[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 135 (Friday, July 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16882]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 15, 1994]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 97
[PR Docket No. 94-59; FCC 94-171]
Automatic Control on High Frequency Amateur Service Bands
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This action proposes to authorize the use of automatic control
for amateur stations transmitting a digital emission on the High
Frequency (HF) amateur service bands. The proposed rules are necessary
so that amateur operators can engage in automated digital
communications on the HF bands based upon the packet radio protocol
used generally by amateur stations on other amateur service bands. This
proposal would give better service to members of the amateur community
because it would allow them to use automatic control on additional
amateur service frequencies, and to take advantage of the propagation
characteristics of the HF bands to communicate with other amateur
stations, particularly with those in other countries.
DATES: Comments are due on or before October 1, 1994. Reply comments
are due on or before November 1, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications, 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC
20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
William T. Cross, Federal Communications Commission, Private Radio
Bureau, Washington, DC 20554, (202) 632-4964.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking, adopted June 13, 1994, and released June 23,
1994. The complete text of this Commission action, including the
proposed rule amendments, is available for inspection and copying
during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center (Room 230),
1919 M Street NW., Washington, DC. The complete text of this Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking, including the proposed rule amendments, may also
be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, International
Transcription Services, Inc., (ITS, Inc.), 2100 M Street, NW., Suite
140, Washington, DC 20037.
Summary of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
1. The variables affecting communications in the HF bands are
highly complex. Establishing and maintaining a HF communications link,
therefore, presents operating demands not encountered on the Very-High
Frequency (VHF) and higher frequency bands above 30 MHz. To maintain
the communications link and avoid causing interference to the
communications of other amateur stations, the control operator
constantly monitors the activity on the channel being used and adjusts
the station's transmitting parameters as needed. Because the presence
of the control operator has been imperative for proper operation on the
HF bands, automatic control of an amateur station that is transmitting
on these bands has not been authorized.
2. In 1986, the Commission indicated an interest in authorizing
automatic control of amateur stations transmitting digital
communications in the HF band. In this regard, the Commission noted
that a feasibility study planned by The American Radio Relay League,
Inc. (ARRL) would be helpful in determining if any rule changes were
necessary to prevent interference to and from other amateur service
communication.
3. The proposed rules allow an amateur service licensee to use
automatic control of amateur stations in the HF bands, with the
safeguards recommended by the petitioners. This proposal would make the
transmission of data and RTTY emission types practical and effective.
4. It also proposed to authorize automatic control for stations
transmitting data and RTTY emission types on specific subbands, and it
proposed to authorize communications between a locally or remotely
controlled station and an automatically controlled station on any
frequency where data and RTTY emission types are otherwise authorized.
5. These proposed rules are intended to facilitate the development
of digital communications on the HF amateur service bands. Comments are
invited on the entire proposal.
6. The proposed rules are set forth at the end of this document.
7. This is a non-restricted notice and comment rulemaking
proceeding. Ex parte presentations are permitted, except during the
Sunshine Agenda period, provided they are disclosed as specified in the
Commission's Rules. See generally 47 CFR 1.1202, 1.1203, and 1.1206(a).
8. In accordance with Section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility
Act of 1980, 5 USC Sec. 605(b), the Commission certifies that the
proposed rules would not, if promulgated, have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small business entities because the
amateur stations that are the subject of this proceeding would not be
authorized to transmit any communications where the station licensee or
control operator has a pecuniary interest. See Sec. 97.113(a)(3).
9. This Notice of Proposed Rule Making and the proposed rule
amendments are issued under the authority of Sections 4(i) and 303(r)
of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 USC Secs. 154(i) and
303(r).
10. A copy of this Notice of Proposed Rule Making will be forwarded
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 97
Automatic control, Radio.
Federal Communications Commission.
LaVera F. Marshall,
Acting Secretary.
Proposed Rules
Part 97 of Chapter I of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations
is proposed to be amended as follows:
PART 97--AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE
1. The authority citation for Part 97 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 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.
2. Section 97.109 is amended by revising paragraphs (d) and (e) to
read as follows:
Sec. 97.109 Station control.
* * * * *
(d) When a station is being automatically controlled, the control
operator need not be at the control point. Only stations specifically
designated elsewhere in this Part may be automatically controlled.
Automatic control must cease upon notification by an EIC that the
station is transmitting improperly or causing harmful interference to
other stations. Automatic control must not be resumed without prior
approval of the EIC.
(e) No station may be automatically controlled while transmitting
third party communications, except a station transmitting a RTTY or
data emission. All messages that are retransmitted must originate at a
station that is being locally or remotely controlled.
3. New Sec. 97.221 is added to read as follows:
Sec. 97.221 Automatically controlled digital station.
(a) This rule section does not apply to an auxiliary station, a
beacon station, a repeater station, an earth station, a space station,
or space telecommand station.
(b) A station may be automatically controlled while transmitting
RTTY or data emissions on the 6 m or shorter wavelength bands, and on
the 28.120-18.189 MHz, 24.925-24.930 MHz, 21.090-100 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 3.620-3.635 MHz segments.
(c) A station may be automatically controlled while transmitting A
RTTY or data emission on any other frequency authorized for such
emission types provided that:
(1) The station is responding to interrogation by a station under
local or remote control; and
(2) No transmission from the automatically controlled station
occupies a bandwidth of more than 500 Hz.
[FR Doc. 94-16882 Filed 7-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M
