[BCVHFA] Fwd: ARLB035 FCC declines to grant amateur LF allocation; gives five channels at 5 MHz

[K8CM]

>Date: Wed, 14 May 2003 19:09:44 -0400
>From: ARRL Web site <memberlist@www.arrl.org>
>Subject: ARLB035 FCC declines to grant amateur LF allocation; gives five
>  channels at 5 MHz
>To: k8cm@cinci.rr.com
>Cc: Subscribed ARRL Members: ;
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>Original-recipient: rfc822;K8CM@cinci.rr.com
>
>SB QST @ ARL $ARLB035
>ARLB035 FCC declines to grant amateur LF allocation; gives five
>channels at 5 MHz
>
>ZCZC AG35
>QST de W1AW
>ARRL Bulletin 35  ARLB035
> From ARRL Headquarters
>Newington CT  May 14, 2003
>To all radio amateurs
>
>SB QST ARL ARLB035
>ARLB035 FCC declines to grant amateur LF allocation; gives five
>channels at 5 MHz
>
>The FCC has declined to grant amateurs a sliver-band allocation at
>136 kHz ''at this time.'' Also, in a compromise with government
>users, the Commission decided to give amateurs five discrete
>2.8-kHz-wide channels in the vicinity of 5 MHz instead of the
>150-kHz band ARRL had requested. In its Notice of Proposed Rule
>Making a year ago, the FCC appeared inclined to go along with both
>ARRL requests.
>
>The FCC did agree in a Report and Order released May 14 to elevate
>the Amateur Service, but not the Amateur-Satellite Service, to
>primary status at 2400 to 2402 MHz. The changes to Part 97 go into
>effect 30 days after publication in The Federal Register, which has
>not yet happened.
>
>''We are disappointed that the FCC could not see its way clear to
>providing even a narrow LF allocation to the amateur service, given
>earlier encouraging signs and the general trend in other
>countries,'' ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, said
>of the FCC's decision.
>
>The FCC, however, found itself more persuaded by arguments from
>electrical utilities and other commenters that amateur operation at
>136 kHz might interfere with power line communications (PLC) used by
>electrical utilities to control the power grid.
>
>The FCC said a new amateur LF allocation is not justified ''when
>balanced against the greater public interest of an interference-free
>power grid.'' The FCC said amateurs wishing to experiment with LF
>could apply for experimental licenses or operate under existing Part
>15 rules on that part of the spectrum. ''We will not jeopardize the
>reliability of electrical service to the public,'' the FCC
>concluded.
>
>The granting of just five spot frequencies--5332, 5348, 5368, 5373,
>and 5405 kHz--at 60 meters was less of a surprise given opposition
>expressed last fall by the National Telecommunications and
>Information Administration (NTIA). The NTIA had cited a possible
>need for the requested band by federal government users and proposed
>the five specific frequencies for amateur use on a secondary basis.
>The FCC has granted operation on USB (2K8J3E emission) only, with a
>maximum effective radiated power limit of 50 W relative to a 0 dB
>gain antenna--a half-wave dipole. The channels--each with a maximum
>permissible bandwidth of 2.8 kHz--will be available to General and
>higher class licensees.
>
>''While the new amateur privileges at 5 MHz are not as flexible as
>we had hoped, we recognize that much has changed since the ARRL
>petition for rulemaking was submitted to the FCC in the summer of
>2001,'' Sumner said. ''Federal agencies with homeland security
>responsibilities have renewed interest in HF radiocommunication.''
>
>Sumner said the ARRL was pleased to see 2400-2402 MHz upgraded to
>primary. ''The upgrade of the 2400-2402 MHz amateur allocation to
>primary provides a seamless primary allocation from 2390 to 2417
>MHz, in addition to the secondary allocations of 2300-2310 and
>2417-2450 MHz,'' he said. Amateurs already have been experimenting
>with high-speed multimedia operation in the band using IEEE 802.11b
>protocols.
>
>The Report and Order is available on the FCC's Web site,
>http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-03-105A1.doc.
>NNNN
>/EX