FCC Agrees to Reclassify BPL Broadband Technology

Telecom News Editorials Reports Glossary

7:15 am on November 4, 2006 | Category: Telecom Services, Internet, Regulation

As most industry watchers expected, American regulators have voted to classify the transmission of data over power lines as an “information service,” allowing providers of this groundbreaking technology to avoid a number of regulatory constraints traditionally associated with telecommunications in the U.S.

The United Power Line Council’s (UPLC) first filed for FCC classification almost a year ago, and has since been promoting Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) as the regulatory equivalent to DSL and cable, which already qualify for “information service” exemptions.

As BPL gains widespread among internet users, it is expected to add a new dimension of competition to the broadband industry, challenging well-established providers of DSL and cable modem service.