[AMRadio] Followup on IARU bandplan

[SBJohnston at aol.com]

I've been corresponding gently and respectfully with League and IARU 
officials (sometimes of course they are the same) in opposition to the  new "band 
plan" that places restrictive limitations on transmitted signal bandwidths on the 
bands 160 - 10m.  I've also compared notes with friends who are doing the 
same.

A couple main themes have emerged...

The typical response from these officials has been defensiveness and 
condescension.  They would prefer that we just ignore the bandplan because it is 
"voluntary", because we "don't understand the purpose", because it is "really meant 
for other countries in Region 2", or (believe it or not) "the new plan is not 
restrictive in nature"(?).

Also, putting all the responses together seems to confirm that, in spite of 
their protests to the contrary, the ARRL representatives at the IARU conference 
argued for the tightening-up of the bandwidth and mode limitations.  One IARU 
rep said, "That was an ARRL suggestion. They were worried that some people 
were using quite wider (bandwidths)."

Interestingly, responses to our messages to ARRL Directors and Vice-Directors 
have been either non-existent, or demonstrate complete ignorance of the 
issue.  

I urge everyone to contact your ARRL Directors and Vice-Directors (see  
http://www.arrl.org/divisions/ )  and educate them about what is happening at the 
IARU.  

Steve Johnston, WD8DAS

Fitchburg, Wisconsin.



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