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-----Original Message-----
From: Somma, Maria, AB1FM
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2006 2:37 PM
To: ve-list
Subject: [ve-list:348] FCC Releases Long-Awaited
"Omnibus" Amateur Radio Report and Order
FCC Releases Long-Awaited "Omnibus" Amateur Radio Report and Order
Ending a lengthy waiting period, the FCC's Report and Order (R&O) in the so-called "omnibus" Amateur Radio proceeding, WT Docket 04-140, was adopted October 4 and released October 10. In it, the FCC adopted nearly all of the changes it had put forth in its 2004 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the proceeding. The R&O the FCC released this week does NOT include action on the Commission's proposal to eliminate the Morse code requirement for all license classes. A Report and Order in that proceeding, WT Docket 05-235, is still pending.
Effective Date
The new rules become effective 30 days after they are published in the
Federal Register.
The Federal Register Publication Date and the Effective Date are NOT yet
known.
The R&O could be published any time in the next couple of months.
Once it is published in the Federal Register, we will publicize the
effective date on the ARRL Web and notify our VEs via email.
The Highlights
In its October 10 Report and Order, the FCC:
expanded the phone subbands in the 75 and 40 meter bands;
agreed to allow Novice and Tech Plus (Technician with Element 1 credit) licensees to operate in the General class CW subbands on 80, 40, 15 and 10 meters;
implemented rules to discourage multiple vanity call sign filings on the same day from the same applicant;
permitted auxiliary stations to transmit on portions of the 2 meter band;
permitted the use of spread spectrum on 222-225 MHz;
permitted amateurs to retransmit communications from the International Space Station;
permitted amateur licensees to designate a specific Amateur Radio club to receive their call sign in memoriam;
eliminated certain restrictions governing the manufacture, marketing and sale of external RF power amplifiers intended for Amateur Radio use;
clarified that "amateur stations may, at all times and on all frequencies authorized to the control operator, make transmissions necessary to meet essential communication needs and to facilitate relief actions";
deleted the frequency bands and segments specified for Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) stations;
deleted the requirement to publicly announce Amateur Radio examination locations and times, and
permitted Amateur Radio stations in Alaska and surrounding waters more flexibility in providing emergency communications.
The FCC also took several other miscellaneous actions.
VEC Testing Program Changes
1. The FCC will no longer require VECs to make public announcements in advance of test sessions. However, the individual VECs may continue to do so as a condition of coordinating an exam session if they so choose.
The ARRL VEC would like to maintain the highest degree of service and integrity by asking our VE teams for their continued cooperation with registering test dates in advance of the session. We have observed that most candidates refer to the ARRL VEC for help with finding exam opportunities in their local community. The information we post on our ARRL Exam Session Search web page helps candidates find you!
2. The FCC will remove the requirement that a VEC forward applications to the Commission within a ten-day time period. However VECs may still require VE teams to submit exam session materials back to the VEC within a specified period of time as a condition for coordinating the session.
The ARRL VEC will continue to adhere to the 10 day window to uphold our excellent customer service record. We ask our VE teams to also continue to be sensitive to the 10 day window.
3. Proof of an expired General, Advanced or Extra class license may be used for Element 1 examination credit (5 WPM) when presented at a VE test session. The FCC Rules for Element credit 97.505 will be amended to read:
97.505(a)(9) An expired FCC-granted Technician Class operator license document granted before February 14, 1991; an expired FCC-granted Technician Class operator license document granted after February 14, 1991 accompanied by documentation showing the examinee has passed a telegraphy examination; or an expired FCC-granted General, Advanced, or Amateur Extra Class operator license document: Element 1.
Again, the new rules will not become effective until 30 days after they are published in the Federal Register.
Please visit the ARRL web for the complete 04-140 News Story and for additional news and information visit our 04-140 FAQ Page .
The full text of the Report and Order is available on the FCC website in Word Doc, PDF and TXT formats.
The links are:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-149A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-149A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-149A1.txt
VE Express Newsletter is published by the
American Radio Relay League, Inc.
The National Association For Amateur Radio
ARRL VEC
225 Main St
Newington CT 06111 USA
Email: vec@arrl.org
ARRL VEC telephone: 860-594-0300
ARRL VEC Fax: 860-594-0339
ARRL telephone: 860-594-0200
Joel Harrison, W5ZN - President
David Sumner, K1ZZ - Chief Executive Officer
Harold Kramer, WJ1B - Chief Operating Officer
Maria Somma, AB1FM - VEC Manager / Editor
