> -----Original Message-----

> From: ARRL Web site [mailto:memberlist@www.arrl.org]

> Sent: Friday, December 21, 2001 2:22 PM

> To: ADDRESS SUPPRESSED

> Cc: Subscribed ARRL Members:

> Subject: ARLB055 ARRL Study Panel Recommends Eliminating Novice Bands

>

>

> SB QST @ ARL $ARLB055

> ARLB055 ARRL Study Panel Recommends Eliminating Novice Bands

>

> ZCZC AG55

> QST de W1AW

> ARRL Bulletin 55 ARLB055

> From ARRL Headquarters

> Newington CT December 21, 2001

> To all radio amateurs

>

> SB QST ARL ARLB055

> ARLB055 ARRL Study Panel Recommends Eliminating Novice Bands

>

> The ARRL Novice Spectrum Study Committee has recommended that the

> ARRL petition the FCC to eliminate the CW novice subbands and allow

> Novice and Technician with element 1 credit licensees to operate CW

> on the general 80, 40, 15 and 10 meter cw allocations at up to 200 W

> output. The panel suggested recognizing portions of those bands for

> ''slow CW operation'' to aid new CW operators in enhancing their

> skills. The committee recommended refarming the current Novice/Tech

> Plus subbands in part to allow expansion of the phone allocations on

> 80, 40 and 15 meters.

>

> The committee's complete report will be presented to the ARRL Board

> of Directors for consideration during its annual meeting in January.

> The committee's determinations were based on opinions expressed by

> 4744 respondents to an ARRL Novice Spectrum Study survey launched in

> June. Those expressing their opinions included ARRL members and

> nonmembers. Nearly 61% of those responding were Extra class

> licensees.

>

> The committee, chaired by ARRL International Affairs Vice President

> Rod Stafford, W6ROD, has been studying the status and usage of the

> Novice/Technician Plus HF bands with an eye toward determining

> appropriate changes in usage of that spectrum now that the FCC no

> longer issues new Novice licenses. A guiding principle was that no

> class of licensees would lose any privileges as a result of

> refarming.

>

> The committee recommended expanding the phone bands in accordance

> with the most popular of the survey choices offered--three for 80,

> 40 and 15 meters and two for 10 meters. Here's a summary:

>

> * On 80 meters, nearly 40% of those responding opted for a plan that

> would extend the US phone allocation to 3700 kHz, with Extras

> permitted on the entire subband, and with Advanced and General class

> subbands starting at 3725 and 3800 kHz respectively.

>

> * On 40 meters, nearly half of the respondents picked the plan to

> extend the primary US phone allocation to 7125 kHz, with Extra and

> Advanced licensees allowed on the entire segment and Generals from

> 7175 kHz and up. (The committee's report suggested no changes to the

> special allocations for amateurs on certain Pacific or Caribbean

> islands and in Alaska.)

>

> * On 15 meters, nearly half of those responding wanted the US phone

> allocation extended to 21175 kHz, with Extras permitted on the

> entire allocation, and Advanced and General subbands beginning at

> 21200 and 21250 kHz respectively.

>

> * On 10 meters--where Novice and Tech Plus licensees already may

> operate CW, RTTY and data from 28100 to 28300 kHz, nearly 55% of the

> respondents favored a plan to retain the US phone allocation from

> 28300 to 29700 kHz and to extend CW access to Novice/Tech Plus

> operators to 28000 kHz--an additional 100 kHz. The current Tech Plus

> 28300 to 28500 kHz phone segment would be retained.

> NNNN

> /EX