FCC Has Two Proposals to Change the Way We Identify

[Pete, WA2CWA]

FCC has two proposals before them to change Part 97 rules on how we identify when we are on the air. RM-11346 and RM-11347 are now posted on the FCC web site and the FCC is now requesting comments.

RM-11346, filed December 9, 2005, by Murray Green, K3BEQ, would raise the required ID interval to 30 minutes as well as at the end of each communication.

RM-11347, filed May 19, 2006, by Glenn Zook, K9STH, would revise §97.119(a) to more closely resemble the old FCC §12.82(a) Transmission of call signs rule. Zook proposes requiring radio amateurs to transmit the call sign(s) of stations with which they are in communication plus their own call sign at the start and end of each single transmission or of a series of transmissions between stations in communication "each transmission of which is of less than three minutes' duration," at least every 10 minutes during a series of transmissions between stations in communication, and at least every 10 minutes during any single transmission more than 10 minutes long.

Comments are due by November 29, 2006.

Go to:
http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/comsrch_v2.cgi
and put RM-11346 or RM-11347 in the Proceeding Field

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Not sure what this has to do with the ARRL.

Seems a big waste. What's wrong with the current regs on ID?

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Not sure what this has to do with the ARRL.

Seems a big waste. What's wrong with the current regs on ID?

Maybe I should have waited to see if the ARRL was going to comment on these petitions. I made the call to put it here; probably could have also gone to QSO. Like you , I don't see what the big deal here is either with the current regs; they've worked fine for years.

But, if anything, it highlights how easy it is for any individual amateur or group to "pen" a proposal to the FCC today, no matter how "off the wall" it might seem.

As we look at these petitions, and others over the last several years, it should become fairly obvious to the ARRL that amateurs are no longer taking a passive roll in the arena of amateur rules and regulations. The ARRL should well take this into consideration as it develops its on-going strategic plans for 2007 and beyond.

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Very true.

[k4kyv]

What's wrong with the current regs on ID?

The 10 minute interval is too short.  It's easy to make an ole buzzard transmission and inadvertently talk beyond the limit, or to forget in a quick break-in type QSO.  30 minutes may be a little long, though.  A good compromise would be to extend it to 15 minutes, as it has long been in the UK, IIRC.  Anyone know of the top of their head what the rule is in Canada?

Perhaps IARU could lobby for all countries to make it uniformly 15  minutes, world wide.  That would avoid confusion in international QSO's, although few "ur 5-9, QSL via bureau, 73, QRZ?" tye DX contacts ever come anywhere near 15 or even 10 minutes in length.

Remember, the FCC deregulated the broadcast industry's ID rule.  They once required frequent station ID's (15 or 30 minutes).  When surfing the broadcast band it was easy to identify the station you were hearing.  Now it's once at the top of the hour, while at other times they identify with some bogus ID like "Q108."  This makes identification of an unknown broadcast station extremely tedious.

I wouldn't call this an extremely urgent issue, but I have always thought the 10-minute ID interval was a nuisance.

It seems to  me the proposed changes are pretty clear, regardless of which forum you read to learn about it.  If you have an opinion, no need to wait to see the ARRL's  response before commenting.  As the phone band expansion R&O demonstrates, individual comments do sometimes make a difference, even though the FCC is not obliged by law to act accordingly to what the majority says they want.

[W3SLK]

Don said:

They once required frequent station ID's (15 or 30 minutes).  When surfing the broadcast band it was easy to identify the station you were hearing.  Now it's once at the top of the hour, while at other times they identify with some bogus ID like "Q108." 

Interesting. They were just talking about this very subject in this month's addition of 'Radio Guide'. Another note is that the "Q108" would not be considered a legal form of ID. It would have to be something along the lines of "WQRM, 108.1".

[KB2WIG]

Its on 106.3 , not 108.1  (and 99.3 for the home of the lighters)

For the pasta people, they have a net...
                       


                "Why do you visit wqrm.net?"


  klc

[KF1Z]

Interesting. They were just talking about this very subject in this month's addition of 'Radio Guide'. Another note is that the "Q108" would not be considered a legal form of ID. It would have to be something along the lines of "WQRM, 108.1".

I believe that was just changed recently....

Radio Stations might be  now allowed to use their slogan or catch-phrase to identify.

As long as they use the same one, the FCC knows who they are.

This was all in a recent Fcc  Report ans order I stumbled across while looking for CFR47, P97 stuff.

Could have been a Proposed rule change..........

I can't seem to find it now......

One of those things where it wasn't what I was looking for.....so I didn't pay close attention.

[k4kyv]

Here is the ID rule in UK amateur regs:

13(1) The Licensee, or, if this Licence is a Full Licence, then any other authorised person who uses the Radio Equipment, shall transmit the Callsign specified in Section 1 of this Licence and any modifier applicable under the provisions of this Licence:

(a) during initial calls (“CQ” calls) or calls to establish contact with another Amateur;
(b) at least once during each transmission and additionally when the period of transmission is longer than 15 minutes, at the end of each transmission;
(c) at least once every 15 minutes during net operations;
(d) whenever the frequency of transmission is changed, at the beginning of transmission on the new frequency;
(e) by the same type of transmission that is being used for the communication;
(f) on the same frequency that is being used for the communication.

13(2) When using a wireless remote control device to control the operation of equipment in the Radio Equipment as provided in Clause 7(4) the identification requirements set out in this Clause 13 shall not apply to the operation of that wireless remote control device although the provisions of this Clause shall continue to apply to the operation of the Radio Equipment.

Scroll to Section 2, Paragraph 13 (Identification), Page 13

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/aradio/lifetimelicence/licenceformat.pdf

[w3jn]

The 10 minute interval is too short.  It's easy to make an ole buzzard transmission and inadvertently talk beyond the limit

Wow, that's quite an admission, Don 

[Pete, WA2CWA]

FYI: July 9, 2007, FCC dismisses both of these proposals, plus an additional proposal.
For more of the info, go here:
http://www.remote.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/07/10/100/?nc=1

If you're into reading FCC documents, more info is here:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-3069A1.pdf

Bottom Line: Identify -  Remember, short wave listeners need to know who they're listening to so that they can send you an SWL card.

[W1GFH]

Let's bring back the reg that requires a separate license for the transmitter while we're at it.