FCC activates Regulation by Bandwidth rule-making proceedure

Restructuring of the U.S. Amateur service has begun once again. Two proposals that could reorganize the United States Amateur Radio Service to regulation by bandwidth that have been assigned rule making numbers by the FCC are finally available for public comment. Amateur Radio Newsline's
Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ, has the details:

The first proposal, was submitted by the Communications Think Tank group on the June 20, 2005. It has been assigned the Rule request number RM-11305.

The second proposal came from the ARRL last November 4th and has been assigned the Rule request number RM-11306.

The Communications Think Tank's petition differs from that filed by the ARRL in one significant way. It seeks only to discontinue mode-based segregation in what the petitioners believe will be an affirmative way to de-regulate the bands and improve the overall utilization of spectrum. While regulation by bandwidth might be an eventual outcome, the Think Tank does not suggest it or any other method as a way to go.

On the other hand the ARRL scheme is 100% regulation by bandwidth based. As previously explained, it states that its time to do away with distinct modes being assigned into various exclusive or semi exclusive subbands. Instead specific maximum bandwidths would be permitted in various spectrum parcels.

In the end, the two requests both target the topic of regulation by bandwidth, but as pointed out on QRZ.com, they are very different from one another and as such both deserve careful reading before making comments.
The commentary cutoff date on both proposals is Monday, February 6.

Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ
Amateur Radio Newsline

For those who want to read the full text of each, here are links:

Full text of Communications Think Tank Proposal in .pdf format:
http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?
native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6517982317

Full text of ARRL proposal in .pdf format:
http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6518181567

ARRL explains its request to the FCC in .pdf format:
http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/bandwidth/Bandwidth-Minute-64 Petition-FINAL.pdf

FCC, QRZ.com, ARNewslineT

RESTRUCTURING: MOST HAMS FAVOR STATUS QUO

Meantime a quick check of our 5 week old website survey on this issue shows that 55% of those responding favor retaining the current system of
regulation by mode and subband. Only 45% feel its time to make the
regulation by bandwidth change.

You can add your vote and see the minute- to-minute results for yourself at www.arnewsline.org

ARNewslineT

Latest news stories..

• Get our news headlines for your website • Submit your news story