  I examine the form of the solution of the BFKL equation with running coupling
relevant for deep inelastic scattering. The evolution of structure functions is
precisely determined and well described by an effective coupling of the form
1/(beta_0(ln(Q^2/Lambda^2)+3.6(alpha_s(Q^2)ln(1/x))^1/2)) (until very small x).
Corrections to the LO equation are relatively small, and the perturbative
expansion is stable. Comparison to data via a global fit is very successful.
