SB QST @ ARL $ARLB023   
   ARLB023 FCC Seeks to Change Amateur Radio Licensing Rules, Allow   
   Additional Emission Types   
      
   ZCZC AG24   
   QST de W1AW     
   ARRL Bulletin 23  ARLB023   
   From ARRL Headquarters     
   Newington CT  October 5, 2012   
   To all radio amateurs    
      
   SB QST ARL ARLB023   
   ARLB023 FCC Seeks to Change Amateur Radio Licensing Rules, Allow   
   Additional Emission Types   
      
   On October 2, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking   
   (NPRM) in WT Docket No. 12-121 that seeks to change the Amateur   
   Radio licensing rules, especially as they concern former licensees.   
   Acting upon an April 2011 Petition for Rulemaking filed by the   
   Anchorage VEC to give permanent credit to radio amateurs for   
   examination elements they have successfully passed, the FCC proposes   
   to revise Section 97.505 to require that Volunteer Examiners (VEs)   
   give examination credit to an applicant who can demonstrate that he   
   or she formerly held a particular class of license. In addition, the   
   Commission seeks to shorten the grace period during which an expired   
   amateur license may be renewed and to reduce the number of VEs   
   needed to administer an amateur license examination.   
      
   In response to a Petition for Rulemaking filed by the ARRL in March   
   2011, the FCC looks to amend the Amateur Service rules to allow   
   amateur stations to transmit additional emission types in order to   
   permit Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) in the Amateur Service.   
   But in doing so, it denied the League's request for a blanket waiver   
   pending the resolution of the rulemaking proceeding.   
      
   Comments on these proposed rules changes will be accepted until 60   
   days after the NPRM is published in the Federal Register (this can   
   take up to six weeks after release of the NPRM). Reply comments will   
   be accepted until 90 days after publication in the Federal Register.   
      
   Complete information can be found at,   
   http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-seeks-to-change-amateur-radio-licen   
   ing-rules-allow   
   -additional-emission-types.   
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