SB QST @ ARL $ARLB016   
   ARLB016 Missouri Radio Amateur Petitions FCC to Designate "Symbol   
   Communication" Subbands   
      
   ZCZC AG16   
   QST de W1AW   
   ARRL Bulletin 16  ARLB016   
   > From ARRL Headquarters   
   Newington CT  May 12, 2016   
   To all radio amateurs   
      
   SB QST ARL ARLB016   
   ARLB016 Missouri Radio Amateur Petitions FCC to Designate "Symbol   
   Communication" Subbands   
      
   James E. Whedbee, N0ECN, of Gladstone, Missouri, has petitioned the FCC to   
   designate Morse (radiotelegraphy) Amateur Radio band segments as "symbol   
   communication" subbands. The FCC has invited comments on his Petition for Rule   
   Making (RM-11769), filed on May 2. Arguing that retaining the current regime   
   of "legacy" CW subbands has proven to be grossly inefficient, Whedbee said   
   he'd like to see the FCC delete all privilege restrictions that limit any part   
   of the Amateur Radio spectrum to Morse code to the exclusion of other modes.   
      
   RM-11769 can be found on the web at, http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/co   
   ment/view?id=60001692464 .   
      
   "Nostalgia for retention of Morse code telegraphy-only subbands is also an   
   insufficient reason to avoid moving forward to [the] elimination of such   
   subbands, because nothing about this Petition suggests the elimination of the   
   mode itself, only that it not be the sole authorized mode in the subject   
   subbands," Whedbee told the FCC.   
      
   Whedbee characterized CW-only subbands as "an excessive regulatory constraint,   
   as well as a poor use of the spectrum concerned." He proposed that the FCC's   
   Part 97 rules reflect the "ultimate form of communication reproduced at the   
   receiving end." As he explained it, his regulatory scheme would break down   
   modes into three categories - "symbol communication mode" - for CW, digital,   
   and other emission modes that reproduce a discrete symbol on the receiving end   
   - "voice mode," and "image mode."   
      
   "[C]ontinuing regulation by specific emission designator is proving to be   
   onerous with changes to the state of the art," Whedbee said. "Accordingly, to   
   continue developing the state of the art in   
   radiocommunications, Amateur Radio needs to clearly get away from regulating   
   in that fashion and return to consideration of what the receiving end of the   
   communication reproduces."   
      
   He proposed that where the Part 97 rules refer to exclusive radiotelegraphy   
   allocations - or subbands - privileges be changed to reflect symbol   
   communication modes. Where the rules prohibit voice   
   and image modes, he would revise the rules to reflect symbol communication   
   modes. In situations where current rules prohibit symbol communication modes   
   other than Morse, that voice and image modes would be permitted, "with an   
   exception for manually keyed" radiotelegraphy.   
      
   For example, he would drop the distinction between 75 meters and 80 meters,   
   authorizing symbol communication modes between 3.5 MHz and 3.65 MHz, and voice   
   and image modes between 3.65 MHz and 4 MHz, with manual radiotelegraphy   
   authorized throughout the band.   
      
   Whedbee told the FCC that, if his Petition is accepted for filing and put on   
   public notice, he would submit an appendix spelling out proposed service rules   
   as part of his Petition.   
      
   Commenters have 30 days to respond to Whedbee's Petition.   
      
   NNNN   
   /EX   
      
   )\/(ark   
      
   Always Mount a Scratch Monkey   
      
   ... AuH2O!  If you know what that means you ARE old!   
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