GAUTHIER@JPL-VLSI.ARPA@sri-unix.UUCP (08/23/84)
From: Michael K. Gauthier <GAUTHIER@JPL-VLSI.ARPA>
The following message was received via MCI Computer Mail. It should be of
interest to all hams.
...MIKE GAUTHIER, K6ICS...
Date: Wed Aug 22, 1984 1:22 pm PDT
From: American Radio Relay League / MCI ID: 224-2662
TO: * Michael Gauthier / MCI ID: 206-9043
CC: American Radio Relay League / MCI ID: 215-5052
Subject: 220 MHz
Dear Michael:
Thanks for your MCI letter concerning 220 MHz. Comments are being
drafted for consideration by the ARRL Executive Committee at its meeting to be
held August 26. It may also be possible to get an extension of time for these
inital reactions to the petitions.
For the record, I would like to clarify that the documents before the
Commission, RM-4829 filed by the Land Mobile Communications Council and RM-4831
filed by Sideband Technologies Inc., are "Requests for Rulemaking," rather than
"Notices of Proposed Rulemaking,(NPRMs)" and that comments may be filed by any
interested party in this preliminary stage for 30 days after public notice,
i.e., through August 29, 1984. Reply comments may be filed for fifteen days
thereafter, until September 13.
NOTE: when one comments on an RM, it is required that he send a copy
to the originator of the request and that he attach a "Certificate of Service"
to his filing. The Certificate can read something like, "I certify that a copy
of these comments has been sent this date to . . ."
Then the Commission staff, most likely in the Office of Chief
Scientist, will decide whether to ask the Commissioners to issue a Notice of
Inquiry or a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Next a draft of the Notice would
have to be prepared, and sent to the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration for coordination by the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee
(IRAC) since these frequencies are assigned for Government use on a primary
basis. (As you are aware, amateur use of 220-225 MHz is secondary to Government
radiolocation (e.g., radar) activities.) It is by no means a foregone
conclusion that IRAC would consent to new civil uses of the band, especially
since the Government enjoys primary status through 1989. In any event, the
process will stretch out for months or years. Amateurs outside the major
metropolitan areas should follow the example of California amateurs and make
full use of the band while it is possible, for a variety of amateur services
including weak-signal DX, remote control, repeaters and wideband data
transmission. They should also, of course, as a first step, file comments
opposing reassignment of 220-225 MHz in RM 4829 and RM 4831 before August 29.
(At this stage of the game, it would be counterproductive for amateurs to feel
that letters to Congress were more important than comments to FCC. Congress
will be focussing on the Republican Convention and then on getting itself
reelected; the early stages of an administrative matter like the 220 MHz
allocation won't rate a high priority with many Congressmen right now.) If and
when there is a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the matter, amateurs should
file comments again. The address is simply, FCC, Washington, DC 20554. 73,
Sincerely yours,
Perry Williams, W1UED
Washington Area Coordinator
-ar-
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