrunti
Nancy Ann Akeson
Harvey Auerbach
John Fabio
Edna Gerrard
Harriet A. Gilliam
James C. Herrmann
Robert S. Maimoni
Nancy Nugent
Jonathan Sinnreich
Dr. James M. Shuart
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:
Please send letters to Chairman Kessel and as many other board members as you
can at:
LIPA's Executive Office
333 Earle Ovington Blvd., Suite 403
Uniondale, NY 11553
We need you to back us up with letters. Lots of them! It is really up to you.
Should you do nothing, please do not come crying to ARRL when you have an RF
polluting BPL system deployed in your front yard.
See the Hudson Division site for sample letters under "BPL on LI" at http://www.hudson.arrl.org/
if need. Please make every effort to "personalize" the samples so they
do not appear to be form letter and this become less effective.
Sending 14 letters could prove to be a prudent investment in the future of
Amateur Radio on Long Island.
Thanks for your help......
Frank Fallon.......N2FF, ARRL Hudson Division Director
Joyce Birmingham ..KA2ANF, ARRL Hudson Division Vice Director
George Tranos ...N2GA, NLI Section Manager
THE HUDSON DIVISION TEAM.....