Radio-Electronics  Aug 1949 - p. 72

FCC AMATEUR PROPOSALS

On April 21st, the FCC released a document outlining proposed amendments to the rules governing
amateur radio service.  The amendments are based on proposals submitted by the American Radio
Relay League, the National Amateur Radio Council, Inc., and the Society of American Radio
Amateurs of Washington, D.C.

Radio constructors and experimenters who are not amateur operators will be interested in the
proposals for new novice and technician amateur licenses.

To be eligible for a Novice Class license, the applicant must be a citizen of the United States
whose actual residence, address and proposed station are more than 125 miles air line from the
nearest point where amateur radio operators' examinations are given at intervals of not more
than 3 months; or who, according to a physician's certificate, has a disability which prevents
him from appearing for examination; or a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Coast Guard
whose duties make it impossible to appear for examination at the appointed time and place.

The applicant would be granted a Novice Class license upon passing a code test and written
examination.  The code test will consist of receiving and sending plain language messages in
International Morse Code at a speed of not less than 5 words per minute.  Each character will
be formed at a speed of 7.8 w.p.m. and spacing between then increased so the overall speed is
5 w.p.m.  The written examination will include questions on rules and regulations essential to
the beginners' operation and elementary radio theory necessary for understanding these rules.
The license would permit the holder to operate c.w. in the 3,700-3.750, 14,100-14,150
28,000-28,500-kc bands and phone and c.w. in the 145-147-mc band.  Plate power input to the
final amplifier is limited to 75 watts.  This license would not be available to holders or
former holders of commercial licenses issued on the basis of a technical examination.

The Technician Class license would entitle the holder to all amateur privileges in amateur
bands above 220 mc.  The examination for this license will consist of a code test (same as
for Novice Class) and examinations on radiotelephone and radiotelegraph theory and amateur
rules and regulations.

The present Class A, B, and C licenses would be called Advanced Class, General Class, and
Conditional Class respectively.  Under the proposed amendments, Advanced Class (Class A)
licenses would not be issued after December 31, 1950.  Commencing January 1, 1951, valid
Advanced Class licenses would be renewed only as General Class (Class B) licenses.  The
present Class A privileges would be granted only to amateurs qualifying for the new proposed
Amateur Extra Class license.  Qualifications for this new license include a 20-w.p.m. code test
and a written examination in advanced radiotelephone theory including techniques for operating
in bands assigned for narrow-band emissions.

Many amateurs will no doubt welcome adoption of the proposals for limiting bandwidth of phone
signals because they will put an end to the splatter and spill-over all too common on some of
the bands.  Phone operators will gain 50 kc (3,800 to 3,850) in the 75-meter band; provided
that the maximum bandwidth does not exceed 3 kc.  A 6-kc bandwidth limitation will be effective
on the 3,800 to 4.000 and 14,200 to 14,300-kc bands and in the 29,650 to 29,700 kc sector of
the 10-meter band.  Ten and 20-kc bandwidths are permitted in the 28,500 to 28 650-kc and 50.1
to 54.0-mc bands respectively.