ACREM - Representing CBers

Representing CBers

From 1997 ACREM commenced actively representing the CB hobbyists of Australia to Government agencies and departments. Probably the most widely publicized of these was the opposition to Broadband over Power Line Communications, or BPL. BPL is a system of sending broadband internet over the electrical powerlines using HF radio frequencies. ACREM, and a significant number of other organizations, strongly opposed BPL stating that the frequencies used would radiate and cause interference to any HF radio users nearby.

ACREM took the argument direct to the computer users when an article appeared in a popular computer magazine. The article presented the arguments for and against BPL, with ACREM State Coordinator, Martin Howells, quoted as saying:

Power lines tend to radiate the HF frequencies just like a giant 'long-wire' antenna.

ACREM continued its campaign against BPL through a number of submissions to the ACMA and various Ministers of the Australian and NSW Governments.

ACREM also made significant submissions on a number of other matters affecting CB users in Australia, including the utilization of CB monitoring groups in an Australian version of the successful US AMBER Alert system.