WT Docket 98-143

The comment and reply-comment period has ended. To view the comments that were submitted to the FCC go to:

http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html

Specify WT Docket # 98-143

July 22, 1998 - The ARRL submitted a preemptive proposal to the FCC calling for an easing of requirements for radio amateur licensing. The ARRL suggested that Morse code proficiency requirements be reduced considerably. The ARRL is also proposing that 125 kHz currently allocated to CW/Digital subbands be converted to "modern" phone use (50 kHz on the 80-meter band; 50 kHz on 15-meters; and, 25 kHz on 40-meters). This proposal was sent in the form of a letter prior to the FCC issuing their NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking). SSB patent was applied for in 1917, approved in 1923 and used in transatlantic comms in 1927.

See details of this proposal at: Amateur Radio License Restructuring Proposals. Please let your ARRL division director know what you think of their proposal. Be advised that comments sent to the ARRL will not be forwarded to the FCC. The minutes from the ARRL's last board of directors meeting shows which Division Directors voted for and against the proposal http://www.arrl.org/announce/board-9807/#min53.

The following division directors originally voted against submitting the ARRL's license "simplification" proposal to the FCC:

Messrs. Edmund Metzger w9prn@arrl.org (Central division), Frank Fallon n2ff@arrl.org (Hudson division), Lew Gordon k4vx@arrl.org (Midwest division), Tom Frenaye k1ki@arrl.org (New England division), Fried Heyn wa6wzo@arrl.org (Southwestern division), and Jim Haynie w5jbp@arrl.org(West Gulf division).

Your ARRL Division Director and Vice Director is listed on the ARRL web site and in every issue of QST magazine. Their e-mail address, home address and phone numbers are listed as well. I called the Central Division director, Ed Metzger/W9PRN and had a lengthy conversation with him. He did not originally vote in favor of submitting the proposal to the FCC. Howard Huntington/K9KM is the Central Division vice-director.

The FCC indicated that it welcomes comments and suggestions from the Amateur Radio community on "global" issues involving ham radio, including licensing structure and Morse code testing. Comments may be sent via e-mail to hamcomm@fcc.gov. This offer was made prior to the FCC issuing their NPRM. Any comments made regarding this issue should be made in response to the NPRM (see below).

August 4, 1998 - Click to view N9BOR's comments to the FCC regarding license restructure. These were submitted prior to the NPRM issued by the FCC.

August 8, 1998 - The FCC issued a NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking) and has asked radio amateurs to individually send their comments regarding the proposal to them. It is extremely important for each and everyone of us to carefully read the NPRM and reply. This restructuring will affect the future of amateur radio.

How to make comments on the NPRM are available from the FCC. See N5LF's formal comments to the FCC.

August 10, 1998 - 1998 BIENNIAL REGULATORY REVIEW - AMENDMENT OF PART 97 OF THE COMMISSION'S AMATEUR SERVICE RULES - Text. Released: 08/10/1998 FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, WT Docket 98-143

September 2, 1998 - The FCC issued a 13-page errata to their streamlining NPRM to address most of the questions and confusion raised by the original NPRN, released in early August.

September 5, 1998 - N9BOR files comments with the FCC. These comments are similar but not identical to N5LF's comments mentioned earlier.

October 19, 1998 - Received letter from D'Wana R. Terry, Chief, Public Safety and Private Wireless Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau of the FCC. Referred to FCC web site.

October 24, 1998 - St. Louis, MO. Special Meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors. The Board unanimously reaffirms its July 1998 proposal for the simplification of FCC amateur licensing structure with modifications. One modification proposed is to allow no-code Technician class licensees, General class HF CW privileges without taking a code exam. The ARRL believes that if you use CW you are essentially meeting the International Radio Regulations for Morse proficiency by "self-testing." However, In my opinion they are not even meeting the ARRL's definition because someone without any Morse skills at all can use a computer to encode and decode Morse telegraphy. See the ARRL's explanation at their members only site: http://www.arrl.org/members-only/extra/news/1998/1026/1/

2735/S25.5 (ITU Radio Regulations)

§ 3. (1) Any person seeking a licence to operate the apparatus of an amateur station shall prove that he is able to send correctly by hand and to receive correctly by ear, texts in Morse code signals. The administrations concerned may, however, waive this requirement in the case of stations making use exclusively of frequencies above 30 MHz.

October 31, 1998 - Nancy Kott/WZ8C resigns her membership in the ARRL. Nancy is publisher of "The Keynote" which is the newsletter of FISTS CW Club. Nancy does this in response to the position the ARRL has taken on the issue of Morse code. Nancy has served as an Official Observer, Volunteer Examiner and Vice-Director for the ARRL.

See K3LT's comments for another take on WT Docket 98-143.
Western Illinois Amateur Radio Club/W9AWE files comments (.pdf format)
Alan R. Nelles, AG9J files comments. (.pdf format)

December 1, 1998 - The ARRL files their comments to the FCC's WT 98-143. (in Adobe .pdf format)

January 5, 1999 - N9BOR files reply comments with the FCC on WT Docket 98-143. Dinelli continues to support the Dinelli - Wormser - Adsit - Billingsley proposals.

May 21, 1999 - ARRL sends letter to the FCC urging them to expedite restructuring, including "refarming" novice subbands to analog voice mode.

June 2, 1999 - N9BOR sends letter to the FCC Commissioners asking them to allow due process in deciding the important issue of ARS restructuring.

December 30, 1999 - FCC issues report and order for WT docket 98-143. Read a summary of the order by the ARRL. Amateur Restructuring is Here: Three License Classes, One Code Speed. The entire 70-page report and order is available in PDF and plain text from the FCC.

January 17, 2000 - Alan Wormser, N5LF; Fred Adsit, NY2V; and Michael Dinelli, N9BOR file a Petition for Reconsideration with the FCC.

February 22, 2000 - Alan Wormser, N5LF; Fred Adsit, NY2V; and Michael Dinelli, N9BOR refiled a slightly modified Petition for Reconsideration with the FCC. Please e-mail or write the FCC in support of this Petition, no later than August, 2000.

For additional information, see Alan Wormser's web site at http://www.qsl.net/n5lf/

You can comment using your Web browser at: http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html

Send e-mail comments in this format and e-mail it to the FCC at: ecfs@fcc.gov

Refer to WT Docket 98-143 (Amateur Radio Restructuring) and to the Wormser, Adsit, and Dinelli Petition for Partial Reconsideration, dated January 17, 2000. The Report & Order is called FCC 99-412. You can mail your comments to:

Magalie Roman Salas, Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554

Refer to WT Docket 98-143 (Amateur Radio Restructuring) and to the Wormser, Adsit, and Dinelli Petition. The Report & Order is called FCC 99-412. Send 7 copies.

Sample Letters supporting the Wormser, Adsit, and Dinelli Petition for Partial Reconsideration.

Sample Letter you can mail to the FCC supporting the Petition.

Novice Survey

June 29, 2001 - ARRL asks members' opinions on Novice band refarming

==>SURVEY SEEKS INPUT ON NOVICE/TECH PLUS HF SPECTRUM

The ARRL Novice Spectrum Study Committee is soliciting input from the amateur community on possible ways to optimize use of the present Novice and Technician Plus allocations on 80, 40, 15 and 10 meters. Survey results might form the basis for the ARRL to approach the FCC and request changes in the ways amateurs may operate within HF bands that contain Novice subbands.

The Novice Spectrum Study survey is available to ARRL members on the Web <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/NoviceSurvey.html>. Members will be able to complete and submit the survey only once. Nonmembers are invited to e-mail comments and suggestions to novicesurvey@arrl.org .

The committee--chaired by ARRL International Affairs Vice President Rod Stafford, W6ROD--has been examining the status and usage of the present Novice HF bands with an eye toward determining what changes might be needed now that the FCC no longer issues new Novice licenses. The survey offers members a chance to express opinions and preferences on various options--including leaving things as they are. Respondents are invited to add comments and suggestions before submitting the survey.

Some 40,000 Novice licensees remain in the current FCC database, and that number is dropping by some 6000 licensees each year through attrition and upgrading.

The Novice Spectrum panel will present an interim report at the July ARRL Board meeting, and a final report at the annual meeting next January.

December 21, 2001 - ARRL Study Panel Recommends Eliminating Novice Bands

January 2, 2002 - N9BOR sends letter to Dick Isely, W9GIG (ARRL Central Division Director) denouncing survey and its results.

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