Gene Zimmerman’s column for February QST discusses the implications of the digital TV transition for VHF-minded amateurs. Gene’s discussion is much broader than just the 70-MHz question, but he did touch on it and while he debunked the “low-band TV is going away” myth he was still a bit more optimistic about the possibility of an amateur allocation than the situation warrants. I spoke with him this morning and he agreed to edits that will put more emphasis on the ongoing low-power TV operations and the TV interface device issue, and will dial expectations back to a more realistic level.

Dave K1ZZ

From: Joel Harrison [mailto:w5zn@arrl.org]
Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2008 2:32 PM
To: arrl-odv
Subject: 70 MHz Amateur Allocation Request

As reported to you in August in my trip report from the 2008 Central States VHF Society Conference held this past July in Wichita, KS, their board voted to request ARRL file a petition for the FCC to allocated a 70 MHz segment to the Amateur Radio Service.

As I reported at time, there were a number of very good reasons for not doing so.

On November 22, 2008, CSVHFS President Bill Caldwell, N0LNO, wrote a letter to me, as President, requesting just that. Attached is that request, along with my response I sent to their board today.

73 Joel W5ZN