Broadband over Power Line

Hi guys,

Imagine interference on your radio coming in at 40db over S9. This may soon be a reality, making ham radio and other radio services useless.

Meralco and PLDT will soon be testing BPL or Broadband over Power Lines. This will definitely cause interference on the amateur bands.
Click HERE to read an Enquirer article about the new Meralco and PLDT joint venture

The Meralco franchise is huge. Their 9,337 sq. km. franchise area covers 23 cities and 88 municipalities including Metro Manila, the entire provinces of Bulacan, Rizal and Cavite, parts of the provinces of Laguna, Quezon and Batangas, and 17 barangays in Pampanga. Electrification level in the franchise is 97%.
Click HERE to read more

Imagine an enormous antenna covering 9,337 sq. km. Imagine how huge a signal that could generate! It will not only cause interference in that franchise area but it can spill over to other areas, especially if the propagation is good.

So, you do not live in a Meralco franchise area? What will stop your power company from venturing into BPL? How sure are you that they will not go into BPL?

We should put a stop to BPL now. I am not against technology, however there are "cleaner" technologies for internet transmission such as wifi, cable, fiber optic, telephone line, etc....

Radio is not only a hobby, it is useful during emergencies and disasters. Of course we know that because we are hams. Other services like government, the military, commercial enterprises also use radio daily and during disasters.

What should we do? Well, we can start by writing to NTC, PLDT, Meralco and its officers.

For your convenience, I have prepared a draft letter. Just copy and paste into your favorite word processor, fill in your name and contact information and then email or mail to them.

For the love of ham radio, very truly yours,

Eddie Valdez DU1EV

Dear Sir or Madam:

I have read that PLDT and Meralco will be testing Broadband over Power Line, BPL, in the Malabon area starting August 2009.

I strongly oppose the use of power lines for broadband internet because of the harmful interference it causes on radio frequencies. The interference will wreak havoc on the HF and VHF bands of the radio spectrum and this will affect commercial, government, military and amateur communications.

I am not opposed to technology. Presently, there are other means for transmission of broadband internet which do not cause interference like telephone lines, cable, wifi, and fiber optic.

Until and unless BPL technology improves and will not cause interference to the radio spectrum, I shall continue to oppose BPL.

I therefore respectfully request that your plan of using power lines for broadband be terminated.

Very truly yours,

YOUR NAME
YOUR CONTACT INFO

SEND TO :

oh.acct.mgmt@meralco.com.ph

customercare@pldt.com

commissioner@ntc.gov.ph

depcom1@ntc.gov.ph

osec@cict.gov.ph (Commission on Information and Communication Technology under the Office of the President)