Resident industry engineers here at Broadband Reports have clearly spelled out the problems with broadband over powerline (BPL) technology, while the technology continues to stumble across the digital landscape, most versions of it still marred by interference concerns. Dreams of a significant "third broadband pipe" are fading, and the technology is now mainly filling the role of an improved power utility monitoring solution (see Austin's announcement last week). Still, according to the technology's proponents, each year is going to be the year BPL takes off - though it still remains largely idle as a residential option. Meanwhile the FCC, whose previous commissioner called the technology the "great broadband hope", has BPL on the agenda for discussion August 3 (see Word document). The ARRL, an association comprised largely of ham radio operators and engineers, has been working hard to include provisions in upcoming broadband legislation that force the FCC to further explore interference concerns with.. (full story @ BBR)

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