[NCC] RM-11708

[ray.fallen]

  Good evening...

You may have heard that there is a great kerfuffle going on in the RTTY
Contesting Community concerning proposed digital bandwidth changes made by
the ARRL (RM-11708).  A link to the ARRL's explanation of  that proposal is:

http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-board-requests-member-comments-about-digital-modes

Now you might say to yourself...I don't do RTTY or digital modes, I'm a CW
or phone guy.  So how could this possibly apply to me?  Well, before you
reach for the delete key...take a very close look at the proposed bandplan
crafted by a very influential HFLink ALE International Group Coordinator.

http://hflink.com/bandplans/iaru_region_2.html

Now that you're back from looking at that link, you'll realize that not
only are they proposing to grab spectrum away from the RTTY, PSK31, AMTOR,
PACTOR, JT65 guys (2.8 Khz maximum bandwidth instead of the current 200 Hz
or so)...they are ALSO proposing large portions of the 75, 40, 20 and 15
meter phone bands be designated as "non-contest."  On 20 meters, they feel
that it would be OK if 14300-14350 were designated non-contest. Not just
when an emergency exists...but never...no how, no way.  And why not?  Hell,
it's only 25% of the 20 meter phone band!

Be very afraid boys and girls.

I'm not real sure what these HFLink ALE stations share with each
other...might be their personal e-mail messages, beef stew recipes from
Grandma, movie reviews or pictures of their puppies...but they are making
their case for a frequency grab and taking away your phone privileges based
upon what they call a huge need for Emergency Communications.

Umm...what huge need?

Traffic nets as we know them are almost defunct.  When is the last time you
originated, relayed or delivered a message through NTS?  If you called a
non-ham today with an NTS message, you'd probably get hung up on. In the
21st century, real people use e-mail and cell phones.  Sure, in an
emergency e-mail and cell phones won't work.  What about your home
station?  When the mother of all storms comes and the lights go out, are
you going to be on 40 meters checking into an emergency net...or hiding in
the basement with me ?

I'm glad the EMCOMM guys are out there practicing their craft and applaud
their efforts as I'm sure you do.  But the sky is not falling as some would
have us believe.
A very popular RTTY contester recently opined that the ARRL's proposal
seems to say "if you like your old, antiquated RTTY mode, why, of course,
you can keep it."  Maybe you don't care about or appreciate that...but do
you care about giving up 14300-14350 for disasters that aren't happening?
If the HFLINK guys and our friends at the ARRL truly do need more spectrum
as they blather on about, then let's see some justification.  So
far...nothing.

What I do know is that these HFLink, ALE and WInLink automated stations
flaunt current FCC regulations and they want to grab spectrum so they can
do more. Every RTTY contester I know has had one of these autostart
stations start transmitting right on top of them.  They are supposed to
have fail safes to make sure that this doesn't happen...but they either
really don't have this technology in place...or they just don't care.

Gentlemen, this frequency grab needs to be stopped...and it needs to be
stopped now.  Respond to your ARRL leadership and let them know how you
feel. Take some time and send an e-mail today.

Please!  Share this with your contesting friends and get them involved.
There are a lot more of us than there are of them.

73 - Ray, ND8L