XPost: rec.radio.amateur.policy, oma.general, nebr.misc
XPost: rec.radio.info

ARRL Washington counsel David Siddall, K3ZJ, sent out information about
the FCC's proposed actions on 60 meters.

The FCC published in the Federal Register Notice of the 60-meter Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking adopted last April. This sets the comment
deadline as October 30, and the reply comment deadline as Nov. 28. We encourage comments to the FCC supporting ARRL's request for a 100-watt
limit and continued access to the 4 channels that otherwise will be
deleted. The FCC's Notice on the 60-meter matter is ET Docket No.
23-120 at paragraphs 37-53, link: https://tinyurl.com/43dyjekf.

BACKGROUND

The FCC proposed to adopt the 60-meter WRC-2015 allocation of 15 kHz of contiguous spectrum at 5351.5 - 5366.5 kHz on a secondary basis for
General and higher-class amateur licensees. Notably, it did not propose
to replace the current 100-watt power limit with the accompanying
WRC-2015 power limit of 15 watts EIRP (9.1-watt ERP), nor did it propose cessation of operation on the currently used four channels outside the
WRC-2015 allocation and that were rejected at the Conference. Instead,
the Commission described these two issues and requested comment.

In the same Notice the FCC also proposed to update the existing notice requirements for amateurs in geographic areas where amateur operations
in the 420-450 MHz band generally are limited to 50 watts.

ARRL has argued for adoption of the current 100-watt limit and for
continued access to the 4 channels outside the narrow 15 kHz
international allocation in addition to the contiguous 15 kHz.
Importantly, Canada adopted this approach notwithstanding the WRC
allocation and its limitations.

The federal government is the holder of primary spectrum rights in this
band. NTIA, on behalf of federal user agencies, has opposed any
variation from the agreed-upon WRC-2015 result. It supports only the 15
kHz segment for amateurs with a 15-watt EIRP power limit, noting among
other things that although at WRC-2015 some countries obtained slightly
higher powers or other concessions with treaty footnotes, the U.S. did
not.

ARRL will continue to advocate to maintain the 100-watt limit for 60
meters, continued authorization for the four channels outside the WRC allocation that are being used today, and adoption of the new 15 kHz
allocation with the same 100-watt power limit.

To help visualize the 60-meter argument, Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA,
Central Division Director, created an explanatory graphic. You can see
that by visiting: http://ctwsoft.com/60meter/60m.pdf.

For information on how to submit comments to the FCC, please visit: https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/how_to_comment_on_fcc_proceedings.pdf

73, Art K0AIZ

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ARRL Midwest Division
Director: Arthur I Zygielbaum, K0AIZ
k0aiz@arrl.org --------------------------------------------------------------------

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