December 2006 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

RE: [arrl-odv:14945] Re: WT Docket 05-235
by Jim Weaver 17 Dec '06

17 Dec '06

Gee folks, how long did it take for the debates over the ban against spark gap in favor of CW, FCC's approval of SSB and other such changes go on . . . back then? I barely remember arguments between hams who were just beginning to use Donald Duck talk vs. hams who thought AM should be the only fone mode! I admit that I'm too way too young to know anything about the fight between spark and CW people. As I've told my people in the GLD, when I took my driver's license exam, Indiana required that I use a car equipped with a standard transmission. On the intellectual level of most code test vs. no code test debates, this makes all the young whippersnappers who took driving tests using automatic transmission far inferior to me. After all, I'm a "real" driver. Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director ARRL Great Lakes Division 5065 Bethany Rd. Mason, OH 45040 E-mail: k8je(a)arrl.org; Tel.: 513-459-0142 -----Original Message----- From: Frank Fallon [mailto:n2ff@optonline.net] Sent: Saturday, December 16, 2006 8:39 PM To: arrl-odv Cc: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:14945] Re: WT Docket 05-235 Joel Harrison wrote: > As I stated in my email yesterday, it is good to see the FCC finally > act of WT Docket 05-235. > > <SNIP> Joel, I could not agree more with the statement below. The FCC has ruled: CW is Mode and NOT a religion. I for one have had the debate up to my ears for far too long! I will be interesting to see how ham radio goes in the next few years. It is, I am sure, not the end of the world. And yes, it is LONG overdue! I think it's a nice Christmas present. > For me personally, I'm glad we have the Morse issue behind us so we > can move forward. The debate has burdened us for far too many years. > > 73 Joel W5ZN > > p.s. Just so you don't get the two mixed up, I'm not happy with what > the Commission did regarding our 80 meter recon petition. That, > however, is another matter to address and deal with. >

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[arrl-odv:14945] Re: WT Docket 05-235
by Frank Fallon 17 Dec '06

17 Dec '06

Joel Harrison wrote: > As I stated in my email yesterday, it is good to see the FCC finally > act of WT Docket 05-235. > > <SNIP> Joel, I could not agree more with the statement below. The FCC has ruled: CW is Mode and NOT a religion. I for one have had the debate up to my ears for far too long! I will be interesting to see how ham radio goes in the next few years. It is, I am sure, not the end of the world. And yes, it is LONG overdue! I think it's a nice Christmas present. > For me personally, I’m glad we have the Morse issue behind us so we > can move forward. The debate has burdened us for far too many years. > > 73 Joel W5ZN > > p.s. Just so you don’t get the two mixed up, I’m not happy with what > the Commission did regarding our 80 meter recon petition. That, > however, is another matter to address and deal with. >

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[arrl-odv:14944] WT Docket 05-235
by Joel Harrison 17 Dec '06

17 Dec '06

As I stated in my email yesterday, it is good to see the FCC finally act of WT Docket 05-235. While the ARRL did not get exactly what it had petitioned for, it has long been known and reported to you since the NPRM was issued that this was what the Commission would do based on our meetings with them. The good news in the release is that they will now give Technician Class licensee's the same HF privileges as Technician Plus licensees now that a Morse exam is not required for an HF license. The battle over Morse as a licensing requirement has been an issue since the 1930's, when the first proposal surfaced to eliminate it. The war is now over, however the segregated feelings of individuals, some with religious passion, will continue the rest of their life just as we still see (though decreasing significantly in recent years) from some regarding incentive licensing of the 1960's, now 40 years ago. I have already received a number of emails, some good, some bad and some ugly. Two have informed me that we have "now accomplished our task of destroying amateur radio and that Hiram Percy Maxim is rolling in his grave." Quite frankly, having studied HPM extensively in more than just his amateur radio activities, I can tell you he is doing nothing of the sort. In fact, he never took a Morse exam to obtain his license! Hiram was a crotchety old guy that didn't care much for people that weren't forward thinkers or contributed nothing to his pursuits other than complaining. I am firmly confident that if Hiram were alive today he would be proud of how the League has evolved, advanced and promoted amateur radio over the past 90+ years. He would be irritated with the FCC and irritated with hams that offer no constructive input on the matters we face today, just like we are. So, where does that leave us concerning our position regarding the decision in WT Docket 05-235? It is my recommendation that we accept the decision as is and not file a petition for reconsideration. It became obvious early on, as reported to you, that after the Commission issued their NPRM the most likely way to achieve our objectives in our license restructuring petition would be to pursue other routes. The first is simplification of the Technician Class license question pool. Progress has already been made in that area but I personally am still not happy with what we have. Second is to achieve limited, HF phone privileges for Technician Class licensees. Heck, we've got plenty of room for a small slice on 80 meters now! These are just two areas to work on in the coming months. For now, we should focus on what we have and move forward, welcome the radio amateurs who will obtain a General Class license, ensure we educate them on proper HF operating techniques, provide activities for them to remain active and most important ensure they understand the importance of being an ARRL member. We not only have a great challenge ahead of us, but a great and exciting opportunity as well. For me personally, I'm glad we have the Morse issue behind us so we can move forward. The debate has burdened us for far too many years. 73 Joel W5ZN p.s. Just so you don't get the two mixed up, I'm not happy with what the Commission did regarding our 80 meter recon petition. That, however, is another matter to address and deal with.

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[arrl-odv:14943] Re: FCC
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 16 Dec '06

16 Dec '06

As Joel said, things must have happened very quickly late today at the FCC. I got back to the hotel room and found the breaking news on email just a couple of minutes before he did. I've registered a couple of minor quibbles with Rick Lindquist about the wording of the Web story, but I'm glad he was able to get a story up so quickly on a Friday night. The Public Notice is rather peculiarly worded, but it would appear that in addition to CW privileges on portions of 80, 40, and 15 meters, all Technicians also will have RTTY/data/CW privileges on that part of 10 meters. (Stripping all Technicians of their HF privileges also would be consistent with the wording of the Public Notice, but it's hard to imagine even this FCC doing that.) Moving the automatic control subband to 3585-3600 kHz as the way to address our reconsideration petition exacerbates the situation below 3600, although it's consistent with the just-revised band plan. It strikes both Chris and me that there is nothing whatever in the record in 04-140 to support it, but this may only matter to those of who still harbor the quaint notion that the Administrative Procedure Act has some relevance in administrative law. 73, Dave K1ZZ ________________________________ From: Joel Harrison [mailto:w5zn@arrl.org] Sent: Sat 12/16/2006 3:09 AM To: arrl-odv Subject: RE: [arrl-odv:14935] FCC Dumps Morse Code License Requirements & Turns Down Reconsideration Petition As you already know, Kay, Rick, Dave, Chris and I have been in D.C. the past two days for various meetings. I'm quite pleased to finally see 05-235 being acted upon. That is good news. It was out last remaining objective for 2006. Early this morning, Chris received a call from Scott Stone at FCC. Scott advised Chris that they were thinking about acting on our petition for recon by simply moving the automated segment down below 3600 KHz. Chris explained how that would further complicate the situation created by the extensive 80 meter phone band expansion. Later today, Chris had a discussion with John Branscomb in Commissioner Copps office, who called Chris to discuss 05-235 and also mentioned the intent with regard to the automated sub-band. Chris again expressed the further complication this would cause. It appears that is what will happen. I'm not pleased with it but until we can see if that is exactly what will happen we need to sit tight. For the time being, though, the forthcoming release of 05-235 is pleasing. In a quick read, it seems they may also be granting HF CW privileges that currently exist for Tech Plus to Technician Class licensees. More later as info becomes available. Things moved extremely fast very late today. 73 Joel W5ZN Washington D.C. -----Original Message----- From: dick(a)pobox.com [mailto:dick@pobox.com] Sent: Friday, December 15, 2006 8:07 PM To: arrl-odv Cc: w3kd(a)aol.com; dsumner(a)arrl.org Subject: [arrl-odv:14935] FCC Dumps Morse Code License Requirements & Turns Down Reconsideration Petition Importance: High 15 DEC 2006 - 2000 CST Late today, the FCC issued its R&O on WT 05-235 (elimination of Morse Code licensing requirements and turned down our Petition for Partial Reconsideration of WT 04-140. The R&O is on the FCC web site at: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-269012A1.pdf - Dick Isely, W9GIG

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RE: [arrl-odv:14935] FCC Dumps Morse Code License Requirements & Turns Down Reconsideration Petition
by Joel Harrison 16 Dec '06

16 Dec '06

As you already know, Kay, Rick, Dave, Chris and I have been in D.C. the past two days for various meetings. I'm quite pleased to finally see 05-235 being acted upon. That is good news. It was out last remaining objective for 2006. Early this morning, Chris received a call from Scott Stone at FCC. Scott advised Chris that they were thinking about acting on our petition for recon by simply moving the automated segment down below 3600 KHz. Chris explained how that would further complicate the situation created by the extensive 80 meter phone band expansion. Later today, Chris had a discussion with John Branscomb in Commissioner Copps office, who called Chris to discuss 05-235 and also mentioned the intent with regard to the automated sub-band. Chris again expressed the further complication this would cause. It appears that is what will happen. I'm not pleased with it but until we can see if that is exactly what will happen we need to sit tight. For the time being, though, the forthcoming release of 05-235 is pleasing. In a quick read, it seems they may also be granting HF CW privileges that currently exist for Tech Plus to Technician Class licensees. More later as info becomes available. Things moved extremely fast very late today. 73 Joel W5ZN Washington D.C. -----Original Message----- From: dick(a)pobox.com [mailto:dick@pobox.com] Sent: Friday, December 15, 2006 8:07 PM To: arrl-odv Cc: w3kd(a)aol.com; dsumner(a)arrl.org Subject: [arrl-odv:14935] FCC Dumps Morse Code License Requirements & Turns Down Reconsideration Petition Importance: High 15 DEC 2006 - 2000 CST Late today, the FCC issued its R&O on WT 05-235 (elimination of Morse Code licensing requirements and turned down our Petition for Partial Reconsideration of WT 04-140. The R&O is on the FCC web site at: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-269012A1.pdf - Dick Isely, W9GIG

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RE: [arrl-odv:14940] "Twas am Interesting Night
by Jim Weaver 16 Dec '06

16 Dec '06

Jim, Glad the Fenstermakers are all well. Actually, I heard a rumor, totally unfounded of course, that the FCC arranged for the storm to cover its latest two actions to "help" Amateur Radio. At least we know how to proceed concerning the code testing issue. Not unexpected. The automatic control issue? Wow! Shot down even further. Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director ARRL Great Lakes Division 5065 Bethany Rd. Mason, OH 45040 E-mail: k8je(a)arrl.org; Tel.: 513-459-0142 -----Original Message----- From: jfenster(a)pacifier.com [mailto:jfenster@pacifier.com] Sent: Friday, December 15, 2006 9:51 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:14940] "Twas am Interesting Night Hi Gang, As most of you have probably heard, we had a severe storm here in the Pacific Northwest last night. An extreme low pressure system passed from the Pacific and across Vancouver Island late last night. Winds in Portland (including at my Vancouver, WA house) exceded 80-85 MPH and were a bit lower in Seattle where we have our condo. My son reported many branches down in Vancouver but the antennas survived pretty much intact. Here in Seattle, I monitored the local Auxiliary Communications Systems repeater and traffic peaked from 1-4 AM then calmed down. Today, there are still over 1 million households still without power. Towards the coast, winds exceeded 100 MPH and that area is really suffering. Given the severity of the storm, it could have been much worse. Amateur radio and the ARES played a role, albeit minor in the greater Seattle area, as most folks stayed put in their homes and the time of the storm mitigated traffic issues. I have yet to hear about the coastal and island areas. Falling trees were the main hazards along with the resulting downed power lines. In any event, we dodged another bullet! 73 Jim K9JF

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[arrl-odv:14940] "Twas am Interesting Night
by jfenster＠pacifier.com 16 Dec '06

16 Dec '06

Hi Gang, As most of you have probably heard, we had a severe storm here in the Pacific Northwest last night. An extreme low pressure system passed from the Pacific and across Vancouver Island late last night. Winds in Portland (including at my Vancouver, WA house) exceded 80-85 MPH and were a bit lower in Seattle where we have our condo. My son reported many branches down in Vancouver but the antennas survived pretty much intact. Here in Seattle, I monitored the local Auxiliary Communications Systems repeater and traffic peaked from 1-4 AM then calmed down. Today, there are still over 1 million households still without power. Towards the coast, winds exceeded 100 MPH and that area is really suffering. Given the severity of the storm, it could have been much worse. Amateur radio and the ARES played a role, albeit minor in the greater Seattle area, as most folks stayed put in their homes and the time of the storm mitigated traffic issues. I have yet to hear about the coastal and island areas. Falling trees were the main hazards along with the resulting downed power lines. In any event, we dodged another bullet! 73 Jim K9JF

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Re: FYI - Today's FCC Action
by Bob Vallio 16 Dec '06

16 Dec '06

Well, the FCC really showed us how much they value our opinion, didn't they? I am sure the members will be thrilled to learn of the Winlink (that's how they'll see it) incursion into the already crowded lower 100 kHz of the band. W6RGG On 12/15/06, Richard J. Norton <richardjnorton(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: > December 15, 2006 Chelsea Fallon: (202) 418-7991 > > FCC MODIFIES AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE RULES, > ELIMINATING MORSE CODE EXAM REQUIREMENTS AND > ADDRESSING ARRL PETITION FOR RECONSIDERATION > > Washington, D.C. – Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) > adopted a Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration (Order) that > modifies the rules for the Amateur Radio Service by revising the > examination requirements for obtaining a General Class or Amateur > Extra Class amateur radio operator license and revising the operating > privileges for Technician Class licensees. In addition, the Order > resolves a petition filed by the American Radio Relay League, Inc. > (ARRL) for partial reconsideration of an FCC Order on amateur service > rules released on October 10, 2006. > > The current amateur service operator license structure contains three > classes of amateur radio operator licenses: Technician Class, General > Class, and Amateur Extra Class. General Class and Amateur Extra Class > licensees are permitted to operate in Amateur bands below 30 MHz, > while the introductory Technician Class licensees are only permitted > to operate in bands above 30 MHz. Prior to today's action, the FCC, > in accordance with international radio regulations, required > applicants for General Class and Amateur Extra Class operator licenses > to pass a five words-per-minute Morse code examination. Today's Order > eliminates that requirement for General and Amateur Extra licensees. > This change reflects revisions to international radio regulations made > at the International Telecommunication Union's 2003 World Radio > Conference (WRC-03), which authorized each country to determine > whether to require that individuals demonstrate Morse code proficiency > in order to qualify for an amateur radio license with transmitting > privileges on frequencies below 30 MHz. This change eliminates an > unnecessary regulatory burden that may discourage current amateur > radio operators from advancing their skills and participating more > fully in the benefits of amateur radio. > > Today's Order also revises the operating privileges for Technician > Class licensees by eliminating a disparity in the operating privileges > for the Technician Class and Technician Plus Class licensees. > Technician Class licensees are authorized operating privileges on all > amateur frequencies above 30 MHz. The Technician Plus Class license, > which is an operator license class that existed prior the FCC's > simplification of the amateur license structure in 1999 and was > grandfathered after that time, authorized operating privileges on all > amateur frequencies above 30 MHz, as well as frequency segments in > four HF bands (below 30 MHz) after the successful completion of a > Morse code examination. With today's elimination of the Morse code > exam requirements, the FCC concluded that the disparity between the > operating privileges of Technician Class licensees and Technician Plus > Class licensees should not be retained. Therefore, the FCC, in > today's action, afforded Technician and Technician Plus licensees > identical operating privileges. > > Finally, today's Order resolved a petition filed by the ARRL for > partial reconsideration of an FCC Order released on October 10, 2006 > (FCC 06-149). In this Order, the FCC authorized amateur stations to > transmit voice communications on additional frequencies in certain > amateur service bands, including the 75 meter (m) band, which is > authorized only for certain wideband voice and image communications. > The ARRL argued that the 75 m band should not have been expanded below > 3635 kHz, in order to protect automatically controlled digital > stations operating in the 3620-3635 kHz portion of the 80 m band. The > FCC concluded that these stations can be protected by providing > alternate spectrum in the 3585-3600 kHz frequency segment. > > Action by the Commission on December 15, 2006, by Report and Order and > Order on Reconsideration. Chairman Martin and Commissioners Copps, > Adelstein, Tate, and McDowell. > > For additional information, contact William Cross at (202) 418-0691 or > William.Cross(a)fcc.gov. > > WT Docket Nos. 04-140 and 05-235. > > – FCC – > > News and other information about the Federal Communications Commission > is available at www.fcc.gov. >

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[arrl-odv:14935] FCC Dumps Morse Code License Requirements & Turns Down Reconsideration Petition
by dick＠pobox.com 16 Dec '06

16 Dec '06

15 DEC 2006 - 2000 CST Late today, the FCC issued its R&O on WT 05-235 (elimination of Morse Code licensing requirements and turned down our Petition for Partial Reconsideration of WT 04-140. The R&O is on the FCC web site at: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-269012A1.pdf - Dick Isely, W9GIG

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FYI - Today's FCC Action
by Richard J. Norton 16 Dec '06

16 Dec '06

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: December 15, 2006 Chelsea Fallon: (202) 418-7991 FCC MODIFIES AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE RULES, ELIMINATING MORSE CODE EXAM REQUIREMENTS AND ADDRESSING ARRL PETITION FOR RECONSIDERATION Washington, D.C. – Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration (Order) that modifies the rules for the Amateur Radio Service by revising the examination requirements for obtaining a General Class or Amateur Extra Class amateur radio operator license and revising the operating privileges for Technician Class licensees. In addition, the Order resolves a petition filed by the American Radio Relay League, Inc. (ARRL) for partial reconsideration of an FCC Order on amateur service rules released on October 10, 2006. The current amateur service operator license structure contains three classes of amateur radio operator licenses: Technician Class, General Class, and Amateur Extra Class. General Class and Amateur Extra Class licensees are permitted to operate in Amateur bands below 30 MHz, while the introductory Technician Class licensees are only permitted to operate in bands above 30 MHz. Prior to today's action, the FCC, in accordance with international radio regulations, required applicants for General Class and Amateur Extra Class operator licenses to pass a five words-per-minute Morse code examination. Today's Order eliminates that requirement for General and Amateur Extra licensees. This change reflects revisions to international radio regulations made at the International Telecommunication Union's 2003 World Radio Conference (WRC-03), which authorized each country to determine whether to require that individuals demonstrate Morse code proficiency in order to qualify for an amateur radio license with transmitting privileges on frequencies below 30 MHz. This change eliminates an unnecessary regulatory burden that may discourage current amateur radio operators from advancing their skills and participating more fully in the benefits of amateur radio. Today's Order also revises the operating privileges for Technician Class licensees by eliminating a disparity in the operating privileges for the Technician Class and Technician Plus Class licensees. Technician Class licensees are authorized operating privileges on all amateur frequencies above 30 MHz. The Technician Plus Class license, which is an operator license class that existed prior the FCC's simplification of the amateur license structure in 1999 and was grandfathered after that time, authorized operating privileges on all amateur frequencies above 30 MHz, as well as frequency segments in four HF bands (below 30 MHz) after the successful completion of a Morse code examination. With today's elimination of the Morse code exam requirements, the FCC concluded that the disparity between the operating privileges of Technician Class licensees and Technician Plus Class licensees should not be retained. Therefore, the FCC, in today's action, afforded Technician and Technician Plus licensees identical operating privileges. Finally, today's Order resolved a petition filed by the ARRL for partial reconsideration of an FCC Order released on October 10, 2006 (FCC 06-149). In this Order, the FCC authorized amateur stations to transmit voice communications on additional frequencies in certain amateur service bands, including the 75 meter (m) band, which is authorized only for certain wideband voice and image communications. The ARRL argued that the 75 m band should not have been expanded below 3635 kHz, in order to protect automatically controlled digital stations operating in the 3620-3635 kHz portion of the 80 m band. The FCC concluded that these stations can be protected by providing alternate spectrum in the 3585-3600 kHz frequency segment. Action by the Commission on December 15, 2006, by Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration. Chairman Martin and Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, Tate, and McDowell. For additional information, contact William Cross at (202) 418-0691 or William.Cross(a)fcc.gov. WT Docket Nos. 04-140 and 05-235. – FCC – News and other information about the Federal Communications Commission is available at www.fcc.gov.

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