Federal Communications Commission.
Final rule.
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.
Effective February 23, 2007.
William T. Cross, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418–0620, or TTY (202) 418–7233.
This is a summary of the Commission's
1. In this
2. Specifically, the Commission (1) removes the five wpm telegraphy examination from the examination requirements for the General Class and Amateur Extra Class operator licenses; (2) revises the operating privileges for Technician Class licensees to include the High Frequency operating privileges that are authorized to Novice Class and Technician Plus Class licensees; and (3) authorizes automatically controlled digital stations to transmit in the 3585–3600 kHz segment of the 80 m band. The effect of these revisions are to eliminate unnecessary requirements from the amateur service license examination system and to provide licensees with greater flexibility in the utilization of amateur service frequencies.
3. This document does not contain any new or modified information collection requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104–13. Therefore, it does not contain any new or modified “information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees,” pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107–198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4).
4. The Commission will send a copy of the
5. In this
6. Pursuant to sections 4(i), 303(f), 303(r), and 332 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154 (i), 303(f), 303(r) and 332, the rules
Radio.
48 Stat. 1066, 1082, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 154, 303. Interpret or apply 48 Stat. 1064–1068, 1081–1105, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 151–155, 301–609, unless otherwise noted.
(a) * * *
(12)
(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, 24.925–24.930 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.
(a) For a station having a control operator who has been granted a Technician, Technician Plus, General, Advanced, or Amateur Extra Class operator license, who holds a CEPT radio amateur license, or who holds any class of IARP:
(b) For a station having a control operator who has been granted an Amateur Extra Class operator license, who holds a CEPT radio amateur license, or who holds a Class 1 IARP license:
(e) For a station having a control operator who has been granted an operator license of Novice Class, Technician Class, or Technician Plus Class:
(a) Amateur Extra Class operator: Elements 2, 3, and 4;
(b) General Class operator: Elements 2 and 3;
(a) * * *
(1) An unexpired (or expired but within the grace period for renewal) FCC-granted Advanced Class operator license grant: Elements 2 and 3.
(2) An unexpired (or expired but within the grace period for renewal) FCC-granted General Class operator license grant: Elements 2 and 3.
(3) An unexpired (or expired but within the grace period for renewal) FCC-granted Technician or Technician Plus Class operator (including a Technician Class operator license granted before February 14, 1991) license grant: Element 2.
(4) An expired FCC-issued Technician Class operator license document granted before March 21, 1987; Element 3.
(5) A CSCE: Each element the CSCE indicates the examinee passed within the previous 365 days.