ARRL Files Appeal of FCC BPL Rules in Federal Court

The ARRL has taken the next step on challenging the FCC's sloppy rule making concerning Broadband over Power Line (BPL):


NEWINGTON, CT, May 24, 2007 -- The ARRL has filed a federal appeals court brief outlining its case and requesting oral arguments in its petition for review of the FCC's broadband over power line (BPL) rules. The League has petitioned the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit to review the FCC's October 2004 Report and Order (R&O) in ET Docket 04-37 and its 2006 Memorandum Opinion and Order. In its brief filed May 17, the ARRL contends, among other things, that the FCC's actions in adopting rules to govern unlicensed BPL systems fundamentally alter the longstanding rights of radio spectrum licensees, including Amateur Radio operators.

Bill McArthur KC5ACR at Dayton Hamvention®

I had previously reported that Bill McArthur KC5ACR was very active on 2M FM from the International Space Station (ISS) using the ISS callsign NA1SS. Bill took up the challenge of completing WAS and WAC (and accomplished it). The high point for me was working NA1SS on Dec 5, 2005.

Bill was at the Dayton Hamvention this year and did a presentation on his experience with ham radio on the ISS. I also had the opportunity to meet Bill later in the day and thank him for energizing the ham radio community via his ARISS radio operating. We chatted briefly and I managed to get a photo of the two of us together.

73, Bob K0NR