1	Winning Against BPL in Chambersburg,PA
2	Presenters Dave Yoder - KB3HUC Milt Engle - N3LTQ George Harris - N3GH Todd McLaughlin - N3MMH
3	Cumberland Valley Amateur Radio Club Founded in 1955 A small club (approx. 66 paid members) Active in Public Service (RACES, parades , and races) Located in Franklin County, South Central Pennsylvania Not rich. At all.
4	Getting Organized Get the Word OUT to local hams Mailed Flyer On Air Nets Email Meet Right Away to determine strategy Make sure local hams understand the goal is to WIN, not just protest. Set responsibilities for research Make contact with the media
5	Getting Organized (cont’d) Find out WHO ARE THE DECISION MAKERS! ! ! Make immediate contact with them, presenting hams as local resource Get a copy of whatever agreements or contracts are already done, find out what the NEXT steps are, and the TIMETABLE for them.
6	Research Categories Web Sites BPL information FCC News Articles Field Trials Videos Trial costs
7	BPL Information on Web BPL Investments Concerns http://www.google.com BPL - Broadbands Fool’s Gold http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/41546 GoBPL - The BPL Website http://www.gobpl.com/index.html VVARA Broadband Over Powerline (BPL) Web Page http://www.vvara.org/broadband_bpl.html CQ Magazine BPL Info Central http://www.cq-vhf.com/BPL.html CityFreq Site http://www.cityfreq.com/
8	FCC Information on Web Responses to FCC “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” DERA (Disaster Emergency Response Association) http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6516182714 The Boeing Company http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6516183088 The Missouri State Highway Patrol http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6516182881 COMMENTS OF IEEE-USA (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6516183235 ShipCom, LLC (owns and operates 4 Maritime Public Coast Stations) http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6516185627 NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration) http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/fccfilings/2004/bpl/
9	News Article Examples Powerline Broadband Worldwide by Karl Bode http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/31652 Japan’s Government Conclusion, The JARL News vol15, no. 4 http://www.jarl.or.jp/english/4_libraary/a-4-1_news/jn0208.htm Top-10 Watch Items by Re’jean Beaulieu http://www.gobpl.com/investing_10.html BPL Risks by Re’jean Beaulieu http://www.gobpl.com/subscriber.html
10	Failed Field Trials Penn Yan, NY http://www.fltimes.com/main.asp?sectionID=38&articleID=5387&subsectionID=121 Raleigh, NC http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/08/06/2/ Cedar Rapids, IA http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/06/28/2/ Cottonwood, AZ http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/08/17/2/
11	Videos All Available on ARRL Web Page Amateur Radio Today (Walter Cronkite) https://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=8861 Broadband over Power Line Video http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/aud-vid.html BPL interference in Emmaus, PA http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/aud-vid.html
12	Contacts Local Elected Officials Emergency Management Director Local Communications/ 9-1-1 Center Local Police or State Troopers Fire Chiefs ARRL, esp. Ed Hare (w1rfi@arrl.org)
13	At The Consultant’s Show Maintaining a professional posture Be Inquisitive and ask detailed questions, persist politely Do not allow yourself to be lured into verbal traps Keep good notes and quotes
14	Introducing Mr. Shpigler “All systems radiate, and BPL is considered an unintentional radiator of the licensed radio spectrum.” D. Shpigler September 16, 2004 David Shpigler is/was: Director of Research, United Telecom Council Partner, Electric Broadband LLC, licensee of Cottonwood trial Note: www.electricbroadband.com is shutdown 12/24/2004 President of Shpigler Group
15	BPL Fictions Zero Out of Pocket Expenses BPL will attract new Industry (HOW?) Your Town will be Categorized as a “Technical Have Not” but BPL will solve that. Notching solves all interference issues
16	The Shpigler Group has listed the following as current trials: Penn Yan, New York , trial shut down Energy East indicates they will not use BPL based upon observations of the Penn Yan trial Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Alliant) Trial was shut down on June 25, 2004 Raleigh, North Carolina (Progress Energy) Trial was shut down early in part due to interference Southern Maryland Electric Coop (SMECO) Eastern Shore of Maryland Costs of backhaul construction higher than anticipated
17	BPL Costs of Trials Costs to Chambersburg Borough Lab Trial- $60,000.00 Tech Trial- $120,000.00 Market Trial- $160,000.00 TOTAL= $340,000.00 But presentation on 9/13/2004 stressed “no out-of-pocket expenses” And these are only those admitted . . .
18	Other Likely Costs Training for line workers Time away from core tasks Overtime for installation and service Additional regulatory issues during trials New equipment costs Possible infrastructure upgrades required for BPL to function Added wear on existing equipment
19	Evaluation of the BPL Proposal Break Down Business Case Carefully examine the Assumptions Point out their extreme optimism Give true costs and realistic estimated returns Follow the money trail. Sales pitch, trials, equipment, training – the check goes to one person! Show connections between suggested suppliers and discontinued field trials Let the facts speak for themselves.
20	Weeding through the research Critical Read Note source view point Factually Supported or PR work Technically supported Rate Helpfulness to Decision Makers
21	Presentation Documents Thoroughly referenced documentation Thick Paper CD Plenty of copies Public Sources Tied into Powerpoint Presentation Must look PROFESSIONAL
22	Media Relations Keep in mind that reporters NEED A STORY! If you don’t give them one- they’ll find another one! Give them everything they need- same materials as Decision makers Make sure they understand what you want the Decision makers to do.
23	Media Relations II Reporters ARE Under Deadline Under pressure Covering many topics Presenting both sides Need to check facts ALWAYS looking for a STORY Reporters AREN’T: usually hams interested in technical topics concerned about the outcome of a BPL fight YOUR FRIEND (but act like they are!)
24	Media Relations III Be available Be patient Be prepared Be professional Be willing to think about what a reporter needs- quick facts, vivid comparisons, short quotes
25	Power Point Presentation Presenters Hams are Internet consumers and Power Users Technically savvy Dedicated to Public Service Content Length (Max is 20 Minutes) Flashy (Colors, Pics, Videos) Factual Tied to Reference Materials Include on CD
26	Aim at Decision Makers What do they want? Cost savings or profits What will they get? A lot of money wasted; a lot of complaints, a system that won’t work What are they afraid of? Not keeping their positions! (lawsuits, angry voters, etc.)
27	What does it take to WIN?
28	1. Be the Honest, Unpaid Consultant Research and support your statements Restrain your desire to punch the jerks Confront ISSUES straight on Support Decision Makers PROFESSIONALISM! (It’s in short supply)
29	2. Keep Everyone informed Decision makers- use all means to reach them Media- give them what they need, you’ll get what you want Hams- use e-mail, repeater, newsletters
30	3. Get & Stay Organized Clear goals Clear focus Clear responsibilities Clear spokespeople
31	4. MOVE IT!! You have limited time. You are ALWAYS BEHIND the Consultant Your access to Decision Makers is limited, too. The Consultant is the EXPERT until YOU prove otherwise.
32	Saving Ham Radio IS your “job” Because Nobody else can do it, Let alone DO IT AS WELL.
33	Questions?