[Boatanchors] Petition to eliminate exclusive CW bands

[Jim Wiley]

Rob et al. -

Everyone should keep in mind that there are certain sections of the FCC 
rules that DO apply to amateur radio, even though they are not mentioned 
in part 97 as such.   These rules are contained in parts 1 and 2 of the 
FCC rules.

Keep in mind this FCC rule that applies to amateur radio 
communications:  "97.307 (a) No amateur station transmission shall 
occupy more bandwidth than necessary for the information rate and 
emission type being transmitted, in accordance with good amateur practice."

You should also study:   47 CFR part 2, section 2.201(a) Emissions

Emissions are designated according to their classification and their 
necessary bandwidth.

See examples at 47 CFR Subpart C, section 2.202(g) -  Table of necessary 
bandwidths.  (specific examples for AM phone shown below)

Note that the operative words for amateur use are "necessary bandwidths" 
and "good amateur practice"    Refer again to part 97, paragraph 
97.307(a), above.

Here are a few specific emission examples:

Section 2:  (telephony, commercial quality radiotelephone) (double 
sideband, full carrier)       6K00A3E     This is the section that 
refers to "conventional" AM phone.  It does not refer to broadcasting or 
transmission of music.  It does specifically refer to double sideband AM 
with full carrier.

Section 3:  (sound broadcasting, speech and music)  8K00A3AE Note that 
music is prohibited on all amateur frequencies with certain specific 
exemptions for space shuttle traffic.  This example also includes 
broadcasting, which is similarly prohibited on amateur frequencies.

Everyone should remember that there are certain sections of the FCC 
rules that DO apply to amateur radio, even though they are not mentioned 
in part 97 as such.   These rules are contained in parts 1 and 2 of the 
FCC rules.

Keep in mind this little gem:  FCC regulations as described in Parts 1 
and 2 are applicable to ALL FCC regulations for ALL radio services.

Additional regulations  specific to amateur radio are contained in part 
97.   Regulations that apply to other services have their own sections, 
such as part 95 for CB radio,  part 80 for marine radio, part 15 for 
incidental (unlicensed) emissions, and so on.

The examples concerning permissible bandwidth are only a subset of the 
complete emission standards.  I recommend further study of the 
applicable rules and specifications for a more complete understanding of 
the FCC rules as they apply to amateur radio.

Here are some links you may find useful:

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: Part 97 
<http://tinyurl.com/bu37eux>

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: Part 1 
<http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=35746c8c744e8cd52c4e94f7d0b9cf04&mc=true&node=pt47.1.1&rgn=div5> 


Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: Part 2 <http://tinyurl.com/kpdzagc>

I hope this helps.

Finally, remember that the FCC rules concerning amateur radio are 
intentionally written with a certain "looseness" that is intended to 
allow experimentation with new techniques.

A reading of the rules for other sections will immediately show how 
"tight"  they are.  For example, broadcast stations must observe very 
tight limits on transmitted power, frequency tolerance, antenna 
patterns,  operating hours, and program content.  Deviations from these 
prescribed limits will likely subject the station owners to fines and 
other penalties, some of them quite severe.

Jim, KL7CC




On 5/15/2016 4:35 PM, Rob Atkinson wrote:
>> There is, however, one change proposed that would expand "conventional" AM
>> transmissions between 1.8 and 29.7 MHz to 8 kHz bandwidth (2 kHz more than
>> allowed by current rules), and to 20 kHz bandwidth on 6 meters, 2 meters
>> and, and 1 1/4 meters, and even higher bandwidths at 430 MHz and higher.  I
>> am not commenting on this portion of the petition.
>>
> I'd certainly like to know where it is in the current rules that AM
> transmissions between 1.8 and 29.7 MHz are limited to 6 kc bandwidth.
>   If you can give a citation I'd sure like to look it up.
>
> 73
>
> Rob
> K5UJ
>