Ofcom. the UK equivalent of the American FCC and Dutch Agentschap Telecom, proposes that people with “power line” networking equipment could face prosecution if it interferes with radio signals.
The Government agency has become increasingly concerned in recent years about “power line” networking equipment. This allows people to use the mains wiring in their homes to transmit data, as an alternative to a Wi-Fi network, and has been distributed to BT and TalkTalk customers to connect their television set-top boxes to broadband.
Ofcom, the communications watchdog, published a consultation on Monday on new regulations that would allow its officials to issue enforcement notices to shut down such networks when the electromagnetic radiation they can emit interferes with radio signals. Those who fail to comply will face criminal prosecution.
An Ofcom spokesperson said: “Ofcom’s proposals are designed to update existing regulations to take account of developments in technology. They are not in response to requests from any organization.”
As well as interference causing security issues, regulators also want to ensure that police and ambulance, and air traffic control, services are able to communicate clearly. The BBC has previously said DAB radio broadcasts are affected by power line technology.
Ofcom said: “Communications networks form an important part of the UK’s national infrastructure, both directly and as an input to other services including safety and security services, utilities and industry (e.g. banking).
“Communications networks are a key aspect on which these services depend for their organisation and operation, and therefore it is important to protect their correct function from undue interference.”
GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters) is particularly sensitive to interference because part of its role involves monitoring international military radio signals that can be very weak when they reach its receivers.
As well as networking adapters, Ofcom said that in the past two years it had received complaints of electromagnetic interference from TV aerial amplifiers, electrical transformers, high voltage power cables and lighting, among other equipment.
Under the regulator’s proposals, those who do not comply with an order to stop their equipment causing “undue interference” face prosecution and fines of up to £5,000 in England and Wales in the most serious circumstances, where lives could be threatened. In Scotland and Northern Ireland the worst offenders face up to three months in prison.
Current legislation blocks the sale of equipment likely to cause interference but Ofcom said the rules do not account for problems once devices are in use caused by deterioration, poor installation, maintenance or improper use. The regulator received 114 complaints of electromagnetic interference last year but had powers to resolve only three, it said.
GCHQ declined to comment on the proposed clampdown. The agency has lobbied for stricter enforcement of anti-interference legislation for several years and in 2011 warned in a rare public intervention, later withdrawn, that power line networking “is likely to cause a detrimental affect to part of the core business of this department”.
Source: The Telegraph
Ham Radio Blog PD0AC 
This is very interesting, I wonder how the AT (Dutch Ofcom) will react in the Netherlands.
in the meantime, Norway has already banned two PLT adapters at point of sale because the levels of interference they cause are above existing permitted levels.
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Its a bit late now they are all out there, they were warned from the start of PLT
73 G1KQH
I feel these devices have a worse name than they should have. I’m a HAM myself and I use powerline adapters (fussy landlord, no cables allowed) and I get absolutely no interference from them. In the HAM bands at least. I checked the noise floor on 2m and 70cm with and SDR and it doesn’t change even when I use them heavily.
don’t do HF so not sure what the effect is there but a fellow HF HAM lives down the road and he hasn’t complained. I guess it depends on the quality of the building (I think my apartment walls have lots of metal in them, which is why WiFi doesn’t work well upstairs).
If some models are that bad they should just withdraw their approvals. It’s crazy to fine the users who have paid good money for their approved gear. Though from reading the article it’s more the non-compliance with a legal order that’s the problem.
What Steve said!