[Fists] FW: Novice Band reallocation

[Heaton, Timothy H.]

After hearing all the fuss over the Novice Band reallocation, I wrote my
ARRL representative and got what I think is a very thoughtful and
responsible reply:

-----Original Message-----
From: John Bellows [mailto:jbellows@skypoint.com]
Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2002 6:44 PM
To: Heaton, Timothy H.
Cc: Twila Greenheck
Subject: RE: Novice Band reallocation

Hi Tim:
Thanks for your comments. I am not entirely sold on the proposed refarming
of the Novice allocation. I do feel that part of the spectrum is currently
underutilized and there is little prospect of utilization changing so long
as the allocation remains with the current limitation. More than half of the
respondent's to the survey were Extra Class operators. The majority of the
Extras supported a reallocation with a portion being reallocated to phone
usage. There was also a strong indication that a portion of any reallocation
should be to digital modes.
I should note the total amount of spectrum being refarmed is 200 kHz. The
amount of spectrum being refarmed for voice modes is 100 kHz (50 kHz on 80
meters, 25 kHz on 40 meters, 25 kHz on 15 meters). The amount of spectrum
being refarmed for narrowband digital modes is 50 kHz (25 kHz on 40 meters,
25 kHz on 15 meters). The amount of spectrum being refarmed for unrestricted
CW use is 50 kHz (50 kHz on 15 meters).
I tend to think that operator abuses should be addressed through continued
and beefed up enforcement. We finally have an active voice at the FCC not
only reviewing the information of violations from Official Observers and the
Amateur community, but taking real action to address these problems and
sanction serious offenders. I agree the enforcement needs to be expanded. We
have been told that the FCC intends to increase those efforts.

We will need to carefully scrutinize the Refarming proposal. Thanks again
for your comments.

73,

Jay K0QB

  -----Original Message-----
From:	Heaton, Timothy H. [mailto:theaton@usd.edu]
Sent:	Sunday, January 06, 2002 4:34 PM
To:	'Jay Bellows'
Cc:	'Twila Greenheck'
Subject:	Novice Band reallocation

Dear Jay,

I am concerned about the results of the recent ARRL survey on reallocation
of the Novice Bands. The preamble of the survey seemed to point respondents
in the direction of converting the novice bands to voice bands, and the
results of the survey seemed very mixed and did not indicate that a strong
majority favored such a conversion. Obviously the SSB users want more space
because of the crowded nature of their bands, but I don't believe that this
action will contribute to the future of Amateur Radio. On the one hand, SSB
users are the greatest liability to the hobby because of the numerous abuses
that are generally limited to that mode. On the other hand, SSB offers
little in the way of new technology development that will help to justify
Amateur Radio allocations in the future. Retaining the old Novice bands as
CW/data spectrum would do more to promote digital technologies and to keep
Amateur Radio distinct from CB and other more public frequency allocations.

I understand that you will be voting on voting later this month on a motion
to request the FCC to allow conversion of much of the old Novice spectrum to
voice allocations. As an ARRL member in your division, I encourage you not
to vote for this action. I believe that such a conversion is not in the best
interests of Amateur Radio.

Thanks for you time and attention.

-Tim Heaton (N7VU, South Dakota)