Large portions of the 440 band, in Amateur Radio, is in danger of being reallocated from Amateur Radio to Land based Mobil operations

Large portions of the 440 band, in Amateur Radio, are in danger of being re-allocated from Amateur Radio to Land-based Mobile operations. The FCC has given us till June 1st to respond to the petition from land-based Mobile companies. We must send a letter both to the FCC and to our elected representatives letting them know how important the 440 band is to us as Amateur Radio Operators.

The deadline for Comments on the Petition in hard copy format only is June 1, 1998. Reply Comments are due in hardcopy format only by June 15, 1998. No e-mail comments are permitted.

Send a letter, written in YOUR OWN WORDS, to your elected representatives, as well as the FCC, asking them to help keep the 440 band in Amateur Radio.

Form letters are practically ignored by politicians and agencies, but a letter in your own words will get attention, because you obviously cared enough to commit some time and thought.

In your own letter:

Tell that you use and enjoy the band. Tell how you use and enjoy the band.
Tell how you would feel if you lost it. How it would affect people that you know. How it would effect Ham Radio.
Include anything else you feel is important.
Thank them for their time and ask them to write you back, to give their opinion and see how their office might be able to help (there's no need to include this in the letter to the FCC, they won't write you back anyway!).

Here are some thoughts to consider when preparing your letter, courtesy of Rick Lagerstrom, KN6FR, (thank you Rick!)

The 440 band is an avid experimental band, our second most popular, with 30 MHz of spectrum! It is our major ATV band (ATV repeaters are on 440) and is critical to satellite operations. The entire band is planned out, 420 to 450 MHz with various modes. It features mixed mode, huge simplex area, EME, Weak signal CW, SW and SSB, major repeaters second only to 2 meters, beacons, and auxiliary repeater links.

And here is a SAMPLE LETTER Do not copy this letter exactly. Rather use it to give you ideas. Then you can write your own letter with your own thoughts expressed in your own way.

To be effective, you must be certain to reference RM 9267 at the top of your letter.

May 15, 1998

Federal Communications Commission
1919 M Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20554

Dear Dear Mr. Secretary,

My name is Larry Earlix and I am a licensed ham radio operator living in Monterey County. I am writing to let you know my feelings concerning petition RM 9267, involving the possible loss of nearly 30 MHz of spectrum in the 440 UHF Amateur Radio Band.

The 440 Band is the second most popular band in Amateur Radio. An avid experimental band, 440 is where most Amateur Television, moon bounces, and links between local and wide-area repeater's take place.

The 440 Band is used as a co-ordination band during local emergencies. The band is so important to ham radio, that many amateur radio operators, including myself, have a considerable investment in dual band radios (radios which include both the 2m Band and the 440 Band).

The importance of the 440 Band to ham radio is undeniable. Both, the enjoyment of ham radio as well as its effectiveness during local emergencies would be severely compromised by the loss of these frequencies.

Thank you,

Larry Earlix, KC6JEV
Monterey, California

IMPORTANT ADDRESSES

Federal Communications Commission
1919 M Street N.W.
Washington DC 20554
http://www.fcc.gov

Congressman Sam Farr
1117 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
E-Mail: [email protected]

Senator Diane Feinstein
331 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
E-mail: [email protected]

Senator Barbara Boxer
112 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
E-mail: [email protected]

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