[MVMA] HF band width limit relief (again): H.R. 9664

[Chuck Gelm]

Source:
https://www.arrl.org/news/rep-lesko-introduces-bill-to-replace-symbol-rate-limit-with-bandwidth-limit

To whit:

Rep. Lesko Introduces Bill to Replace Symbol Rate Limit with Bandwidth 
Limit 12/22/2022

Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (AZ-08) introduced a bill in the U.S. House 
of Representatives
(H.R. 9664) on December 21, 2022, to require that the Federal 
Communications Commission
(FCC) replace the current HF digital symbol rate limit with a 2.8 kHz 
bandwidth limit.

After being petitioned by ARRL  The National Association for Amateur 
Radio® in 2013
(RM-11708) for the same relief, in 2016 the Commission issued a Notice 
of Proposed
Rulemaking (WT Docket No. 16-239) in which it agreed that the HF symbol 
rate limit was
outmoded, served no purpose, and hampered experimentation. But the 
Commission
questioned whether any bandwidth limit was needed in its place. Most 
amateurs, including
the ARRL, objected to there being no signal bandwidth limit in the 
crowded HF bands given
the possibility that unreasonably wide bandwidth digital protocols could 
be developed, and
since 2016 there has been no further FCC action.

In conjunction with introducing the legislation, Congresswoman Lesko 
stated that
“With advances in our modern technology, increased amounts of data can 
be put on the
spectrum, so there is less of a need for a regulatory limit on symbol 
rates. I am pleased to
introduce this important piece of legislation to update the FCC’s rules 
to support the critical role
amateur radio operators play and better reflect the capabilities of our 
modern radio technology.”

ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, hailed introduction of the bill. 
Roderick stated that
“the FCC’s delay in removing this outdated restriction has been 
incomprehensible, given that the
biggest effect of the delay is to require totally inefficient spectrum 
use on the already-crowded
amateur HF bands. I hope that the Commission will act to remove this 
harmful limitation without
waiting for the bill to be passed.”

ARRL Legislative Committee Chairman John Robert Stratton, N5AUS, added that
“the symbol rate limit hampers experimentation and development of more 
efficient HF data
protocols by U.S. amateurs. For all practical purposes the field has 
been ceded to amateurs
outside the U.S., where there is no comparable limit. Removing the 
restriction not only will allow
U.S. amateurs to use the most efficient data protocol suitable for their 
purpose, but it also will
promote and incentivize U.S. amateurs to experiment with and develop 
even more efficient protocols.”


About ARRL

ARRL is the National Association for Amateur Radio®. Founded in 1914 as
The American Radio Relay League, ARRL is a noncommercial organization of 
radio amateurs.
ARRL numbers within its ranks the vast majority of active radio amateurs 
(or “hams”) in the U.S.,
and has a proud history of achievement as the standard-bearer in 
promoting and protecting
amateur radio. For more information about ARRL and amateur radio, visit 
www.arrl.org.
-----