Topband: Sub-bands Needed on 160m

[k6se@juno.com]

Hi, Dave,

Here's the e-mail I sent to Fried, WA6WZO (the ARRL Southwest Division
Director) in early July and his reply.  Maybe a group of us Topbanders
should get together to petition the FCC as he suggested.
==========
On July 6th, K6SE wrote:

Fried, I brought this up with you once before, but it comes to mind again
with the recent FCC's denial of RM-9806.  RM-9806 was the result of a
petition by the California Six Meter Club requesting that the FCC permit
SSB and digital modes in the 50.0 to 50.1 MHz CW-only sub-band on six
meters.  The CSMC claimed that the 6-meter CW segment was "virtually
unused", which is certainly debatable.

Anyway, just the opposite has long been in effect on the 160-meter band
in this country -- the entire band is open to all modes!  Why?  If any
band needs segmentation, it's 160!  Since April 1, 2000, when the
Japanese government authorized their amateurs to operate CW only in the
1810 to 1825 kHz segment, it has become even more important for the USA
to have FCC-mandated segmentation of the 160-meter band.

Although the ARRL has a "band plan" that advises amateurs to restrict
operation on the lower part of 160m to CW only, the advice is adhered to
primarily by only those US hams interested in working DX on Topband. 
Many of the others simply ignore the advice and continue to create havoc
in the way of SSB QRM to those trying to hear the weak CW DX signals in
the lower part of the band.

I suggest that you pressure the ARRL to petition the FCC to make the 1800
to 1850 kHz segment of 160-meters a CW-only sub-band.  There's plenty of
room above 1850 kHz for the other modes.
==========

On July 7th, WA6WZO replied:

IMHO, there is little chance to currently convince the FCC for any kind
of new CW Subband since 1) the League was turned down in our request for
some changes in the HF subbands as part of restructuring, 2) there is a
slow  decline in the interest of CW, and 3) a general climate of
deregulation thinking.  Nevertheless, I have copied your message to
Director Tom Frenaye (K1KI).  He is active on 160 meters and he may be
more encouraging.  Meanwhile, when I see the other directors in a couple
of weeks, I will see what their thinking is about your request.

Additionally, you may want to start the ball rolling by submitting a
petition to the FCC on your own.  One final thought, if we could get the
FCC to better support our bandplans, that would be the best of all
worlds.
==========

73, de Earl, K6SE


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