SB QST @ ARL $ARLB028   
   ARLB028 FCC Seeks Comments on Waiver Request from Expert Linears   
      
   ZCZC AG28   
   QST de W1AW   
   ARRL Bulletin 28  ARLB028   
   > From ARRL Headquarters   
   Newington CT  July 29, 2016   
   To all radio amateurs   
      
   SB QST ARL ARLB028   
   ARLB028 FCC Seeks Comments on Waiver Request from Expert Linears   
      
   The FCC is inviting comments on a June 11 request from Expert Linears America   
   LLC to waive Part 97.317(a)(2) of the Amateur Service rules to permit it to   
   import, market, and use its model 1.3K FA amplifier in the US. The Texas   
   company is seeking the waiver pending resolution of its earlier Petition for   
   Rule Making (RM-11767), which called on the Commission to eliminate the 15 dB   
   gain limitation on Amateur Radio amplifiers altogether. Expert said the   
   version of the model 1.3K FA amplifier it now imports has been modified to   
   comply with current rules.   
      
   "Expert seeks a waiver in order to be able to import the unmodified version of   
   the Model 1.3K FA, which is capable of considerably more than 15 dB   
   amplification," the FCC explained in a July 29 Public Notice. "Expert argues   
   that the public interest would be served by permitting use of a higher-powered   
   amplifier, because it would improve the communications capabilities of   
   amateurs using portable, low-power transmitters by enabling them to approach   
   the maximum legal power output." Expert assured the FCC that its model 1.3K FA   
   has proprietary software to prevent it from transmitting in the 26-28 MHz   
   band, so it cannot be used in the Citizens Radio Service.   
      
   The Public Notice can be found on the web in PDF format at, http   
   //transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2016/db0729/DA-16-864A1.pdf   
   .   
      
   On May 26, ARRL told the FCC that it "strongly supports" Expert's petition   
   seeking to eliminate the Amateur Service rule, spelled out in Part   
   97.317(a)(2), that amateur amplifiers not be able to boost the RF input signal   
   by more than 15 dB.   
      
   Comments on Expert's waiver request are due by August 29, reply comments by   
   September 13.   
      
   NNNN   
   /EX   
      
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   Always Mount a Scratch Monkey   
      
   ... Advice is like mushrooms. The wrong kind can prove fatal.   
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