FCC Corrects Rules in BPL Report and Order

The FCC made some minor changes in the Access Broadband over Power Line (BPL) Report and Order. The portion of Section 15.15 dealing with user adjustable controls was changed from "(b) Except as specified in paragraph (c), an intentional or unintentional radiator must be constructed such that the adjustments of any control that is readily accessible by or intended to be accessible to the user will not cause operation of the device in violation of the regulations" to "(b) Except as follows, an intentional or unintentional radiator must be constructed such that the adjustments of any control that is readily accessible by or intended to be accessible to the user will not cause operation of the device in violation of the regulations. Access BPL equipment shall comply with the applicable standards at the control adjustment that is employed. The measurement report used in support of an application for Certification and the user instructions for Access BPL equipment shall clearly specify the user- or installer-control settings that are required for conformance with these regulations."

The requirement for making measurements outlined in Section 15.31(f)(5) was changed to " Measurements shall be performed at a sufficient number of radials around the equipment under test to determine the radial at which the field strength values of the radiated emissions are maximized. The maximum field strength at the frequency being measured shall be reported in the equipment authorization report. This paragraph shall not apply to Access BPL equipment on overhead medium voltage lines. In lieu thereof, the measurement guidelines established by the Commission for Access BPL shall be followed."

Requirements for certification were also modified. See the ERRATUM for additional information.