FCC Cognitive Radios - AMSAT Comments

The FCC has released a Report and Order (R&O) on cognitive or 'smart radios'.

In ET Docket 03-108, "Facilitating Opportunities for Flexible, Efficient, and Reliable Spectrum Use Employing Cognitive Radio Technologies", the Commission declined to adopt any new regulations for Amateur Radio transceivers or for digital-to-analog converters (DACs) "at this time."

The Commission was concerned about potential misuse of high speed DACs and software defined radios (SDRs). The proposed rule-change would have directly affected all radio amateurs, including those who would be using Amateur Radio satellites in the future.

One problem noted by AMSAT was that limiting the transmission ability to amateur bands, prevents HF
software defined radios from being used as wideband IFs in conjunction with transverters to access the microwave bands. Such transverters are frequently used in connection with both terrestrial and satellite applications for reception and transmission on various microwave bands.

AMSAT is very pleased to see the Commission continue to allow the development and introduction of devices which have such high potential to prove beneficial to radio amateurs and the general public.

The full text of AMSAT's comments can be found at
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/amsat-na/filings/et-03-108-comments.pdf

Dr. Perry Klein, W3PK, AMSAT Vice President, Government Liaison noted that a lot of research and hard work went into getting these comments filed with the FCC in a timely manner. Ray Soifer, W2RS and Bill Tynan, W3XO were instrumental in helping pull these comments together along
with contributions from other AMSAT Board Members and Officers.

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