[SMCARA] Amateur radio Exams: FCC 04-140 Rule making Effective 12/15/2006

[Eric Heard]

Fellow Hams,

FYI.

73


To All Contact VE Team Leaders
Subject: FCC 04-140 Rule making Effective 12/15/2006

The FCC WT Docket 04-140 - Report & Order that addresses twelve 
petitions for rule making has been posted in the Federal Register as 
of November 15,2006. The Part 97 rules affected in this RO will 
become effective December 15, 2006. The complete posting in the 
Federal Register can be viewed in PDF format here 
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-19189.pdf

These new Part 97 rules, as posted in the Federal Register, become 
effective December 15, 2006. All amateur VEC examinations given on or 
after December 15,2006 are affected by these rule changes.

Questions used for examinations in the ALL amateur question pools are 
impacted by this rule change. See the notice released by the NCVEC 
Question Pool Committee 
http://www.w5yi.org/ama_news_article.php?id=144 for complete details.


The WT Docket 04-140 did not address Morse code testing in the 
Amateur Service as that matter,WT Docket 05-235, is still pending as 
the next major Amateur Service rule making to be acted on by the 
Commission.


Thank you, Happy Holidays & 73,

Larry Pollock - NB5X
W5YI-VEC
www.w5yi.org



~~~~~~
A Summary of the new rules:

(1.) The FCC has basically adopted the ARRL's "Novice refarming" 
plan. New Part 97.301 and 97.305 rules allow amateur radio operators 
more spectrum in four currently-authorized amateur HF bands to be 
used primarily for voice communications.

75 Meters
License Class - - - New Voice Privileges
Extra Class - - Currently 3750-4000 kHz - - New Phone - - 3600-4000 
kHz - - +150 kHz
Advanced Class - - Currently 3775-4000 kHz - - New Phone - - 
3700-4000 kHz - - +75 kHz
General Class - - Currently 3850-4000 kHz - - New Phone - - 3800-4000 
kHz - - + 50 kHz
40 Meters
License Class - - - New Voice Privileges
Extra Class - - Currently 7150-7300 kHz - - New Phone - - 7125-7300 
kHz - - +25 kHz
Advanced Class - - Currently 7150-7300 kHz - - New Phone - - 
7125-7300 kHz - - +25 kHz
General Class - - Currently 7225-7300 kHz - - New Phone - - 7175-7300 
kHz - - +50 kHz
15 Meters
License Class - - - New Voice Privileges
Extra Class - - 21200-21450 kHz - - New Phone - - No change
Advanced Class - - 21225-21450 kHz - - New Phone - - No change
General Class - - 21300-21450 kHz - - New Phone - - 21275-21450 kHz - 
- +25 kHz
10 Meters
License Class - - - New Voice Privileges
Novice (10M)* - - 28300-28500 kHz - - New Phone - - No change
License Class - - New CW Privileges
Novice (10M)* - - 28100-28500 kHz - - New CW - - 28000-28500 kHz - - +100 kHz
(*=includes Technician Class operators who have passed a Morse code exam.)

(2.) Currently auxiliary stations are restricted to transmitting only 
on the 1.25 m (222.15-225.00 MHz) and shorter wavelength ham bands. 
In response to a request from Kenwood Communications, this is being 
lowered to the 2 meter band. The new amended Part 97.201(b) rule 
makes Kenwood's Sky Command system legal for operation within the US. 
The Sky Command system permits the user to operate certain Kenwood 
equipment remotely via a VHF/UHF handheld transceiver.

(3.) Currently spread spectrum (SS) emission may only be transmitted 
above 420 MHz (70 cm) band. New Part 9.301(c) lowers this to the 
222-225 MHz (1.25 cm) ham band.

(4.) The rules currently allow the retransmission of space shuttle 
communications. Part 97.113(e) is being amended to include all 
"manned spacecraft" ...including the International Space Station.

(5.) Current rules do not permit a living radioamateur to specify an 
amateur radio club to receive his/her call sign upon their death. New 
Part 97(c)1 rule will permit a licensee to express a preference as to 
which club may receive his/her call sign.

(6.) Currently amateurs may file multiple requests for the same 
vanity call sign giving them an unfair advantage in obtaining that 
call sign since the call sign is awarded by lottery. New Part 
97.19(d)1 rule prohibits an applicant from filing more than one 
application for a specific vanity call sign.

(7.) Currently, the rules prohibit commercial manufacturers from 
marketing RF power amplifiers that are capable of transmitting on the 
12 m and 10 m amateur service bands as a way to prevent use of these 
amplifiers by Citizens Band (CB) radio operators. New Part 97.317(a)3 
now specifies that RF amplifiers shall exhibit no amplification 
between 26 MHz and 28 MHz but may otherwise be commercially 
manufactured.

(8.) Currently, Part 97.401(d) authorizes an amateur station in 
Alaska to transmit communications during emergencies on 5.1675 MHz 
(the Alaska Emergency Frequency), but not communications for training 
drills and tests. This rule is being changed to authorize amateur 
stations in or near Alaska to transmit communications during tests 
and drills on 5.1675 MHz.

(9.) New Part 97.509(a) deletes the requirement that a VE team 
publicize the location and time of an upcoming VE license examination 
session. New Section 97.509(m) deletes the requirement that the test 
session paperwork be submitted to their VEC within 10 days. The FCC 
said these restrictions were no longer necessary.

(10.) New Part 97.407(b) deletes the frequency bands and segments and 
clarifies that during certain emergencies the frequency segments 
available to Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) stations 
and amateur stations participating in RACES would be authorized 
pursuant to Part 214 of the Code of Federal Regulations,. "Procedures 
for Use and Coordination of the Radio Spectrum During a Wartime 
Emergency".

(11.) Part 97.505(a) - Examination Credit - is being amended to 
provide Element 1 (5 WPM Morse) credit to any applicant who has 
passed a code examination in the past even though their license may 
now be expired.
~~~~~~

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