rh@BBN.COM> (02/09/90)
Here's a quick summary of the actions taken at this morning's meeting of the Federal Communications Commission. Check the "Airwaves" conference's file library in Capital OnLine (1-202-833-1591; 8/N/1) for more information. 1) The Commissioners approved four policy changes designed to speed up the processing of construction permits and new station applications for commercial FM broadcasters. 2) The Commissioners voted to adopt a "Notice of Proposed Rule Making" to facilitate the use of various microwave channels for "wireless cable TV" services, as a "competitive alternative" to traditional wire-based cable TV systems. 3) The Commissioners voted to adopt a "Report and Order" concerning private point-to-multipoint microwave systems. Included in the action is a rule-change allowing the use of "multiple low-power transmitters instead of one high-power transmitter" in the 18 GHz band. This is intended to support the development of "wireless local area networks" for computers. 4) The Commissioners approved a "Notice of Proposed Rule Making" to create a new license category for amateur radio operators that would not require a test of Morse code proficiency. This is expected to remove a major obstacle stopping many people from participating in the Amateur service. 5) The Commissioners approved a "Notice of Proposed Rule Making" to allocate an additional 33 MHz of spectrum for mobile satellite services. 6) The Commissioners adopted a "Memorandum Opinion and Order" creating a new coordination procedure for sharing the 900 MHz channels allocated to both federal government and nongovernmental systems. Finally, FCC Chairman Alfred Sikes announced that the Commission would hold a "field hearing" next Monday (12 February 1990) in Los Angeles at City Hall. This is the first such formal meeting outside of Washington "in living memory," Sikes said, and it reflects the Commission's interest in hearing "points of view that wouldn't necessarily be represented here in Washington." Additional meetings will be held in Orlando, Florida and St. Louis, Missouri (no dates given). -- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Robert Horvitz, Executive Secretary ANARC BBS: 1-913-345-1978 Association of North American Radio Clubs Compuserve: 76210,517 P.O. Box 143, Falls Church, VA 22046-0143 USA uucp: rh@well.sf.ca.us
eickmeye@THINK.COM> (02/09/90)
In article <16058@well.sf.ca.us> rh@well.sf.ca.us (Robert Horvitz) writes: [...] >Finally, FCC Chairman Alfred Sikes announced that the Commission >would hold a "field hearing" next Monday (12 February 1990) in >Los Angeles at City Hall. This is the first such formal meeting >outside of Washington "in living memory," Sikes said, and it >reflects the Commission's interest in hearing "points of view >that wouldn't necessarily be represented here in Washington." Does anyone have any more information about the Los Angeles meeting? I will call the FCC field office tomorrow to inquire and post the results, if no one else has done so by then. I think this is an opportunity too good for us in the L.A. area to pass up (as long as it doesn't mean missing work, school I can miss! :-) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I can't complain, but sometimes I still do" -- Joe Walsh Evan "Biff Henderson" Eickmeyer University of Southern California eickmeye@alcor.usc.edu Los Angeles, California
kjh@BBN.COM> (02/09/90)
In article <16058@well.sf.ca.us> rh@well.sf.ca.us (Robert Horvitz) writes: > >Finally, FCC Chairman Alfred Sikes announced that the Commission >would hold a "field hearing" next Monday (12 February 1990) in >Los Angeles at City Hall. > >Robert Horvitz, Executive Secretary ANARC BBS: 1-913-345-1978 >Association of North American Radio Clubs Compuserve: 76210,517 >P.O. Box 143, Falls Church, VA 22046-0143 USA uucp: rh@well.sf.ca.us Please give details. I live within spittin' distance, and I wanna go. What time is the meeting, and what room is it in? Are there any specific concerns of the hams here that you might like me to express? "Before Abraham was born, Kenneth J. Hendrickson N8DGN I AM!" Jesus of Nazareth 1709 S. Bonnie Brae St., LA, CA 90006 Internet: kjh@usc.edu UUCP: ...!uunet!usc!pollux!kjh