[LeArc] ARLB002 ARRL Concludes 5-MHz Experiments, Awaits FCC Decision on New Band

[Tony Coniglio]

> SB QST @ ARL $ARLB002
> ARLB002 ARRL Concludes 5-MHz Experiments, Awaits FCC Decision on 
> New Band
> 
> ZCZC AG02
> QST de W1AW  
> ARRL Bulletin 2  ARLB002
> >From ARRL Headquarters  
> Newington CT  January 3, 2003
> To all radio amateurs 
> 
> SB QST ARL ARLB002
> ARLB002 ARRL Concludes 5-MHz Experiments, Awaits FCC Decision on 
> New Band
> 
> With its experimental license having demonstrated the desirability
> and feasibility of a domestic 5 mhz amateur allocation, the arrl has
> allowed wa2xsy to expire on january 1 2003 rather than request
> renewal. Last May, the FCC proposed going along with the ARRL's 2001
> request for a new domestic secondary HF allocation at 5.25 to 5.4
> MHz.
> 
> 15 Amateur Radio clubs and individual amateurs took part in the
> 5-MHz experimental operation that began in January 1999 and largely
> concluded in 2002. ARRL chose not to request another renewal of the
> WA2XSY license because it already had obtained sufficient
> information to justify its petition for the band.
> 
> In a letter filed with the FCC last August after the comment
> deadline had passed, the National Telecommunications and Information
> Administration recommended that the Commission not go forward with
> the 5-MHz proposal. The NTIA said several government agencies with
> allocations in the proposed spectrum had expressed reservations
> about allowing amateurs to use the band.
> 
> The ARRL has been working with the government to resolve the
> impasse. The ARRL has called the 5 MHz allocation an urgent priority
> of the Amateur Service and said that a new band at 5 MHz would aid
> emergency communication activities by filling a propagation gap
> between 80 and 40 meters. In the meantime, experimental operations
> on 5 MHz continue on a very limited basis in the United Kingdom and
> in Canada.
> NNNN
> /EX