[CW] USA News FCC Seeks Changes in MF Amateur Band (160m)

[n5ky at q.com]

Filing comments is a good idea.  But somehow encouraging more non contest
activity would be nice too. The band offers good propagation at this time
of year but there is almost no activity other than during a contest. 
During last weekend's 160m contest I was able to work stations in all regions
of the country from here in NM with nothing other than a quarter wave length
of wire at 25 feet. But on any non contest evening it's like 
pulling teeth to get a QSO. On the reverse beacon network I can see good signal
reports of my CQs but rarely any takers.  So the propagation is fine but the
activity just isn't there....unless there's a contest.  I think Amateur Radio
has mutated largly into just a contesting sport. Remember the days when a QSO
lasted longer than an exchange of 599s and then QRZ?  Maybe I'm just getting
old but I miss the ragchew era of Amateur Radio. And I wonder why the FCC 
would give us primary allocation just so we could use the band for 3 contests
per year.                                      Jim  N5KY     
 

.........................................................................
FCC PROPOSES TO RESTORE 1900-2000 KHZ IN THE 160M BAND TO PRIMARY STATUS

In ET Docket 12-338 the FCC proposes to raise the secondary amateur 
service allocation in the 1900-2000 kHz band segment to primary status, 
providing amateur radio operators nearly exclusive use of the band. At 
present, amateur use of the top half of the 160m band is on a secondary 
basis, shared with Radiolocation beacons that have priority over 
amateurs on any shared frequency.

With the avilability of the GPS satellite system for civilian use, 
radiolocation beacons have virtually disappeared from the 1700-1800 kHz 
and 1900-2000 kHz bands, but our "secondary" status remains, leaving us 
vulnerable to the whims of Radiolocation interests in the event that 
they, for whatever reason, might decide to once again operate beacons in 
our band.

The FCC is now accepting comments from interested parties. I would 
encourage everyone who has any interest in 160m to file comments of your 
own in support of this proposal. Comments already submitted on all 
proposals contained in the Docket may be viewed at 
http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/proceeding/view?name=12-338

Rulemaking proposal ET-Docket 12-338 may be viewed in its entirety at 
http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/view?id=6017137896  For specifics on 
the 160m proposal, scroll down to page 11, beginning at paragraph 20.

ET-Docket 12-338 may be viewed also at 
http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7022061247 or downloaded in 
PDF form at 
http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db1119/FCC-12-140A1.pdf

For information on the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System go to 
http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/

For detailed instructions on how to file comments using ECFS, go to 
http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/userManual/ecfsmanual.jsp

The first submitted comment addressing 160m reallocation may be viewed 
at  http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/view?id=6017141101

The International Telecommunications Union frequency allocation chart 
may be viewed at  http://www.kloth.net/radio/freq-itu.php