FCC NPRM seems likely soon

Turning to restructuring of ham radio in the United States, an ARRL bulletin says that the FCC is hard at work developing a Notice of Proposed Rule Making. One that will spell out what the Commission has in mind with respect to possible changes in the current Morse code requirement and Amateur Radio licensing.

A total of 18 petitions have been filed, including one from the League. All seek Part 97 rule changes addressing the future of the 5 Word Per Minute Morse requirement and revisions to the overall Amateur Radio licensing structure. The regulatory agency plans to tackle all 18 in a single proceeding.

The FCC appears unlikely to release an N-P-R-M any sooner than mid-year. Once public, it will start another round of public comments on what the has been proposed. Based on this, any Report and Order implementing revised rules is unlikely before the second half of 2006, although it's
possible the Commission could wrap things up before then.

(ARRL)

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