[MIham] : WEAVER'S WORDS -- THE FCC SPAKETH

[Tom VanderMel]

> [Reply only to k8je at arrl.org.  The ARRL reflector operates one-way,
> only.]
> 
> IN THIS SPECIAL ISSUE I HIGHLIGHT INFORMATION REGARDING THE FCC's
> REPORT & ORDER ON AMATEUR RADIO RESTRUCTURING.
> 
> REVISED BAND SEGMENTS PER WTB DOCKET 04-140
> 
> First, a couple of brief comments:  The ARRL and other petitioners had
> asked the FCC to refarm the Novice frequencies and to increase the
> relative size of HF phone bands modestly.  The NPRM published by the
> Commission nearly two years ago followed through fairly closely to the
> modest changes that had been requested.  In a surprise move, FCC
> greatly expanded the phone band on 80M in its Report & Order.  One
> might hope that the extent of this increase is an error.  There are a
> few obvious errors and conflicts contained in the order.  ARRL is
> pointing these out to appropriate people at the FCC in hopes they will
> be corrected before the order is published officially in the Federal
> Register.  The new rules become effective 60 days after being published
> in the Federal Register.
> 
> To see ARRL's best estimate of the band changes FCC has intended in its
> Report & Order, go to
> http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/wt04-140/faq.html.  You will
> find a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sheet there as well as links to
> a color version and a black and white version of a chart showing the
> revised band segment assignments.
> 
> A copy of the current band segments is at
> http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/bandplan.html for
> comparison.
> 
> MORSE CODE
> 
> Please understand that the FCC has done nothing to issue its position
> on retaining or dropping Morse Code testing requirements for license
> testing.  This issue is in WTB Docket 05-235.  We continue to have no
> hint from the Commission as to the date on which this docket will be
> released.  We are pretty certain they will remove the requirement for
> Morse Code testing for the Technician and General Class licenses. It
> also seems at least a 50:50 likelihood the will drop this requirement
> for the Amateur Extra also.  ARRL's preference is to keep the code
> requirement for Extras as one means of making this license Extra.  We
> are even more eager to have the issue decided though the issue of WTB
> Docket 05-235 so the uncertainty that has been hanging over our heads
> can be dissolved.  At this moment, the Commission's continued
> indecision is hindering the development of Amateur Radio.
> 
> COMMENT ON GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT BANDPLANNING
> 
> I mentioned several months ago that the ARRL Board had established a
> committee to study developing new band plans once the FCC had issued
> its Report & Order on restructuring.  The first task of the Committee
> was to review existing band plans around the world.  Now that 04-140
> has been issued, the Committee has requested members to submit their
> ideas regarding the new band plans.  The request for input is on the
> ARRL web site.  I've pasted the initial part of it below.  You are
> being asked to contribute to the development of new band plans that are
> necessitated by the FCC's new rules.
> 
> "Attention All Amateurs... ARRL requests members' input on recent FCC
> "omnibus" Report and Order (Oct 13, 2006) -- The ARRL is requesting
> members' input concerning the FCC's Amateur Radio proceeding, WT Docket
> 04-140, released on October 10. The Report and Order will not take
> effect until 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. This
> publication date is not yet known. The complete text is available for
> viewing as a PDF file on the FCC Web site. A summary is available on
> this Web site. The ARRL is specifically seeking member guidance on how
> the changes will affect current operating activities on 80, 40 and 15
> meters (see the current ARRL band plans and an ARRL FAQ that includes a
> chart showing the band changes.) Comments may be submitted by e-mail.
> All e-mails will be read and considered, but individual responses will
> not be possible due to the message volume expected. The deadline for
> comments is October 31.
> 
> "Link to this story"
> 
> I thought you would want to know about the above information
> 
> Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director
> Great Lakes Division, ARRL
> 5065 Bethany Rd., Mason, OH 45040
> Tel. 513-459-0142; E-mail k8je at arrl.org
> ARRL, the Reason Amateur Radio is!
> Members, the Reason ARRL is!
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> ARRL Great Lakes Division
> Director: James Weaver, K8JE
> k8je at arrl.org
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
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