Bulletins and other info
QST DE WB1BRE ARRL NEW ENGLAND DIVISION DIRECTOR STRAFFORD VT, MAY !((^ SPECIAL DIVISION DIRECTORS BULLETIN 96-09A TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*****ARRL NEW ENGLAND DIVISION SPECIAL BULLETIN 96-9A*****
QST to all Amateurs May, 1996 Strafford, VT
NEW ENGLAND DIVISION DIRECTOR NEW ENGLAND DIVISION VICE DIRECTOR Bill Burden WB1BRE
Warren Rothberg WB1HBB wb1bre@arrl.org wb1hbb@arrl.org
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************* 2 Meter AND 70 cm BANDS THREATENED ***************
THIS IS NO JOKE!! ARRL HAS LEARNED THAT IN PREPARATION FOR THE WORLD RADIO CONFERENCE IN 1997, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LOW-EARTH-ORBIT (LEO) INDUSTRY PROPOSED A LIST OF CANDIDATE FREQUENCY BANDS FOR REALLOCATION TO, AND EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE MOBILE SATELLITE SERVICE. THIS LIST INCLUDES 144- 148 MHZ (THE CURRENT AMATEUR 2 M BAND) AND 420-450 MHZ (THE CURRENT AMATEUR 70 CM BAND)! IF THIS EFFORT WERE TO BE SUCCESSFUL, IT WOULD MEAN THE END OF AMATEUR OPERATIONS ON THESE TWO MOST HEAVILY UTILIZED AMATEUR VHF/UHF BANDS! I have included the text of Dave Sumner's upcoming editorial for July QST in this bulletin. ARRL, as the principal representative of Amateur Radio in Washington, is actively pursuing this issue as this bulletin is being written. Dave's call to action is serious!! We could lose these bands if we do not take action now!! Club presidents and newsletter editors: please make this information available to your membership as soon as possible.
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Follows the text of Dave Sumner's July QST editorial:
WRITE NOW!!!! Get out a pen and paper, or boot up your computer. There's work to be done! Your help is needed to defend two meters and 70 cm. Yes, that's right -- the two most popular and crowded amateur VHF/UHF bands! But don't panic, and don't "go ballistic." Here's what's happening, and what you can do about it. The United States is preparing for the 1997 ITU World Radiocommunication Conference, WRC-97. In the past, the public has been able to participate in the preparations for such conferences by responding to FCC Notices of Inquiry. In March, the FCC announced a streamlining of its International Bureau's preparatory processes for WRCs. Under the new scheme, the NOIs have been eliminated in favor of increased emphasis on WRC Advisory Committees. For WRC-97, a series of Informal Working Groups (IWGs) of the Advisory Committee has been created to address specific agenda items. The output of each IWG will go directly to a joint FCC-NTIA-Department of State Steering Committee of the Advisory Committee. There, draft proposals as received from the IWGs will be reviewed and forwarded to the FCC for possible release as preliminary U.S. proposals for public comment. In announcing the streamlined WRC preparatory process, the FCC tried to reassure those who might be concerned about reduced opportunities for public participation: "Interested parties should note that input to the Advisory Committee may be sent at any time directly to the Chair of the WRC-97 Advisory Committee; the Chairs of the Advisory Committee's Informal Working Groups; Cecily C. Holiday, the FCC's federal officer of the WRC-97 Advisory Committee, or to Damon C. Ladson, the alternate federal officer." Hold that thought while we shift gears to the substance of the issue. One of the WRC-97 agenda items includes consideration of possible additional frequency allocations for the mobile- satellite service. So-called "little LEOs," low-earth orbit satellites below 1 GHz, already have allocations. Their proponents claim these are inadequate and are trying for more. The needs of little LEOs are being addressed in IWG- 2A, chaired by Warren Richards of the Department of State. The ARRL technical relations staff participates in IWG-2A to represent Amateur Radio interests. At the May 7 IWG-2A meeting, an industry representative proposed a list of "candidate bands" for little LEOs. The list includes a number of bands that would negatively impact existing services, and does not include others that would be technically more feasible but to which strong objection from incumbents could be expected -- the point being that some political, rather than purely technical, judgment already has influenced the list. Incredibly, 144-148 and 420-450 MHz were included on the list! This is the first time in memory that another service has been proposed for the two-meter amateur band. We must make sure it is also the last time. We do not need to explain to ARRL members the extensive use that is made of these bands by amateurs. The two bands provide the backbone of our local public service communications effort. Voice and data, mobile and fixed, even television -- the list of present amateur uses is a long one, and of future uses is even longer. Both are already used for satellite services and for moonbounce and extended-range terrestrial operations requiring extremely sensitive receivers and high levels of effective radiated power. Apparently we did need to explain all this to the little LEO industry representatives, so we did just that -- both at the meeting and in a followup letter on May 15. We also explained that we had to regard the matter as extremely serious. No one with the slightest background in radiocommunication could possibly believe that a mobile- satellite service could be introduced into either band without disrupting existing and future amateur operations. Therefore, we said, if we did not receive assurance that they would be taken off the list of candidate bands by the deadline for this issue of QST, we would have no choice but to bring the matter to the attention of the entire membership. The response we received was unsatisfactory. In effect, we were told the little LEO industry would consider our views but that until their spectrum needs are satisfied, all bands must remain under consideration. So, this is a call to action. We must get across to the industry and government participants in IWG-2A that the 144- 148 MHz and 420-450 MHz bands cannot be considered as candidates for mobile-satellite services. We need to drive the point home so forcefully, with so many grassroots responses, that no one is ever tempted to try this again. Which brings us back to that invitation for "interested parties" to send input "at any time." There's no time like the present! Here are the key addresses, including those of the mobile-satellite industry folks who seem to have started the ruckus: Cecily C. Holiday, International Bureau, FCC, Washington, DC 20554; choliday@fcc.gov; FAX (202) 418-0748. Warren G. Richards, Chair, IWG-2A, Department of State, CIP 2529, Washington, DC 20520; richardswg@ms6820wpoa.us- state.gov; FAX (202) 647-7407. Tracey Weisler, FCC Rep., IWG-2A, International Bureau, FCC, Washington, DC 20554; tweisler@fcc.gov; FAX (202) 418-2824. Mary Kay Williams, Final Analysis, Inc., 7500 Greenway Center, Ste. 1240, Greenbelt, MD 20770; FAX (301) 474-3228. Leslie Taylor, President, LTA, 6800 Carlynn Court, Bethesda, MD 20817; ltaylor@lta.com; FAX (301) 229-3148. Do comment. But be civil. Don't abuse people who are simply doing their jobs. We have to get across that casting covetous eyes on amateur bands is counterproductive, and contrary to the public interest. To accomplish this we need a lot of comments, including yours. But remember that the objective is to educate and persuade, not to intimidate. We don't need to. The facts are on our side. To monitor the FCC's ongoing WRC-97 preparations, visit its WRC-97 home page at: http://www.fcc.gov/ib/wrc97/. Write now. Right now! -- David Sumner, K1ZZ
QST DE WB1BRE ARRL NEW ENGLAND DIVISION DIRECTOR STRAFFORD VT, MAY 1996DIVISION DIRECTORS BULLETIN 96-09B TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
AMERICAN RADIO RELAY LEAGUE NEW ENGLAND DIVISION DIRECTOR'S BULLETIN 96-09B
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ARRL NEW ENGLAND DIVISION BULLETIN 96-9B
QST to all Amateurs May, 1996 Strafford, VT
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NEW ENGLAND DIVISION DIRECTOR NEW ENGLAND DIVISION VICE DIRECTOR Bill Burden WB1BRE
Warren Rothberg WB1HBB wb1bre@arrl.org wb1hbb@arrl.org
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***** FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE 2M, 70CM BAND THREAT******
On May 29, Dave Sumner K1ZZ, ARRL Executive Vice President sent a letter to Warren Richards, Chairman of IWG-2A, with a copy to Cecily Holiday of the FCC, reminding them that the messages they are receiving from the Amateur community must be included in the records of any proceedings of the committee. This is in line with the committee's own words that invited the public to submit comments. In addition, Paul Rinaldo W4RI, ARRL Technical Relations Manager, has forwarded a letter to Mary Kay Williams of Final Analysis, Inc (IWG Committee member) detailing information on the 2M and 70 Cm bands. I have included some of the information, as it may help you in formulating comments to the committee. (Source- ARRL data bases) Number of US Amateurs currently active on the Amateur 2M band- 275,000 (Based on a 1992 Readex survey) Equipment currently in place and operating
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2M repeaters- approximately 6900 2M packet relay stations- approximately 1870 70Cm repeaters- approximately 6200 70Cm packet relay stations- approximately 190 70Cm Amateur television repeaters- approximately 130 There are, of course, many other modes and users of these bands, but these are the "heavy hitters". We don't have data on the number of satellite users in the 2M and 70Cm bands, but it easily numbers in the thousands worldwide. COMMENTS ON CW TESTING STILL BEING SOLICITED FOR WRC-99 In a previous bulletin, I outlined the current situation on the New Zealand proposal to eliminate the international treaty that includes the requirement that CW testing be part of any test for a license to operate on Amateur Bands below 30 Mhz. An ARRL WRC99 committee has been formed to review the situation and provide a recommendation to the Board of Directors for action in the future. The World Radio Conference will take up the New Zealand proposal in 1999, but we want to get member input and participation in the process well ahead of that date. Tod Olson K0TO, is chairing the ARRL WRC99 committee and comments may be forwarded to him at k0to@arrl.org. WHILE YOU HAVE YOUR WORDPROCESSORS WARMED UP..... Let's not forget that ARRL has a liability protection bill for volunteer examiners and official observers in process in Washington. This bill would provide federal protection for volunteers acting in their official capacity. We are looking for co-sponsors for HR 3207 here in New England and we need you to write to your congressman urging him/her to sign on to this important bill. For more detailed information and a sample letter, look in the June issue of QST, page 16.