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KA9LCF > NEWS 24.08.12 21:55l 78 Lines 3175 Bytes #999 (0) @ ALLIN
BID : 38189-KA9LCF
Read: GUEST
Subj: ARN: Radio Rules
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Sent: 120824/0502Z 38189@KA9LCF.#NEIN.IN.USA.NOAM [169264]FBB7.01.35 alpha $:38
From: KA9LCF@KA9LCF.#NEIN.IN.USA.NOAM
To : NEWS@ALLIN
RADIO RULES: FCC DENIES PETITION ASKING FOR EMERGENCY
CALLING FREQUENCY ON 2 METERS
Don't hold your breath waiting for the FCC to create a
nationwide emergency calling frequency on 2 meters or any
other Amateur Service band. That's because in denying a
petition filed by Bryan Boyle, WB0YLE, of Morrisville,
Pennsylvania, and Jim Dixon, WB6NIL, of Alhambra,
California, the regulatory agency basically said that it's
not necessary to have such a frequency cast in stone in the
Part 97 rules. Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Butera-
Howell, KB3TZD, has the details:
--
Bryan Boyle, WB0YLE, and Jim Dixon, WB6NIL had jointly filed
a rule making request that asked the FCC to designate 146.55
MHz in the 2 meter band as a non-exclusive nationwide
Amateur Radio Service emergency communications FM channel.
In their petition the pair noted that other services, such
as Citizens Band Radio, the Aviation Service and the
Maritime Service have specific channels set aside for
emergency communications. They argued that a similar
designated channel in the Amateur Service could serve the
same purpose.
But in its denial order dated July 31st the FCC claimed that
Dixon and Boyle had not shown that a problem existed that
would be addressed by designating a nationwide Amateur
Service emergency calling frequency. To the contrary, the
regulatory agency noted that the rules as they now stand
provide the Amateur Service with what it calls the
flexibility to provide emergency communications in a way
that takes into account frequency availability and other
local conditions.
The FCC observed that under the current Amateur Service
rules that licensed operators can use multiple channels on
the same or different amateur bands if needed for an event.
They can also use multiple channels in the same band when
multiple, but different events occur.
Translated into plain English, what the Commission is saying
is that plenty of spectrum exists on 2 meters and other ham
radio bands for radio amateurs to provide emergency
communications services. This, without the regulatory
agency stating that a given frequency is designated for that
purpose.
The agency also noted that the Boyle and Dixon proposal for
the channel to be a non-exclusive nationwide is essentially
no different from the way things are right now. This is
because all Amateur Service frequencies are already shared
and as such they may be used for providing emergency
communications as the need arises. If hams in a given
region or even nationwide want to create such designated
channels on a voluntary basis that the Amateur Radio
community already has the authority to do so.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Butera-Howell,
KB3TZD, near Berwick, Pennsylvania.
--
The bottom line. The FCC seems to be saying that if such a
non-exclusive nationwide emergency calling frequency is
needed, nothing in the Part 97 rules prevents the amateur
community from voluntarily establishing such channels, be it
on 2 meters or for that matter, any other Amateur Service
band. (FCC)
Editors Note: We don't really need a "Channel 9". - KA9LCF
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