[CW] FCC Actions - OOOOPS?

[N2EY at aol.com]

In a message dated 10/13/06 1:56:56 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
k4kyv at hotmail.com writes:


> >From: N2EY at aol.com
> 
> > > The wording of the latest R&O does not make it clear whether, for 
> >>  example,
> > > generals and advanced will still be able to use cw and digital from 3600 
> 
> > > to
> > > 3700, or if that segment will be restricted to extra class, regardless 
> > > of
> > > mode.
> > >
> >
> >Where is it unclear  (besides the obvious typo)? The available frequencies
> >are listed by license class. The concept of subbands-by-license class 
> >remains
> >completely unchanged - only the limits of the subbands change.
> 
> "...12. Regarding the division among license classes of the spectrum on 
> which we today
> authorize phone emissions, we adopt the Commission’s proposal to authorize 
> stations of General
> Class licensees to transmit voice emissions in the 3800-4000 kHz frequency 
> segment, thereby
> increasing by 50 kHz the spectrum for voice communications by these 
> stations. Because we
> have decided to authorize more 75 m spectrum for voice communications than 
> was proposed in
> the NPRM, we also authorize stations of Advanced Class licensees to transmit 
> 
> voice emissions in
> the 3700-4000 kHz frequency segment, thereby increasing by 75 kHz the amount 
> 
> of spectrum for
> voice communications by these stations. We also authorize stations of 
> Amateur Extra Class
> licensees to transmit voice emissions in the 3600-4000 kHz frequency 
> segment, thereby
> increasing by 150 kHz the spectrum authorized to these stations for voice 
> communications. In
> the 40 m and 15 m bands, we adopt the Commission’s proposal to authorize 
> stations of Amateur
> Extra and Advanced Class licensees 7125-7300 kHz, stations of General Class 
> licensees 7175-
> 7300 kHz, and stations of General Class licensees 21275-21450 kHz for phone
> communications."
> 
> Note again "We also authorize stations of Amateur Extra Class licensees to 
> transmit voice emissions in the 3600-4000 kHz frequency segment, thereby 
> increasing by 150 kHz the spectrum authorized to these stations for voice 
> communications."
> 
> To me this clearly means nothing more than the fact that Extra class can 
> transmit voice on 3600-4000, but does not address the issue of lower class 
> licensees losing non-voice privileges on those same frequencies.  

That is addressed elsewhere. 3600-3700 will be Extra-only, regardless of 
mode.

Regardless 
> 
> if how the FCC interprets it, they must clarify it, or else many hams will 
> misinterpret regardlesss of what they intended to say.
> 

They *should* clarify it. Whether they will....

> The did not include a revised subband chart at the end of the document, but 
> 
> only edited fragments.  I have not taken the time to try to incorporate 
> those fragments into the existing chart to recreate a revised one, but 
> others I have talked to have expressed confusion over this issue as well. 

I spliced them together, and it makes perfect sense once you fix the obvious 
General class typo.

Generals and Advanceds are actually *losing* more kHz than they are gaining. 
The difference is that they are losing CW/data spectrum and gaining 
'phone/image spectrum.

> Hopefully they will publish a complete, revised subband chart before the 
> changes go into effect.
> 

Don't hold yer breath! ;-)


> If 3600-3700 is Extra class only for all modes, that segment will be even 
> more under-utilised than it is  now.  In recent years, the 3750-3775 segment 
> 
> has rarely been filled to capacity even under quiet weekend nighttime band 
> conditions (except perhaps during SSB contests).  If this segment is spread 
> out to 100 kHz there should be LOTS of empty space.
> 

Wouldn't that be an incentive to get an Extra? 

As it is now, only 50 kHz of 80/75 is Extra-only territory. That's 10% of the 
band - 5% phone, 5% CW/data.

If the new rules are enacted as written, 80/75 will have 125 kHz of 
Extra-only territory. That's 25% of the band - 25% phone, 5% CW/data.

All it takes for a General, Advanced or pre-March-21-1987 Tech+ to upgrade to 
Extra is passing the Extra written. 50 multiple choice questions from a 
published pool. Is that too much to ask?

> Of course, the Extra class exam today is less challenging than the General 
> class exam was in 1968.  Maybe the FCC is trying to make the Extra the "new" 
> 
> General, and the General the "new" Novice.  The code requirement as already 
> the same as the 1968 Novice.

Well, I have a 1968-vintage Tech, General and Advanced, and a 1970 Extra. We 
don't really know how tough those old exams were, because we don't have the 
actual exams to compare.


73 de Jim, N2EY