HAM RADIO REStrucTURING

[WA3VJB]

FCC issues wide-ranging restructuring of the Amateur Service.

see the doc below, but one headline --

Based on the record before us, we believe that authorizing additional spectrum for voice communications is warranted.  We agree with the majority of commenters that such an authorization will address a current need for more spectrum to accommodate phone communications, and that benefits will accrue and efficiencies will be gained by this action
Contributing to the FCC's decision:
DALE GAGNON, DAVE HUMBERTSON, JOHN FITZSIMMONS
and
DON CHESTER
are noted by name in the footnotes !!
Congratulations guys.

[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]

Cool! Let's start a NET!!! 

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Cool! Let's start a NET!!

About a net...

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

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,

Yeah, like it took Newington to bring that obscure fact to light.....  Thankfully, the FCC didn't take thair advice on the amount of increase.

Contributing to the FCC's decision:
DALE GAGNON, DAVE HUMBERTSON, JOHN FITZSIMMONS
and
DON CHESTER
are noted by name in the footnotes !!
Congratulations guys.

Bill was listed also:

Bill Kleronomos Comments at 1;

Good show, OMs!

[K1JJ]

Adopted:  October 4, 2006            
Released:  October 10, 2006
By the Commission


I just read it over. Vely, vely interesting.

I liked the way the FCC referred to various people who expressed comments -  they were listening.

The dates listed above -  Am I interpreting this correctly? Does the "adopted" Oct 4, 2006 mean Extras can go down to 3600 on phone NOW?  Or, is there an "effective" date coming in the future? I tuned and heard only VE stations down there as of 4PM today.

This 75M thing is really a monumental rule change that we all have hoped for for many years now.  

Also, I wonder where the Euro 40M band now cuts off. I heard some countries can go higher these days. With the added USA 25kc segment, the dream of working them on the same freq may be closer.

T

[WA3VJB]

Bill was listed also:

Bill Kleronomos Comments at 1;

Good show, OMs!

Thanks for catching that Todd, yes, we have a lot to be proud of for having contributed to the FCC's decsion making.  The FCC again has recognized persons who participate in the regulatory process.

Also adding as showing up in the footnoots:

Paul Goodman

Mike Wingfield

me

[WA3VJB]

Yes Phil, the 30-Day proviso is noted in the document.
SO, we have to watch for publication and start the clock then.

[KF1Z]

hmmmm...........

Doesn't that sound nice???

AM window from 3600-3700kc?

Would be all well and good, but what about all those digital stations working that segment?

I guess I'll find, and read the text.............

[k4kyv]

Much better than anything I had anticipated, but we are still left with that cumbersome matrix of subbands based on operator class combined with emission mode.

Considering the relief in congestion we have already experienced due to the general decline in amateur activity in recent years, there should be plenty of room for all on 75m, without the griping about AM "taking up too much room on the crowded band."  Of course, if the FCC eventually eliminates the code requirement, expect an initial spike in activity as hoards of no-code Techs upgrade, but after the initial spike I predict a return to stagnant growth.  There should still be plenty of room for AM activity.

Once the expansion goes into effect, we should immediately commence AM activity on the new frequencies, including the 3600-3700 kc/s Extra segment. 

I have just briefly skimmed the R & O, so I am not sure if it means that 3600-3700 is restricted to Extra class for all modes, or just that Extras can now use phone in the segment.  How this will affect non-voice licence class restrictions is not entirely clear:

12. Regarding the division among license classes of the spectrum on which we today
authorize phone emissions, we adopt the Commission’s proposal to authorize stations of General
Class licensees to transmit voice emissions in the 3800-4000 kHz frequency segment, thereby
increasing by 50 kHz the spectrum for voice communications by these stations. Because we
have decided to authorize more 75 m spectrum for voice communications than was proposed in
the NPRM, we also authorize stations of Advanced Class licensees to transmit voice emissions in
the 3700-4000 kHz frequency segment, thereby increasing by 75 kHz the amount of spectrum for voice communications by these stations. We also authorize stations of Amateur Extra Class
licensees to transmit voice emissions in the 3600-4000 kHz frequency segment, thereby
increasing by 150 kHz the spectrum authorized to these stations for voice communications. In
the 40 m and 15 m bands, we adopt the Commission’s proposal to authorize stations of Amateur Extra and Advanced Class licensees 7125-7300 kHz, stations of General Class licensees 7175-7300 kHz, and stations of General Class licensees 21275-21450 kHz for phone
communications.

If Generals and above can still use 3600-3700 for non-voice modes, expect digital modes to continue to operate in this segment.  I suspect that may be the reason such a big hunk was set aside for Extras - to limit phone activity in that region of the band so that some of the digital stuff can continue on those frequencies.

Although the thinking of government agencies is extremely unpredictable, this doesn't look well for the ARRL's bandwidth proposal.  If the FCC were seriously considering limitations by bandwidth any time soon, it is unlikely they would have gone to all the trouble to work out this plan, only to have to revise it in the near future to accomodate subbands-by-bandwidth.

Looks like we'll soon be able to join the Canadians in their "AM Window" on 3720.

[Bill, KD0HG]

We need to achieve a consensus on an alternate AM Window and stake out turf on the new band ASAP. I'd hate to see everyone still crammed on around 3885 five years from now.

Being a traditionalist, and there's several folks using crapstals, how about 1885 x 2 or 3770 KC? Almost any 75M dipole antenna should accomodate both 3770 and 3885 without retuning. Perhaps 7290/2 or 3645 KHz?

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

And we could work those guys on 160 with too much second harmonic output! Cross band anyone?

The only problem I see with 3770 is that it's a little close to the DX Window. Yea, I know the lower edge is 25 kHz up the band, but often DX spills over, all the way down to 80 or so. Just a thought.

For sure, let's pick a freq and use it.

[k4kyv]

For sure, let's pick a freq and use it.

Plus, show a presence somewhere on 3600-3700.  The watered-down Extra today is less than comparable to the Advanced in the mid 70's, when the "window" was in Advanced territory.  I recall very well when Generals couldn't work 75m AM because the General class segment (electronic ghetto) was way too congested, and 3885 was off-limits.

When this expansion goes into effect, there will be no excuse not to s-p-r-e-a-d  o-u-t.

[w1guh]

IMHO...there should be an AM window in the old novice band, say, 3725?

[K1JJ]

Yes, 3770 might be a little high. From experience working DX on the east coast, when the band is hot, OR there is a DX corntest, they work all the way down to 3775 and sometimes lower. AM activity would be a little close, considering all the new room we will have.

Moving into the new area sounds cool.  There are no staked-out U.S. nets, groups or other SSB activity yet. Think about it.

I do like the idea of 3725.  That will let the Advanced Class guys join in (3700 is their lower limit) and give us a nice round freq number. Did someone say there was also AM activity there from VE's and/or Eu?

If we eventually spread out + - 15kc like the 3885 area habits, that would be 3710- 3740. I also like the idea of being in the old novice band! 

Just my 2 cents, but, whatever comes about is OK with me.

T

[Bill, KD0HG]

Yup, Tom, we're all a bunch of JNs at heart, aren't we?

[WA1GFZ]

Wow 3725 was my novice frequency. wonder if the rock still shakes

[WA3VJB]

Yeah I predict a lot of antenna re-cuttings getting ready.
I'm already down at 3825Kc.

[Ed-VA3ES]

IMHO...there should be an AM window in the old novice band, say, 3725?

The Canadian AM window is 3720 - 3745, with 3725 the "calling frequency".  There is a daily net on there  starting at about 5 PM or so, with most activity at about 8 PM.

[w3jn]

Wooh-hoo!  Guess the time I took to file my comments were well worth the effort.

Contributing to the FCC's decision:
DALE GAGNON, DAVE HUMBERTSON, JOHN FITZSIMMONS
and
DON CHESTER
are noted by name in the footnotes !!
Congratulations guys.

[Herb K2VH]

Wow 3725 was my novice frequency. wonder if the rock still shakes

Miy Novice rock was on 3721.5  Think that would be close enough?

I'm also wondering what our Canadian friends will be thinking about the American Invasion of their territory.

How 'bout it, Ed?

vH

[K1JJ]

The Canadian AM window is 3720 - 3745, with 3725 the "calling frequency".  There is a daily net on there  starting at about 5 PM or so, with most activity at about 8 PM.

Thanks for the info, Ed.

Well, in light of this, maybe a better choice would be 3715 for US stations.  In this case the complete 3700 - 3750 area could be considered a US/Canadian AM popular area of sorts, since the Canadians have already spearheaded and made the ssb world aware of their presence there. Might as well build on it.  In addition, Extra Class AM guys could drop down below 3700 if need be.

We must remember that a +- 6kc wide AM Advanced Class station cannot go below 3706 without being out of the band.

I can see this extra 100kc phone enhancement as a great reason to upgrade to Extra.

T

[ve6pg]

...OUR AM  GROUP HERE IN VE-LAND HAS BEEN ON 3725 FOR YEARS..LISTEN MORNINGS ABOUT 8:30,AFTERNOONS ABT 4:30-5PM,AND AT NIGHT,AROUND 8PM....THING IS,WE CAN USE 1KW AM...TIM....SK...

[KB2WIG]

I can see this extra 100kc phone enhancement as a great reason to upgrade to Extra.

T

   Well, if this is done How will anyone know that we took a 13 wpm code test?    klc