PLC Database
The purpose of the Power Line Carrier Notification Activity is to establish and maintain a transmission Power Line Carrier Data Base (PLCDB) and an Authorized User Data Base (AUDB).
These will provide the information necessary for the identification and notification of potential interference between Power Line Carrier (PLC) and U.S. Government Authorized User (AU) facilities.
This Activity is a result of a Memorandum of Understanding, revised July 10, 2003, between the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and the Utilities Technology Council (UTC) acting on behalf of the power line carrier users.
In order to provide greater recognition of utility use of power line carrier, the FCC developed rules that established an industry-operated notification activity to help minimize mutual interference between PLC users and licensed users (LU). The purpose of the Power Line Carrier Notification Activity is to establish and maintain a transmission Power Line Carrier Data Base (PLCDB) and a Authorized User Data Base (AUDB), which will provide the information necessary for the identification and notification of potential interference between Power Line Carrier (PLC) and Authorized User (AU) facilities. This Activity is established as provided for in the FCC Rules and Regulations, Part 90.35(g) (47 C.F.R. ‘ 90.35(g)) relative to PLC operation in the 10-490 kHz band, and the NTIA Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management, in Part 8.3, under the heading “Notifications in the Band 10-490 kHz,” (see 47 C.F.R., Chapter III). Electric utilities are allowed to use power line carrier (PLC) transmitters and receivers for control signals and information transmission in the 10-490 kHz band without obtaining a license from the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). However, PLC users are not protected from interference from licensed radio transmitters.
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