...On April 23, 2003, the FCC put forth a Notice of Inquiry to the public supporting the potential of the BPL technology and seeking to set standards in practice for its implementation. Immediate opposition came from the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Both entities claim that BPL will cause serious interference issues.
A BPL modem is considered an unlicensed device, like a cordless phone or garage door opener. All unlicensed devices are governed by the FCC's Part 15 rules. Part 15 mandates that all electronic devices sold in the United States must meet FCC radio-frequency emissions limits. These limits are in place to secure against interference with important transmissions like CB communications, air-traffic control and government channels. ARRL and FEMA are concerned about the interference caused by BPL signals transmitted on exposed medium-voltage power lines......................