[SMCARA] FCC Report and Order (R&O) to amend Part 97 of the Amateur Radio Service rules

[A.J. Farmer (AJ3U)]

There are some very interesting changes to Part 97 in this FCC R&O.
Kenwood "Skycommand" will finally become legal in the U.S.
Retransmissions of ISS communications will be allowed, and some
additional voice spectrum and digital modes allowed on the HF bands,
among other things...

This R&O was adopted on October 4th and the changes to Part 97 will go
into effect 30 days after the R&O is published in the Federal Register
(I have no idea when that will be, but probably soon).

-A.J. Farmer, AJ3U
~~~

The FCC has issued a Report and Order (R&O) to amend Part 97 of the Amateur
Radio Service rules, see

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-149A1.doc

The changes to the Amateur Radio Service rules are:

. revise the operating privileges  of amateur radio operators to allow more
spectrum in four currently-authorized amateur service HF bands to be used for
voice communications;

. permit auxiliary stations  to transmit on additional amateur service bands;

. permit amateur stations to transmit spread spectrum communications on the
1.25 meter (m) band;

. permit amateur stations to retransmit communications from the International
Space Station;

. permit amateur service licensees to designate the amateur radio club to
receive their call sign in memoriam;

. prohibit an applicant from filing more than one application for a specific
vanity call sign;

. eliminate certain restrictions on equipment manufacturers that are no longer
necessary;

. permit amateur radio stations operating in Alaska and surrounding waters more
flexibility in providing emergency communications; and

. remove certain restrictions in the amateur service license examination system
that are no longer necessary.

-- 
A.J. Farmer, AJ3U
http://www.aj3u.com