[160m] FCC Filing for narrow mode segment

[Bill Tippett]

AA4LR wrote:
>And isn't the mode-segregation we have on every other HF band involve 
>placeing digital modes low, analog modes high, and CW everywhere?
>
>Wouldn't that affect digital modes like PSK? Digital modes are currently 
>permitted EVERYWHERE on 160m. If RM-10352 is made law, wouldn't they be 
>restricted to 1800-1843 kHz?

        Bill, you are mistaken in your understanding.  Please read 
RM-10352 and FCC Part 97.305 Authorized emission types:

Current regulations per 97.305(a):
"An amateur station may transmit a CW emission on any frequency 
authorized to the control operator."  (NOTE: This is a long-standing FCC
regulation that applies to ALL AMATEUR FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS).

Proposed change to 97.305(a) per RM-10352:
NO CHANGE

Current regulations per 97.305(c):
Band    Frequencies     Emission types
160m    Entire band     RTTY, data
160m    Entire band     Phone, image

Proposed change to 97.305(c) per RM-10352:
Band    Frequencies     Emission types
160m    Entire band     RTTY, data   (NO CHANGE proposed)
160m    1.843-2.000MHz  Phone, image (this is the ONLY change proposed)

        I hope this clears up your confusion.  RM-10352 is basically
NO CHANGE to present regulations with the SOLE exception of limiting
Phone, image (SSB, AM and SSTV) to 1.843-2.000 MHz, which effectively
creates an exclusive narrowband area below 1843 for CW and narrowband 
digital (PSK31, QRSS and whatever new narrowband digital modes may 
develop in the future).  

                                                73,  Bill  W4ZV

P.S.  To answer your 16 January post on this reflector regarding giving 
the voluntary bandplan a chance to work, the group on 1823 LSB had been 
there for 17 years that I am personally aware of, all the while in
violation of both old and new ARRL Voluntary Bandplans.  The bandplan 
was most recently violated in the NAQP SSB Contest held Saturday night
(January 20 around 0400 UTC).  NAQP SSB contesters were calling CQ below
1840 at the same time there were several Europeans on CW in the same
area in the HA DX Contest.  This is a long-standing problem that has
a very simple solution.  RM-10352 will cost taxpayers and the FCC LESS 
to administer than responding to every complaint that ongoing violations 
of voluntary bandplans will generate.

P.P.S.  RM-10352 at  http://users.vnet.net/btippett/rm_petition.htm
FCC Part 97 at  http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/news/part97/