FCC Releases "Omnibus" Long Delayed Report & Order

[Pete, WA2CWA]

It Was Released on October 10, 2006


Time keeps matching on with no action.

From the ARRL, 10/3/06 - The ARRL has called upon the FCC to release a Report and Order in the so-called "Omnibus" Amateur Radio proceeding, WT Docket 04-140. The 2004 Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) proceeding, one of two still awaiting FCC release, consolidated a dozen rule making petitions addressing various Part 97 rule changes -- including ARRL's Novice refarming proposal. In its Notice of Proposed Rule Making and Order (NPRM&O), the Commission proposed to go along with the League's refarming concept and most other recommendations.

For the rest of the story, go here:
http://www.remote.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/10/03/102/?nc=1

[Bacon, WA3WDR]

Daily Digest

Vol. 25, No. 196
October 11, 2006
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE DATED AND RELEASED TODAY:

AMENDMENT OF PART 97 OF THE COMMISSION'S RULES GOVERNING THE AMATEUR RADIO SERVICES.   
Amended the rules in this proceeding. (Dkt No. 04-140).
Action by:  the Commission.
Adopted:  10/04/2006 by R&O. (FCC No. 06-149).
WTB
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-149A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-149A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-149A1.txt

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Pretty sweet... up to an extra 150 kHz for phone on 75 meters, if you are an Extra.

75 Meter Phone Allocations


             General      Advanced      Extra

Current      3850-4000   3775-4000   3750-4000

New          3800-4000   3700-4000   3600-4000

Increase         50           75        150



40 Meter Phone Allocations

              General      Advanced       Extra

Current      7225-7300    7150-7300    7150-7300

New          7175-7300    7125-7300    7125-7300

Increase        50            25           25

[Pete, WA2CWA]

The FCC talking, so "we" all know who the "We" is in the text:
We are persuaded, however, by ARRL’s contention that increasing the amount of spectrum for voice communications will reduce interference among stations using voice communications, thereby benefiting all licensees, and that authorizing more spectrum for voice communications will more closely reflect licensees' operating preferences, thereby resulting in more efficient use of amateur service spectrum.

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

 FCC still talking, with no reference to ARRL:

Additionally, we are persuaded that increasing the spectrum for voice communications is consistent with our observation that additional frequency privileges for higher class licensees are an incentive for licensees to advance their communications and technical skills,  thereby providing greater incentive for licensees to advance or "upgrade"  to a higher class operator license, and will better reflect the communication technology preferences of amateur radio operators.

...which seems to go against the League's more recent 'If you dumb it down and add more buttons and shiny things, they will come' approach. They should've stuck with incentive licensing instead. At least they'd have one less reason to draw fire, if nothing else.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

 FCC still talking, with no reference to ARRL:

Additionally, we are persuaded that increasing the spectrum for voice communications is consistent with our observation that additional frequency privileges for higher class licensees are an incentive for licensees to advance their communications and technical skills,  thereby providing greater incentive for licensees to advance or "upgrade"  to a higher class operator license, and will better reflect the communication technology preferences of amateur radio operators.

...which seems to go against the League's more recent 'If you dumb it down and add more buttons and shiny things, they will come' approach. They should've stuck with incentive licensing instead. At least they'd have one less reason to draw fire, if nothing else.

Old News - The FCC already rejected ARRL's request to resurrect the Novice type license.
And more buttons are coming, all in software.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

NEWINGTON, CT, Oct 11, 2006 -- Ending a protracted waiting period, the FCC's Report and Order in the so-called "Omnibus" Amateur Radio proceeding, WT Docket 04-140, was adopted October 4 and released October 10, 2006. In it, the FCC adopted nearly all of the proposed changes in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released back in 2004.

The changes will go into effect 30 days after the R&O is published in the Federal Register.

For a list of all the changes in 04-140 without having to read the entire document, go here:

http://www.remote.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/10/11/100/?nc=1

[kf6pqt]

Does this mean MFJ can start selling "10 meter" amps?

[ve6pg]

...ok..you guys are gonna get more spectum...but i still ask,why the u.s. AM operators do not use the portion they already have,namely,down to 3750...everyone seems stuck on 3880-85. i know there are some exceptions,but you guys can go down to 3750,but dont...why?....tim....sk..

[Jim, W5JO]

Tim, that is because of the license classes.  On the 3.880-90 section Generals can operate, whereas below 3.850 they cannot.  Makes it possible for more people to participate.

[k4kyv]

I remember in the 70's when the General band went down to 3900, and later to 3890.  Generals essentially could not work 75m AM because it was too congested in their "electronic ghetto" at the top end of the band, and the "AM Window" was in the Advanced segment.

I was hoping they would have at least simplified the licence class/mode subband matrix by eliminating the distinction between Advanced and General phone privileges, since they no longer issue new Advanced licences.

Back when the 75m "window" was in Advanced territory, the General ticket was a greater challenge than the Advanced is today.  Similarly, to-day's Extra class test is easier than the Advanced was then.

Generals licensed before 1969 have at long last regained all the voice privileges that were taken away when incentive licensing was adopted, at least on 75m.

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Back when the 75m "window" was in Advanced territory, the General ticket was a greater challenge than the Advanced is today.  Similarly, to-day's Extra class test is easier than the Advanced was then.

I've heard this said before. Has someone done an analysis of the test question pools from those two era and made such a determination?

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Note:

FCC Releases Long-Awaited "Omnibus" Amateur Radio Report and Order (Oct 12, 2006) [REVISED Oct 13, 2006 10:40 ET]


http://www.remote.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/10/11/100/?nc=1

[Art]

"We are persuaded, however, by ARRL's contention that increasing the amount of spectrum for voice communications will reduce interference among stations using voice communications," the FCC said in its R&O, "thereby benefiting all licensees, and that authorizing more spectrum for voice communications will more closely reflect licensees' operating preferences, thereby resulting in more efficient use of amateur service spectrum."

Heresey, impossible I tell you. . . amateurs cannot control themselves. . . . this can never work. . .where do they come up with this stuff?   

: )


-ap