FROM
THE FEDERAL REGISTER
Amateur Service Rules
AGENCY: Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
----------------------------
SUMMARY: In this document,
the Commission amends its Amateur Radio Service rules to
remove the requirement that an individual must pass
a Morse code telegraphy examination to qualify for
a General Class or an Amateur Extra Class amateur radio
service operator license. The Commission also revises
the frequency segment of the 80 meter amateur service High
Frequency (HF) band on which amateur stations are authorized
to be automatically controlled when transmitting RTTY
and data emission types, and it make other conforming amendments
to the amateur service rules.
DATE: Effective February 23,
2007.
Sec. 97.221 Automatically controlled digital
station.
* * * * *
(b) A station may be automatically controlled
while transmitting a RTTY or data emission on
the 6 m or shorter wavelength bands, and on the 28.120-28.189
MHz, MHz, 21.090-21.100
MHz, 18.105-18.110 MHz, 14.0950-14.0995
MHz, 14.1005-14.112 MHz, 10.140-10.150
MHz, 7.100-7.105 MHz, or 3.585-3.600
MHz segments.
|
HOW IT WILL WORK
On
or after the effective date of the new rules, February
23, 2007, an applicant holding a valid Certificate of Successful
Completion of Examination (CSCE) for a higher license class
will be able to redeem it for an upgrade. For example,
a Technician licensee holding a valid CSCE for Element
3 (General) could apply at a VEC exam session, pay the
application fee – which most VECs charge –
and receive an instant upgrade. A CSCE is good only for
365 days from the date of issuance. Candidates for
General or Amateur Extra between now and the effective
date of the new rules still must have Element 1 (5 WPM
Morse code) credit to obtain new privileges, however.
The new rules also mean that all Technician
licensees, whether or not they've passed a Morse code examination,
will gain HF privileges identical to those of current Novice
and Tech Plus (or Technician with Element 1 credit) licensees
without having to apply for an upgrade. Novices and Technicians
with Element 1 credit have CW privileges on 80, 40, 15
meters and CW, RTTY, data and SSB privileges on 10 meters.
Technician licensees who have not passed a Morse code
test should *not* operate on any HF bands until the Morse
requirement is officially deleted.
NEW
BAND PLAN
Effective Dec. 15, 2006
Download
your own PDF color copy from
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/bands.html.
|