[HCARC] 60 Meers rules change

[H. Vordenbaum]

--- FCC Releases New Rules for 60 Meters

On November 18, 2011, the FCC released a Report and Order (R&O),
defining new rules for the 60 meter (5 MHz) band. These rules are in
response to a Petition for Rulemaking (PRM) filed by the ARRL more than
five years ago and a June 2010 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). In
the R&O, the FCC replaced one of the channels in the band, increased
the maximum authorized power amateur stations may transmit in this
band, and authorized amateur stations to transmit three additional
emission designators in the five channels in the 5330.6-5406.4 kHz band
(60 meters).

The Amateur Radio Service in the United States has a secondary
allocation on 60 meters. Only those amateurs who hold General,
Advanced, or Amateur Extra class licenses may operate on this band. 
Amateur stations must not cause harmful interference to -- and must
accept interference from -- stations authorized by any administration
in the fixed service, as well as mobile (except aeronautical mobile)
stations authorized by the administrations of other countries.

Here is a summary of the changes. Please note that these changes have
not yet taken effect. These new rules will take effect 30 days after
they are published in the Federal Register. Any radio amateur operating
under the new rules before this time is in violation of the current
rules. The official date for these new rules will be announced on the
ARRL website as soon as the information is available.

The frequency 5368.0 kHz (carrier frequency 5366.5 kHz) is withdrawn
and a new frequency of 5358.5 kHz (carrier frequency 5357.0 kHz) is
authorized.

The effective radiated power limit in the 60 meter band is raised by 3
dB, from 50 W PEP to 100 W PEP, relative to a half-wave dipole. If
another type of antenna is used, the station licensee must maintain a
record of either the antenna manufacturer's data on the antenna gain
or calculations of the antenna gain.

Three additional emission types are authorized. Data (emission
designator 2K80J2D, for example, PACTOR-III), RTTY (emission designator
60H0J2B, for example, PSK31) and CW (150HA1A, i.e. Morse telegraphy by
means of on-off keying). For CW, the carrier frequency must be set to
the center frequency. For data and RTTY the requirement to transmit
"only on the five center frequencies specified" may be met by using
the same practice as on USB, i.e. by setting the suppressed carrier
frequency of the USB transmitter used to generate the J2D or J2B
emission to the carrier frequency that is 1.5 kHz below the center
frequency.

Automatic control on data and RTTY is not permitted; a control operator
must be in a position to exercise either local or remote control over
the transmitter. The FCC noted that "amateur operators must exercise
care to limit the length of transmissions so as to avoid causing
harmful interference to Federal stations." This is a very important
caveat: If a Federal station requires amateurs to cease using a
frequency, the amateur station must be able to do so without delay.

In October 2006, the ARRL filed a Petition for Rulemaking with the FCC,
requesting that the Commission amend Parts 2 and 97 of its Rules to
replace one of the allocated center frequencies (5368 kHz) with a less
encumbered frequency (5358.5 kHz), to increase the maximum ERP from 50
to 100 W PEP and to authorize the use of additional emissions types,
limited to emission designators 150HA1A, 60H0J2B and 2K80J2D.  In its
Petition, the ARRL pointed out that its proposals were designed to
facilitate more efficient and effective use of the secondary Amateur
Radio Service allocation in the 60 meter band.  As part of its
petition, the ARRL attached a letter from NTIA, indicating that it
would "look favorably" on the ARRL's proposed modifications.

Considering the expected increase in 60 meter activity when the R&O
finally takes effect, the ARRL is asking for feedback to assist in
crafting a proposed band plan.  For example, what modes and activities
should be recommended for the various channels?

If you're a 60-meter operator, e-mail your suggestions to
hf-band-plan at arrl.org.  You can also participate in an ARRL online
survey at http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22E8M4Y8D39/.