[RVRC] ARRL BOD proceedings.....

[Marvin Bronstein]

Here is a report from Mike Lysenco, Hudson Div. Director, regarding the latest BOD developments.  As you can see, ARRL is proceeding with expansion and improving the digital sub-band allocations on HF.  ARRL will campaign to the FCC for better enforcement of interference from electronic devices ALONG WITH interference on VHF/UHF repeaters!

73
Marv
k2vhw


As you know, the ARRL Board of Directors met last weekend. We dealt
with a number of issues in addition to the dues increase (which I
discussed in my previous email to the Division). The other highlights
of the meeting are as follows:

ARRL HF Band Plan:

After the call for membership input regarding the coexistence of
multiple data modes on the RTTY/Data sub-band, in which we received
over 1,000 comments, the Board adopted amendments to the ARRL HF Band
Plan recommended by the HF Band Planning Committee in its July 2015
report, with one major change from the proposals as outlined in the
April 2015 issue of QST and summarized on the ARRL website. That change
was to set the upper RTTY/data limit for 20 meters at 14.125 MHz,
consistent with the IARU Region 1 band plan.

Rule Making Petition to FCC:

Related to the approved bandplan, the Board also authorized the
preparation of a rule making petition to the FCC, seeking changes in
the 80 and 75 meter bands that are consistent with majority opinion
among more than 1000 responses to an online membership survey. The
petition would seek to shift the boundary between the 80 meter
RTTY/data subband and the 75 meter phone/image subband from 3600 to
3650 kHz. It also would restore privileges in the 3600-3650 kHz segment
to Advanced, General, Technician, and Novice licensees.

In addition, the League will ask the FCC to shift the automatically
controlled digital station (ACDS) band segment from 3585-3600 kHz to
3600-3615 kHz, consistent with the IARU Region 1 and Region 2 band
plans, and authorize Technician and Novice licensees to use RTTY/data
emissions in their 15 and 80 meter band segments, the latter contingent
on expansion of the 80 meter band.

Amateur Radio Enforcement Plan::

The Board directed the CEO, staff, and General Counsel to develop and,
under the supervision of the Executive Committee, execute a plan to
improve timely and visible enforcement in the Amateur Radio Service,
most notably in the areas of RF interference from power lines and Part
15 and 18 lighting devices and malicious interference to HF net
operations and VHF/UHF repeaters.

Advocacy:

Advocacy on behalf of Amateur Radio has included relentless defense of
Amateur Radio spectrum, the Amateur Radio Parity Act, and an increased
awareness of the value of Amateur Radio on Capitol Hill. The strong
commitment the League has made to obtain passage of HR-1301 and S. 1685
continues.

ARRL Hudson Division
Director: Mike Lisenco, N2YBB
n2ybb at arrl.org
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