OMNIBUS AMATEUR RADIO RULEMAKING RELEASED

The FCC has finally released WT Docket 04-140 - a wide ranging Report & Order that addresses twelve petitions for rulemaking ...some filed more than five years ago! Normally final action on a proceeding takes place about a year after a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. This R&O took nearly two-and-a-half years after the NPRM was released in the Spring of 2004. Generally, the FCC acted as they proposed.

Synopsis of the new rules:

(1.) The FCC has basically adopted the ARRL's "Novice refarming" plan. New Part 97.301 and 97.305 rules allow amateur radio operators more spectrum in four currently-authorized amateur HF bands to be used primarily for voice communications. Novice and Technician Cass operators who have passed a code exam are now allowed to operate CW in the General Class CW/data subbands on 80, 40, 15 and 10 meters.

75/80 Meters
License Class - - - New Voice Privileges
Extra Class - - - - -Currently 3750-4000 kHz - - New Phone - - 3600-4000 kHz - - +150 kHz
Advanced Class - - Currently 3775-4000 kHz - - New Phone - - 3700-4000 kHz - - +75 kHz
General Class - - - Currently 3850-4000 kHz - - New Phone - - 3800-4000 kHz - - + 50 kHz
License Class - - Currently New CW Privileges
Novice* - - - - - Currently 3675-3725 kHz - - New CW - - 3525-3600 kHz - - + 25 kHz
(*=includes Technician Class operators who have passed a Morse code exam.)

40 Meters
License Class - - - New Voice Privileges
Extra Class - - - - - Currently 7150-7300 kHz - - New Phone - - 7125-7300 kHz - - +25 kHz
Advanced Class - - Currently 7150-7300 kHz - - New Phone - - 7125-7300 kHz - - +25 kHz
General Class - - - Currently 7225-7300 kHz - - New Phone - - 7175-7300 kHz - - +50 kHz
License Class - - Currently New CW Privileges
Novice* - - - - - Currently 7100-7150 kHz - - New CW - - 7025-7125 kHz - - +50 kHz
(*=includes Technician Class operators who have passed a Morse code exam.)

15 Meters
License Class - - - New Voice Privileges
Extra Class - - - - -Currently 21200-21450 kHz - - New Phone - - No change
Advanced Class - - Currently 21225-21450 kHz - - New Phone - - No change
General Class - - - 21300-21450 kHz - - New Phone - - 21275-21450 kHz - - +25 kHz
License Class - - Currently New CW Privileges
Novice* - - - - - Currently 21100-21200 kHz - - New CW - - 21025-21200 kHz - - + 75 kHz
(*=includes Technician Class operators who have passed a Morse code exam.)

10 Meters
License Class - - - New Voice Privileges
Novice* - - - - - Currently 28300-28500 kHz - - New Phone - - No change
License Class - - Currently New CW Privileges
Novice* - - - - - Currently 28100-28500 kHz - - New CW - - 28000-28500 kHz - - +100 kHz
(*=includes Technician Class operators who have passed a Morse code exam.)

(2.) Currently auxiliary stations are restricted to transmitting only on the 1.25 m (222.15-225.00 MHz) and shorter wavelength ham bands. In response to a request from Kenwood Communications, this is being lowered to the 2 meter band. The new amended Part 97.201(b) rule makes Kenwood's Sky Command system legal for operation within the US. The Sky Command system permits the user to operate certain Kenwood equipment remotely via a VHF/UHF handheld transceiver.

(3.) Currently spread spectrum (SS) emission may only be transmitted above 420 MHz (70 cm) band. New Part 9.301(c) lowers this to the 222-225 MHz (1.25 cm) ham band.

(4.) The rules currently allow the retransmission of space shuttle communications. Part 97.113(e) is being amended to include all "manned spacecraft" ...including the International Space Station.

(5.) Current rules do not permit a living radioamateur to specify an amateur radio club to receive his/her call sign upon their death. New Part 97(c)1 rule will permit a licensee to express a preference as to which club may receive his/her call sign.

(6.) Currently amateurs may file multiple requests for the same vanity call sign giving them an unfair advantage in obtaining that call sign since the call sign is awarded by lottery. New Part 97.19(d)1 rule prohibits an applicant from filing more than one application for a specific vanity call sign.

(7.) Currently, the rules prohibit commercial manufacturers from marketing RF power amplifiers that are capable of transmitting on the 12 m and 10 m amateur service bands as a way to prevent use of these amplifiers by Citizens Band (CB) radio operators. New Part 97.317(a)3 now specifies that RF amplifiers shall exhibit no amplification between 26 MHz and 28 MHz but may otherwise be commercially manufactured.

(8.) Currently, Part 97.401(d) authorizes an amateur station in Alaska to transmit communications during emergencies on 5.1675 MHz (the Alaska Emergency Frequency), but not communications for training drills and tests. This rule is being changed to authorize amateur stations in or near Alaska to transmit communications during tests and drills on 5.1675 MHz.

(9.) New Part 97.509(a) deletes the requirement that a VE team publicize the location and time of an upcoming VE license examination session. New Section 97.509(m) deletes the requirement that the test session paperwork be submitted to their VEC within 10 days. The FCC said these restrictions were no longer necessary.

(10.) New Part 97.407(b) deletes the frequency bands and segments and clarifies that during certain emergencies the frequency segments available to Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) stations and amateur stations participating in RACES would be authorized pursuant to Part 214 of the Code of Federal Regulations,. "Procedures for Use and Coordination of the Radio Spectrum During a Wartime Emergency".

(11.) Part 97.505(a) - Examination Credit - is being amended to provide Element 1 (5 WPM Morse) credit to any applicant who has passed a code examination in the past even though their license may now be expired.

The new rules go into effect 30 days after publishing in the Federal Regster - estimated to be about mid-November.

WT Docket 04-140 does not address Morse code testing in the Amateur Service. That matter will be covered in the next major Amateur Service rulemaking: WT Docket 05-235.