Greetings. Catching you hopefully before you get on the planes and in the cars, I have just filed today, following review and approval of the Executive Committee, the attached comments in the FCC's long-awaited proceeding to improve Amateur access to the five, 60-meter band channels. The FCC proposal was generally in accordance with the ARRL's 2006 petition for rule making that was carefully and expertly negotiated by Paul Rinaldo with NTIA that year.

 

There are some fine-tuning issues addressed in these comments, but overall, the proceeding is good news. The Executive Committee toiled laboriously over the policy reflected in these comments, so kudos to Kay Craigie, and thanks to her, Tom Frenaye, Dick Isely and other EC members for their expert editing of the comment drafts.

 

There are about 37 comments on file in this proceeding, most reflecting a lack of understanding of the limitations we have in access to the 60 meter band. The proposed use of data emissions on these channels, and the critical need to "yield" to Federal stations on short notice makes Amateur use of the channels in this band unique, and uniquely problematic. We do want to keep pushing gently for a band, rather than channels, which would actually improve in our ability to stay out of the way of the Feds, but they don't see it that way so far.

 

73, Chris W3KD

 

Christopher D. Imlay
Booth, Freret, Imlay & Tepper. P.C.
14356 Cape May Road
Silver Spring, Maryland 20904-6011
(301) 384-5525 telephone
(301) 384-6384 facsimile
W3KD@ARRL.ORG