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NEWINGTON, CT, May 15, 2002--The FCC has released the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in ET Docket 02-98, which proposes to create new amateur allocations at 5 MHz and 136 kHz and to elevate the status of Amateur Radio at 2400 to 2402 MHz from secondary to primary. The FCC voted unanimously May 2 to adopt the NPRM in ET Docket 02-98.
In response to separate petitions filed by the ARRL, the Commission announced in a Public Notice released May 9 that it would propose a new, secondary, domestic (US-only) HF allocation at 5.25 to 5.4 MHz and a new LF allocation 135.7 to 137.8 kHz. If eventually approved, the 5 MHz band would be the first new HF allocation since the early 1980s, when amateurs got 30, 17 and 12 meters. The LF allocation would be the first ever for US hams. The FCC said it received 87 comments on the 5 MHz proposal and 32 comments on the LF proposal.
"We agree with ARRL that propagation and interference conditions in the 3500 kHz and 7000 kHz bands could hinder effective amateur HF communications," the FCC said in its NPRM. "In particular, as ARRL indicates, the nature of the ionosphere prevents communications during certain portions of the day because of increased atmospheric noise levels at certain times on certain frequencies."
The FCC said ARRL's WA2XSY experimental operation "appears to support its contention" that the band could supplement 80 and 40 meters at certain times.
The FCC has proposed letting amateurs operate at full legal limit on a new 5 MHz allocation, but it left open for further discussion whether to restrict the band to Amateur Extra Class licensees or make it available to General and higher class licensees. The FCC also invited further comment on whether the band should be broken down into mode-specific subbands. The ARRL had proposed opening the entire band to RTTY, data (including CW), phone and image emission types.
Assuming the 5-MHz band eventually is authorized, it could be a few years before it actually becomes available. The band 5.250 to 5.450 MHz now is allocated to Fixed and Mobile services on a co-primary basis in all three ITU regions.
On 136 kHz, the FCC has proposed mirroring technical limits suggested by Canada during World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 preparations to 1 W effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) and with a transmission bandwidth of only 100 Hz. The ARRL has asked for than 2 W EIRP and a maximum transmitter power of 200 W PEP.
The FCC proposed no restrictions on antenna size or design, saying it did not want to inhibit experimentation by hams. It proposed to limit access to the band to General and higher-class licensees, as ARRL had proposed.
The FCC said it was reluctant to also propose allocating an amateur band at 160 to 190 kHz--as ARRL had requested--because of concerns about possible interference to unlicensed power line carrier (PLC) systems in that band. The FCC noted it had turned down a 1978 ARRL petition for the same reason.
The FCC said ARRL's request to upgrade the 2400-2402 MHz band "has merit." It did not propose any changes in service rules or operational requirements.
The NPRM is available on the ARRL Web site. The FCC is expected to soon make this proceeding available for comments filed via its Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). Visit the ECFS site , click on "Search for Filed Comments" and enter "02-98" in the "Proceeding" field.
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