[RVRC] 4 meter ham band proposed,

[Marvin Bronstein]

RESTRUCTURING: PETITION FILED FOR CREATION OF U.S. 4 METER BAND 

QRZ.com lead moderator Glen Zook, K9STH, of Richardson, Texas has filed a Petition for Rulemaking to the FCC. One aimed at creating a 70.000 MHz to 70.500 MHz amateur radio band in the United States. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has more: 

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This is a report from "Amateur Radio Newsline".......




In his January 27th filing, Glen Zook, K9STH, notes that the 4 meter band spectrum has been authorized in a growing number of European and African nations. He says that by establishing such privileges for amateur radio operators in the United States and other areas over which the Commission has jurisdiction that it would be of great benefit to those operators residing in such areas. 

According to Zook, the recent migration of broadcast television stations to primarily the UHF frequencies has basically eliminated any probable interference to television channels 4 or 5 which otherwise might have occurred. This is 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. 

In his proposal Zook suggests that the FCC allow all classes of amateur radio operators operating privileges on this new band. However, he also suggests that Novice Class licensees be restricted to a lower output level than those allowed for Technician, General, Advanced and Extra Class licensees. He says that if the present maximum power output limitation of 1500 watts P-E-P is 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. 

It should be noted that there are still a small number of low-band VHF television transmitters in operation and their owners will likely oppose the creation of a new ham band at 70 MHz. That said, the level of opposition from broadcasters will likely be far less than it would have been before the Digital Television transition of June 2009. Thats when most of the nations VHF low band stations on channels 2 through 7 migrated to channels in the U-H-F range. 

If the FCC decides to issue it a Rule Making designation, Glen Zook's petition to create a ham radio allocation at 70 MHz is likely to garner a lot of support from within the ham radio community. Especially from those who operate in the world above 50 MHz. 

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.