SB QST @ ARL $ARLB037   
   ARLB037 Current Rules Holding Hams Back from Adopting State-of-the-Art   
   Technology, ARRL Says   
      
   ZCZC AG37   
   QST de W1AW   
   ARRL Bulletin 37  ARLB037   
   > From ARRL Headquarters   
   Newington CT  October 12, 2016   
   To all radio amateurs   
      
   SB QST ARL ARLB037   
   ARLB037 Current Rules Holding Hams Back from Adopting State-of-the-Art   
   Technology, ARRL Says   
      
   In comments filed on October 12 with the FCC, ARRL reiterated its case that   
   the FCC should impose a 2.8 kHz limit on symbol rate for digital modes,   
   arguing that its approach is both balanced and necessary. ARRL had asked the   
   FCC to change the Part 97 rules to delete the symbol rate limits in Part   
   97.307(f) and replace them with a maximum bandwidth for data emissions of 2.8   
   kHz on amateur   
   frequencies below 29.7 MHz. In a July Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) in   
   WT Docket 16-239, the FCC proposed to eliminate the current baud rate   
   limitations for data emissions, consistent with   
   ARRL's Petition, but it declined to propose a bandwidth limitation for data   
   emissions in the MF and HF bands to replace the baud rate limitations.   
      
   ARRL's comments can be found on in PDF format on the web at, htt   
   s://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/1011120327463/Comments%20of%20ARRL%20on   
   20NPRM%2010112016%20FINAL.pdf .   
      
   ARRL told the FCC in its comments that the current HF symbol rate "speed   
   limit" reflects 1980s technology and has no place in an experimental radio   
   service in which modern protocols could be efficiently deployed in crowded   
   RTTY/data subbands.   
      
   "The symbol rate limit was created in order to maximize the efficient use and   
   reuse of that crowded, shared spectrum, but the assumptions made at the time   
   are no longer valid," ARRL said, "and the rules now prohibit radio amateurs   
   from utilizing state-of-the-art technology, thus precluding or substantially   
   inhibiting any meaningful contribution to the advancement of the radio art in   
   this area." ARRL said earlier assumptions are no longer valid mainly because   
   there is no correlation between the data rate and the occupied bandwidth in   
   the rules now.   
      
   The League said present rules in the HF data subbands promote inefficiency,   
   allowing data transmissions of unlimited bandwidth as long as the symbol rate   
   is sufficiently low, and it stressed that   
   there must be some limit on occupied bandwidth for HF data emissions.   
      
   "Eliminating the symbol rate limitations for data emissions and substituting a   
   maximum authorized bandwidth would permit the utilization of all HF data   
   transmission protocols presently legal in the Amateur Radio Service, as well   
   as state-of-the-art protocols that fall within the authorized bandwidth," the   
   League said.   
      
   ARRL said that it could be "fairly debated" whether or not 2.8 kHz is the   
   proper maximum bandwidth for data emissions. "Greater bandwidth for data   
   emissions would permit a wider array of data emissions now and in the future,"   
   the League said in its comments. "However, even 2.8 kHz could arguably permit   
   usurpation of the subbands to the detriment of CW and other narrow-bandwidth   
   emissions. ARRL views the 2.8 kHz maximum bandwidth proposal for data   
   emissions at HF to be a necessary component of the FCC's proposal, and it   
   fairly balances the objectives of facilitating use of new and future data   
   emissions and protecting against usurpation of the band by a few data stations.   
      
   ARRL said it would be impossible to reduce the permitted maximum bandwidth for   
   data emissions at HF much below 2.8 kHz without prohibiting data modes that   
   are now legal. "At the same time, it would not be desirable to have a few data   
   stations using large swaths of spectrum to the detriment of other modes," the   
   League said.   
      
   The deadline to file reply comments in the proceeding - ie, comments on   
   comments already filed - is November 10.   
      
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