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The ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
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October 26, 2023

John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, Editor <news@arrl.org>

ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/>ARRL Letter Archive
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> IN THIS ISSUE

- FCC to Vote on Removing Symbol Rate Restrictions
- Speak Up for Your Spectrum: 60-Meter-Band Comments Due to the FCC by
October 30
- Video: Amateur Radio STEM Education Takes Center Stage at Pacificon
- $31k Raised for Education from ARRL Online Auction
- Amateur Radio in the News
- ARRL Podcasts
- Announcements
- In Brief...
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

==> FCC TO VOTE ON REMOVING SYMBOL RATE RESTRICTIONS

ARRL <https://www.arrl.org/> welcomes news of a scheduled vote by the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to consider removing symbol
rate restrictions
<https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-397992A1.pdf> that
restrict digital modes, foster inefficient spectrum use, and dampen
incentives for innovation. In the draft Commission decision, the FCC
would replace the current HF restrictions with a 2.8 kHz bandwidth
limit. The Commission also announced that it will consider a Further
Notice in which it will propose eliminating similar restrictions where
they apply in other bands and consider relying on signal bandwidth
limits. If both actions are adopted by the Commission, there will be a
period for public comment on the Further Notice issues.

In announcing the proposed Commission actions, FCC Chairwoman Jessica
Rosenworcel said that "We're bolstering amateur radio. We will vote on
a proposal to incentivize innovation and experimentation in the amateur
radio bands by removing outdated restrictions and providing licensees
with the flexibility to use modern digital emissions."

ARRL requested and strongly supports replacing the symbol rate limits
on the HF bands with a 2.8 kHz bandwidth limit. ARRL also supports
eliminating the symbol rate limits in favor of the already-existing
bandwidth limits where they apply on the VHF and UHF bands and
eliminating the similar limits 2200 and 630-meter bands.

ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, said the
changes will result in a tremendous time savings during disasters, when
every second counts. "We will be very pleased to have the FCC remove
the restrictions on symbol rate for the amateur bands. This will
eliminate the need for temporary waivers during an event and provide
the ability to train and exercise using the higher symbol rate,
allowing increased data capability to our served agencies and
partners."

Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (AZ-08) introduced The Amateur Radio
Communications Improvement Act (H.R. 3241) on May 11, 2023
<https://www.arrl.org/news/congresswoman-lesko-reintroduces-bill-to-replace-symbol-rate-limit-with-bandwidth-limit>,

to require that the FCC eliminate the obsolete HF digital symbol rate
limit with a 2.8 kHz bandwidth limit.

The Congresswoman subsequently addressed the issue with Chairwoman
Rosenworcel in a Congressional oversight hearing. The changes are
supported by many state emergency management officials.

ARRL will continue to engage on this matter.

==> SPEAK UP FOR YOUR SPECTRUM: 60-METER-BAND COMMENTS DUE TO THE FCC
BY OCTOBER 30

Time is running out to take a stand in the effort to protect amateur
allocations on the 60-meter band. At the time of writing, nearly 1,500
comments have been filed, many of them being from radio amateurs urging
the FCC to protect our access to this critical band. The FCC proposal
would take away several of the discreet channels and reduce power
output from the current 100 W to less than 10 W.

ARRL asks that all amateurs file comments during the public comment
period, which is open until October 30, 2023. ARRL encourages
expressions of support to the FCC for the current 100 W ERP power limit
(instead of reducing the power limit to 15 W EIRP) and continuing
secondary access to the current channels.

ARRL has assembled a web page with instructions on how to submit your
comments, that also includes background information on the issue:
www.arrl.org/60-meter-band <https://www.arrl.org/60-meter-band>.

To submit your comments for the FCC's consideration in the rulemaking
process, go to the FCC web page for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking's
(NPRM) Docket Number 23-120 at
https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/docket-detail/23-120.

The urgency of this matter is being seen around the amateur community.
In a message to ARRL members in the Roanoke Division, Director Jim
Boehner, N2ZZ, and Vice Director Bill Morine, N2COP, issued a call to
action, stating:

"Even if you are not currently active on 60 meters, the proposed
reduction in power from 100 W to an equivalent of less than 10 W is the
most sweeping reduction of HF privileges in decades. If amateur radio
opposition to this proposed change is weak and the FCC goes through
with the change, will a lackluster response from the Amateur Radio
community embolden the FCC to remove or modify more HF privileges?

With just days left in the public comment period, ARRL hopes to see the
docket filled with comments in support of keeping 60 meters as the
vital resource it is.

==> VIDEO: AMATEUR RADIO STEM EDUCATION TAKES CENTER STAGE AT PACIFICON

ARRL Education and Learning Manager, and IARU Region 2 Youth
Coordinator, Steve Goodgame, K5ATA, gave the keynote address at the
2023 ARRL Pacific Division Ham Radio Convention, also known as
Pacificon.

Goodgame was a public-school teacher for 21 years. He carries his
experience of bringing ham radio into the classroom into his role at
ARRL. "It is safe to say I've learned a thing or two about reaching
youth along the way," he quipped.

His presentation, to a packed audience, was a highlight of the
convention. Goodgame's passion and vision for promoting youth
involvement in the hobby shined in his speech as he discussed STEM
education and the importance of inspiring youth and teachers to engage
in amateur radio and wireless technology.

Watch "A Vision of the Future of Amateur Radio" on the ARRLHQ YouTube
Channel https://youtu.be/fTi8LDz4dS4?si=GQfSd3k2BS__ERMy to learn how
to grow the next generation of radio amateurs from one of the leaders
in the space.

==> $31K RAISED FOR EDUCATION FROM ARRL ONLINE AUCTION

The 18th Annual ARRL Online Auction, sponsored by RT Systems Inc
<https://www.rtsystemsinc.com/>, raised $31,000 in support of amateur
radio. The auction took place during October 13 - 19, 2023.

In addition to hundreds of viewers, the auction saw 244 individual
bidders vying for Product Review equipment, vintage books, mystery junk
boxes from the ARRL Lab, and more.

There were 1,163 bids recorded, with 14 items finishing in overtime
bidding. Proceeds from the yearly ARRL Online Auction go directly to
ARRL's education programs, including promoting activities to license
new hams, strengthening amateur radio's emergency service training,
offering technical and operating education, and creating instructional
materials.

ARRL sincerely appreciates our corporate partners and members for their
generous donations.

==> AMATEUR RADIO IN THE NEWS

ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news
<http://www.arrl.org/media-hits>.

"County amateur radio now a FEMA-certified communications team
<https://www.wiscassetnewspaper.com/article/county-amateur-radio-now-fema-certified-communications-team/179587>"

/ Wiscasset Newspaper (Maine) October 18, 2023 -- The Lincoln County
Emergency Management Agency amateur radio team.

"From Baton Rouge to Belize, local ham radio operators talk around the
globe
<https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/entertainment_life/baton-rouge-ham-radio-operators-talk-around-the-world/article_3b26a562-6a19-11ee-a89b-4389e03e33ca.html>"

/ The Advocate (Louisiana) October 23, 2023 -- The Baton Rouge Amateur
Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

"Lookout Mountain Wildfire Also Affected Ham Radio Operators; Fire Said
To Be Contained
<https://www.chattanoogan.com/2023/10/23/477085/Lookout-Mountain-Wildfire-Also-Affected.aspx>"

/ Chattanoogan.com (Tennessee) October 23, 2023 - The Tri-States
Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

Share <newsmedia@arrl.org> any amateur radio media hits you spot with
us.

==> ARRL PODCASTS

On the Air
Sponsored by Icom <http://www.icomamerica.com/en/>

The Solar Eclipse QSO Party: When Operating is Science

Gary Mikitin's, AF8A, article, "The Solar Eclipse QSO Party: A Fun Way
Support Radio Science" in the September/October 2023 issue of On the
Air details how hams can contribute data to a study on how the
ionosphere reflects radio signals during the eclipse via an easygoing
on-air event called the Solar Eclipse QSO Party. Gary, who is the
Amateur Radio Community Coordinator of HamSCI, joins us on the October
episode of the On the Air podcast, to talk about just how easy it is to
participate.