"Exactly right. Isn't small government wonderful?" That's really not the
problem. Many federal agencies, including the one I work at, have plenty of
money and personnel. It's more a function of priorities and who sets them.
Years ago when I was in a Master's program, one of the courses I took was
Telecommunications Law taught at the George Mason University School of Law. It
was taught by an adjunct professor who was an attorney at the FCC. I was the
only engineer in the class. It was a fantastic class, the best one of the
program! One of the things we looked at was expanding broadband access in the
US. BPL was prominent at the time. I remember trying to make the case about its
interference potential to existing services and I was basically told I hear
you, your right, but you are barking up the wrong tree. It was clear many of
the decisions were being made by policy types and not by people that understood
its implications, especially the technical part. If BPL was going to be
defeated, it would happen because it wasn't financially viable, not on
technical merits, because it harmed existing services. Who could be against
greater broadband access for the public? Are other services like guys with t
heir ham radios and AM broadcast stations (who listens to AM) going to trump
that objective?
I'm more dubious about greater enforcement than some it appears. It's an uphill
battle on many fronts. Aren't there powerline RFI cases that have gone
unresolved for years because the FCC won't step in or won't enforce their own
standards? Besides, how long have guys like K1MAN and KZ8O been on double
secret probation, and nothing can be done about them?
Ken K4ZW
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Topband Reflector
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