[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1309 - September 13th, 2002

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Amateur Radio Newsline 1309 - September 13th, 2002

The following is a Q-S-T. A world ham radio license inches closer while 
the N-T-I-A says no to 5 MHz for U-S hams. These stories are first on 
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1309 coming your way right now.


RADIO REGULATIONS:  WORLD HAM LICENSE A BIT CLOSER

A world wide universal ham radio license is a bit closer.  Q-News Graham 
Kemp, VK4BB, reports on a meeting that has opened yet another door:

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AUDIO REPORT ONLY:  NO TEXT AVAILABLE.  Audio is at 
http://www.arnewsline.org
--

It had been hoped that a world license would have been in place by the 
turn of last century two years ago.  Now pundits are suggesting the end 
of 2009 or maybe 2010.  (Q-News)

**
AMERICA AT WAR:  HAM RADIO COMMEMORATES 911

Amateur radio was at ground zero in New York, Washington and 
Pennsylvania a year ago.  And on the first anniversary of the terror 
attack that felled the World Trade Center, hams were there once again as 
the nation paused to reflect. The day before the 911 commemorative 
ceremonies were held the United States was put on a heightened state of 
alert for terrorist activity.  Color orange the government calls it.  
And since 911 the words to live by all around the world have been - be 
vigilant.  

Ed Note:  From the President of the ARRL addressing the hams of the 
world on an Internet link-up, to hams in Florida operating air-mobile 
carrying American Flags to hams in NYC assisting at ceremonies, the 
Amateur Radio community involved itself in 9-11-2002.  Much of it 
appeared to be planned at the last minute and only now are reports 
coming into our newsroom.  Rather than rush together a report that would 
not do justice to all that was done, we plan to do in-depth coverage in 
next weeks newscast.  (ARNewsline from listener reports)

**

THE CHALLANGE TO OUR BANDS:  ARRL EXPECTED TO FILE ON THE 222 MHZ ISSUE

The American Radio Relay League is expected to file reply comments in 
opposition to the initial comments of Data Commlink Incorporated.  This, 
in FCC W T Docket 02-224.  

As reported last week, W T Docket 02-224 merely sought to gather 
comments on requests for waivers on spectrum management services in the 
220 to 222 MHz band.  But Data Commlink decided to use it as an 
opportunity to strongly suggest that the FCC remove 222 to 225 MHz from 
use by radio amateurs and transfer it over to commercial service.  
Primarily for use by the electric power cooperatives that it represents.  

Word is that the League will vigorously defend the 222 to 225 MHz 
spectrum.  Keep an eye on the ARRL website news pages at www.arrl.org 
for the latest. (ARNewsline)

**

THE SPECTRUM FIGHT:  NTIA HEAVES POTENTIAL MONKEY WRENCH INTO 5-MHZ BAND 
PROPOSAL

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration -- the N-
T-I-A  -- has recommended that the FCC not grant an ARRL petition for a 
domestic-only secondary Amateur Radio allocation at 5 MHz.  Amateur 
Radio Newsline's David Black, KB4KCH, has the details:

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The N-T-I-A regulates radio spectrum allocated to the federal 
government.  According to the ARRL Letter, the last-minute negative 
recommendation from that agency followed hundreds of largely favorable 
comments and reply comments from all sorts of organizations and from 
many individuals.

But in an August 21st letter, the N-T-I-A's Fredrick R. Wentland wrote 
that federal agencies are making extensive use of High Frequencies  for 
emergency services.  This, Wentland says, includes communications 
support for the Department of Defense, the Coast Guard and Department of 
Justice.

Wentland, , who is the agency's Acting Associate Administrator for 
Spectrum Management went on to say that the N-T-I-A believes the 
Commission's current proposal does not adequately provide for protection 
from harmful interference to these critical government operations 
primary in the band.  He says that without a more complete understanding 
of the interference potential to federal operations, the N-T-I-A 
believes the secondary amateur allocation would be "premature."

But Wentland did offer up a carrot so as to speak.  He said that N-T-I-A 
was willing to work with federal agencies, the FCC and the amateur 
community to determine whether some future accommodation for amateurs at 
5 MHz would be possible.  However that could include limitations on 
power or emission types, a reduction in the size of the proposed band, 
the use of discrete frequencies or geographical restrictions.