[InHam] K9STH petitions FCC to establish a 4 meter band

[Dan Evans]

Per the "suggestion" that "someone" needs to petition the FCC to 
establish a 4-meter band for amateur use in the United States (the 
4-meter band is available in a number of European and African nations) I 
have submitted the following petition to the FCC:

Glen E. Zook
410 Lawndale Drive
Richardson, Texas 75080
(972) 231-3987
gezook at sbcglobal.net <mailto:gezook at sbcglobal.net>

27 January 2010



Federal Communications Commission
Office of the Secretary
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554

Subject: Petition for proposed changes in 47 CFR Part 97 Section 
97.301(a) and Section 97.305(c) to add the 4-meter band

Commissioners:

The 4-meter (70.000 MHz to 70.500 MHz) amateur radio band has been 
authorized in a growing number of European and African nations and 
establishing such privileges for amateur radio operators in the United 
States and other areas over which the Commission has jurisdiction would 
be of great benefit to those operators residing in such areas. The 
recent migration of broadcast television stations to primarily the UHF 
frequencies basically eliminates any probable interference to television 
channels 4 or 5 which otherwise might have occurred because the 4-meter 
band is located on frequencies that were allocated to television channel 
4. Since the 4-meter amateur radio band does not fall in the 72.0 MHz to 
76.0 MHz segment which is allocated to Operational Fixed and various 
mobile services there would be no potential co-channel or adjacent 
channel interference.

It is proposed to allow all classes of amateur radio operators operating 
privileges on this new band. However, it is suggested that Novice Class 
licensees be restricted to a lower output level than those allowed for 
Technician Class, General Class, Advanced Class, and Amateur Extra Class 
licensees. If the present power output limitations of 1500 watts are 
granted to the higher class licensees then the Novice Class licensees 
should be restricted to no more than 200 watts power output as per most 
of the privileges granted those operators who hold a Novice Class 
license. If a lower power limit is placed on other classes of operator 
then the power output limits on the Novice Class should be reduced 
accordingly. For example, if power limitations of 200 watts maximum 
output power be placed on Technician Class and higher licensees, then it 
is suggested that Novice Class licensees be held to no more than 25 
watts output.

One possible scenario would be to limit the Technician Class and higher 
licensees to 200 watts output power for a period of time (i.e. for 2 
years) to determine any major interference problems which may occur by 
establishing these new operating privileges. At the end of that time, 
then the power output should be increased to the 1500 watts output power 
now allowed to Technician Class and higher class licensees. The power 
output allowed for Novice Class operations would then be 25 watts for 
2-years increasing to 200 watts after the 2-year time frame.

It is recommended that 47 CFR Part 97 Section 97.301(a) have the 
following additions made:

Wavelength band Region I Region II Region III Sharing

4m 70.0 – 70.5 MHz 70.0 – 70.5 MHz - (a)



and Section 97.305(c) have the following additions made:

VHF

4m MCW, phone, image, RTTY, data, test (2), (5), (8)



Respectively submitted:



Glen E. Zook, K9STH


Whether or not the FCC will even actually consider establishing a new 
amateur radio band will have to be seen. But, nothing tried, nothing gained!

Glen, K9STH

73
Dan
-- 
Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Clark County Indiana. EM78el
K9ZF /R no budget Rover ***QRP-l #1269 Check out the Rover Resource Page at:
<http://www.qsl.net/n9rla> List Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books
Ask me how to join the Indiana Ham Mailing list!