SB QST @ ARL $ARLB024   
   ARLB024 FCC Seeks Comments on Proposed Changes to Amateur Licensing   
   Rules, Emission Types   
      
   ZCZC AG25   
   QST de W1AW     
   ARRL Bulletin 24  ARLB024   
   From ARRL Headquarters     
   Newington CT  October 26, 2012   
   To all radio amateurs    
      
   SB QST ARL ARLB024   
   ARLB024 FCC Seeks Comments on Proposed Changes to Amateur Licensing   
   Rules, Emission Types   
      
   Earlier this month, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking   
   (NPRM) -- WT Docket No. 12-283 -- proposing to amend the Part 97   
   rules governing the Amateur Radio Service. On October 24, a summary   
   of the NPRM was published in the Federal Register and the FCC is   
   seeking comments on it.   
      
   Specifically, the Commission is proposing to modify the Amateur   
   Radio Service rules to grant examination credit for expired and   
   beyond-the-grace-period-for-renewal Amateur Radio operator licenses;   
   to shorten the grace period during which an expired amateur license   
   may be renewed; to revise the time a call sign is not available to   
   the vanity call sign system correspondingly, and to reduce the   
   number of volunteer examiners needed to administer an amateur   
   license examination. The NPRM also asks for comment on amending the   
   rules to permit remote test administration, and proposes to amend   
   the Amateur Radio Service rules to allow amateur stations to   
   transmit certain additional emission types.   
      
   Comments must be filed on or before December 24, 2012 (60 days after   
   publication in the Federal Register); reply comments must be filed   
   on or before January 22, 2013 (90 days after publication in the   
   Federal Register). Instructions on how to file comments are listed   
   beginning on page 12 of the NPRM.   
      
   The NPRM can be found on the web in PDF format at,   
   http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db1   
   02/FCC-12-121A1   
   .pdf.   
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   Gentlemens' agreements ratified by IARU regions 1 and 2 have   
   designated a global "center of activity" frequency  in  each   
   of  the  international  hf  bands.  THese are similar to the   
   concept for weak signal calling and other center of activity   
   frequencies.  Three of these have been ratified worldwide.   
      
   THese  center of activity frequencies are where stations can   
   go to render or obtain emergency assistance.   
      
   WHen casually operating or  contesting  on  hf  please  make   
   yourself  aware  of  these  frequencies,  and give them some   
   space. Remember that often stations with emergency needs are   
   not  those  utilizing  high  gain antennas and maximum legal   
   power.   
      
   TO find out more, visit 14300.net or IARU web resources.   
      
      
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    * Origin: RRN BBS: Your fidonet ham radio connection! (1:116/901)